The child does not drink water - what to do? Should I give water to newborns while breastfeeding?

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Many young mothers face various problems after the birth of a baby. Even such a well-known process as breastfeeding contains many unknowns. Often parents have a question: what to do if the child does not drink water? Therefore, it is necessary to understand when and in what quantity to give it to a newborn, and it is also needed in general at this age.

WHO recommendations

Full breastfeeding does not include supplementation of the baby. According to the WHO, mother's milk fully compensates for the baby's fluid needs. Its composition is as follows:

• water (88%);
• lactose (4.6%);
• fats (3.6%);
• proteins (3.2%);
• minerals (0.7%);
• less than 0.1% of vitamins, hormones and other substances.

The amount of water in milk remains the same at all stages of lactation. At the same time, the concentration of other components may vary depending on the needs andbaby's needs.

Moms are interested: if the child does not drink water, what should I do? They should understand the following. Milk is a fully adapted product suitable for its proper development. It also contains a sufficient amount of water.

If for some reason it is impossible to organize breastfeeding, then when using milk formulas, the newborn needs to be fully supplemented.

Sometimes there are other situations. In some cases, when breastfeeding, a situation arises when the newborn needs to be given additional water.

Indications for supplementation

Moms ask the question: what to do - the child does not drink water? He usually doesn't need it unless there's some serious reason.

Giving water to an infant under 6 months is allowed in the following cases:

• diarrhea or vomiting;
• high temperature for several days;
• dehydration confirmed by a specialist;
• lack of a comfortable microclimate in the baby's room.

Should I give water to newborns while breastfeeding? The need to introduce fluids into the infant's diet may become insufficient breast milk for a woman. This can only be determined by a specialist. In this case, additional soldering is carried out until the cause of this condition is eliminated.

In case of dehydration, the newborn needs to organize additional feeding. Usually the need for itmanifests itself in the form of dry stools, restless sleep, insufficient urination and other reasons. Only a specialist should establish the correct diagnosis.

If a baby is not drinking water, it may not need to. The frequency of feeding during breastfeeding should be determined according to the age of the baby and adjusted taking into account the individual characteristics of his body. If the newborn receives enough milk, then he sleeps normally, gains weight and develops.

External factors affecting soldering

The reason for the lack of fluid in the body of a newborn is often the unfavorable climate in the baby's room. Humidity should be 40-60%. Temperature regime - 22-24 degrees.

Parents