Other Breastfeeding Moms

I agree with the other moms that this is crazy! I BF all 3 of my girls and was never told to give them water. I was told to use floride toothpaste when they were 2 years old.
K.

Good for you for breastfeeding, M.! There is no need to give water at this age. Have you thought of coming to a La Leche League meeting? They're very fun, informative, and supportive! Find a group on www.llli.org in your area. Meantime, enjoy your baby girl!

Check out this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ys9q1cvKGk&feature=pl...

Hi M.,

Breastmilk is ALL your baby needs for really the first 12 months of life. Yes, you can start solids at 6 months, but the majority of their calories should come from breastmilk for the first 12 months.

You do NOT need to give water to your infant. No need. At 6 months, or when you begin to give solids, then maybe offer some water to ensure there are no constipation issues.

Be careful with the flouride. Too much is a problem. Flourosis. Do your research on it. I would be careful with this pediatrician. I NEVER had our pediatrician even begin to talk about flouride until my daughter was 18 months old. And I still don't give her any flouride supplements. I don't think the risks outweight the benefits at this point.

M.; water is good, for any one of us, but because its water not cause its got flouride in it, we have to have water but when i was breastfeeding, i did not give them any water, they strictly were breastfed babies, but when they were older sure give em water, its ok, however flouride is not all that its cracked up to be, most people have never read the directions on a tube of toothpaste, and flouride if swallowed is not good for you at all, so the little flouride that is in the water is not enough to hurt you, go read your tube of toothpaste and the warnings it contains, either way have a happy day and enjoy your breastfeeding young one as long as you can, and enjoy life D. s

Hi M.,
My ped. never told me that. She always told me that for the first year breast milk or formula is the only thing that the baby needs. When they were older she asked about the water but after the first year. I would make sure you understood correctly and if you did I would maybe look around for another ped. That's just my opinion. Good luck.
Chris

I am an RN and work in both pediatrics and OB, you should not give an infant anything but breastmilk or formula until at least 4 months old. You can give an infant multivitamin that they sell over the counter. Otherwise, no water.

That was a practice they did a couple of decades ago... until the infants started coming down with "water toxicity." You see, they found out that small infants could not handle having that level of water in their body, it throws off their electrolytes. Their bodies are only made to handle breastmilk at that age. Kids even died. I have the links if you want them.

For your doctor to suggest it now... he must be really old-fashioned and/our out-dated on his medical journals. I would get a new doctor asap.

I was always told NOT to give them water. Now...when we switched to formula, I was told to use tap water b/c it had fluoride.

I didn't give by little one plain water until much later because my doctor said that babyes can choke on it easier. Now I guess you could add it to the breastmilk you pump. You can also use water to make the formula if you decide to supplement.

Absolutely not. I am a labor and delivery/mother-baby nurse and I have never heard this. I work closely with pediatricians, neonatologists, OB/Gyn's every week and none of them recommend this. I am curious as to what this Dr. is thinking. If you give your baby water, then this will only decrease the need for your breastmilk, and therefore decrease your supply. Water has no nutrition to it, which they desperately need at this stage. Just curious, who is this Dr? If you ever need any info. or have any questions, please feel free to contact me on here.

Both my doctors had me give them vitamins with floride. I breastfeed both my kids. They are 2 and 4 now.

K.

From what I was told and read, a 5 week old does not need water. Try the vitamin drops that have floride in them- available at Target or the like. Even those, my pediatrician said if you can get them down once or twice a week, it's enough! All brands are kind of icky, but sometimes you get lucky. Good luck!

Hi M.,
I would check with another pediatrician or nurse. That advice sounds very strange to me. I breastfed my daughter until she was 15 months and was told that breastfeeding exclusively was fine until she was 5 or 6 months old, which is when I started her on solids. I'm sure your daugther doesn't need water since she is only 5 weeks old! I would assume that water would fill her belly up too much, making her miss all the nutrients from your milk. Good luck!

Hi M.,
I breastfed both of my daughters (ages 2 and 3) and was always told NOT to give water because it fills their tiny tummies but provides no nutritional value. Breastmilk is all she needs until she's 6-months old, and even then there's no need for water. She'll get the flouride when she's older and you start brushing or wiping with a wet cloth and actually starts to have teeth! Flouride is good for teeth, but not for tiny baby bodies. I'd consult with another pediatrician if I were you. Today.

Hi M.
I breastfed both my sons (now 3 1/2 and 6 years) and was never told to supplement them with anything at that young age. In fact I was told not to give them water, they get everything they need from your breast milk. As long as you have a healthy diet they will get all the nutrients that you put into your body. I'm not an expert but just passing on my experiences with my doctor and this does not sound right. I cannot understand why your ped suggested this. Maybe you should ask the Dr why this was suggested at such a young age and/or get a second opinion.

Hi M.,

I'm surprised to hear that your peditrician is recommending water for your child @ only 5 weeks. Seems a little strange to me for a couple of reasons. First one being that when we breastfeed our babies get whatever water they may need from our milk. If you have ever pumped you can see how the milk starts out very clear (that's the watered down part) and finishes in a thicker, creamlike substance(hindmilk). The second reason is that when you introduce your child to another form of liquid, you want to give it to him/her in a cup and a 5 week old is hardly capable of drinking out of a cup. My son is 6 1/2 mos and I just started giving him water. 6 mos.was the recommendation from our peditrician. I think as long as you are drinking water that has flouride...you should be fine.

That is INSANE!!!

With our 1st (now 7) the pediatritian prescribed flouride drops to mix in her cup... But NOT UNTIL she was weaned. (we were on well water)
With our 2nd (still well water, he's now 4) dr said don't worry about it... There is enough flouride added to toothpaste, and other sources that they were finding babys didn't NEED flouride added to their diet.

With our 3rd, we now have city water and still not an issue...

Does your dr support you fully nursing? Since they are "suggesting" you suplement I have a suspicion that they are not all the way on board with only nursing... Why would they suggest giving her plain water when they need the calories from the milk to grow?

Cannot say I've heard this before and I am nursing my second child. Water was never discussed until 6 months or older if I recall with my first and I assume it'll be the same with my second who will turn 6 months and start solids soon.

M.,
I have breastfeed my baby for 6 months and have never given him anything else to drink. My doctor has never mentioned giving him water with fluoride at this stage of his life. I would check with the Le Leche League to see if you should be doing this. J.

I find your doctor's advice very upsetting. I breastfed my four children until they were all over a year old and never supplemented. Breastmilk is the most complete form of nutrition your infant can get. Flouride is a poison. While it has done wonders for our teeth in modern days, does anyone ever wonder why your need to contact poison control if you ingest too much toothpaste? Please check out the Laleche league website for detailed info on breastfeeding/breastmilk. Research on flouride couldn't hurt either. Many times, doctors are simply mouthpieces for the AMA, which does not always get it right. There are many wonderful doctors out there that are more supportive of the breastfeeding mom. Try to find one!!! Good luck.

That is INSANE!!!

Are you drinking water yourself that has flouride? Then she's getting it too.

I would seriously consider finding another ped.. cause like the other write it really doesn't sound like your ped is supportive of breastfeeding if he is trying to add water to a 5 week old's regimine.

Hello M., I nursed all 3 of my children, and never heard of this. Actually the other was advised, saying that giving water prevented the baby from getting enough breast milk, which means not enough caleries. Since all of mine are in their 20's maybe doctors are changing their beliefs on the subject. Good luck.

I am sure you will get alot of different opinions on this. Mine is this...a breastfeeding baby does not need anything but YOU! Giving her water will interfere with your milk production.
Go to some natural health websites and read up on the dangers of flouride. It's too long to tell here, but it is not good for anyone, let alone an infant. Read the tube on your toothpaste...it says not to swallow it. This is because of the flouride.
I have three grown children. They were breastfed. We did not have city water laced with chemicals. They all have beautiful teeth. I grew up with well water, no flouride, and I also have had very few cavities in my teeth.
Keep in mind that doctors can only tell you what they are taught in medical school. So many think adding things like flouride is beneficial. There is alot of info out there representing the opposite thought. Knowledge is power. Read up so you can make an educated decision for your sweetie. You are doing the BEST thing for your baby and you by breastfeeding. She will get everything she needs from you. HOORAY!!!

M.,

My children are grown so this is the first time I have ever heard of such a thing but from personal experience I can tell you that even if you don't do anything about flouride until your daughter is starting to get teeth she will be fine. I breastfed both my sons and they never received any flouride in their drinking water at all. They had flouride treatments when they were adolescents and still don't have a single cavity in their mouth at 18 and 20 years old. I don't think there is anything wrong with giving your daughter water but why introduce this chemical into her system when she is an infant? Just make sure she has a good healthy diet as she grows, keep sugars to a minimum and make sure she practices good oral hygiene all through her life. Just one opinion to consider. Best of luck to you.

S.

I don't know about giving her water - my doctor gave me fluoride drops to give my sons because they do need fluoride and vit. D supplements when they are exclusively breastfed. Personally, I would question a doctor telling you to give the baby water???

Howdy,
I have a 6 week old daughter that I am currently breastfeeding and my pediatrician has never mentioned water/fluoride. Everything that I have read says that water is not the best idea. Though I have read something about how sometimes older babies get a little thirsty and a small amount of water helps this. Beyond that, I have never heard anything. I would ask the opinion of another doctor personally ... I am not medically qualified, so my opinion is just that ... an opinion, ha! Good luck with your little angel!
M.

they don't need water that little, though i am sure my mother in law gave my girls water from time to time because thats what they did back then. i also heard water will make them feel full then they won't want to nurse.

absolutely ridiculous.... I would seriously get a new ped.
You do NOT need to give infants water.

Yes the baby does need flouride.. it does not come through the breatmilk.. I breastfed my kids.. the dr prescribed fouride drops to give the baby. I think they start at 6 months??/ They start vitamin drops at 4 months???

My dr goes by the american academy of pediatric standards adn they say that breast fed babies need vitamin D at a certin age and then flouride drops at a certain age. I am pretty sure the vitamin D drops came first and then we added the flouride drops later.

maybe you can check the american academy of pediatric website and see what the standard of care is..

No! Babies don't need water at that age unless it is very hot outside! The doctor should have given a RX for the floride, usually combined with some vitamins the baby needs. I think the water thing is more of a very old school thought! Good luck!

I've also only been told that bf babies don't need water. Canada's "breastfeeding guru" Dr. Jack Newman has a great, informative website. PLUS he responds to emails promptly. (A lot of my friends have used him and his clinics.)
The real reason I wanted to reply though...was about fluoride intake. I work in dental so we're up on this kind of stuff. A topical fluoride is a good idea. (The kind you'd rinse with and spit out, or the foam trays you get at the dental office that is sucked out with the saliva ejector.)
A fluoride that you ingest is bad bad bad. It's a shame that many municipalities have it in their water. Flouride can actually stay in the body for 25+ years and eventually weakens bones. Dr. Hardy Limeback has a lot of interesting points. And we use those as a guideline at our dental office. I know it's a controversial issue...but anything that breaks down bones can't be good. ;o)

sorry i am so late to the game but no your baby dose not need water she will get all she needs from you

There's flouride in water? I didn't know that.

What I've been told is that fluoride is not really good for teeth. Why? Because it inhibits a natural protection. Personally I haven't used a flouride toothpaste in years and haven't had a cavity in about as long. My youngest son was using the same toothpaste as I and before going into the Air Force wasn't getting any cavities either. When I go to the dentist, if they want to use a fluoride toothpaste when they clean my teeth, it isn't a big deal as it's like once per half year. But I let them know I don't use fluoride. and they don't say anything to the contrary.

My daughter was 100% breastfed until she started on solids and juice/water at around 5 months. If your dr is that concerned I would ask about fluoride drops, you can give them as asupplement and would not have to worry about the bottle and breastfeeding. I would research fluoride though before giving it to you daughter, there is a lot of negative research about giving fluoride.

get a new pediatrician!

Breastmilk has everything a baby needs for at least the first 6 months of life. There is no reason to be giving her water or anything else. I definitely wouldn't do it.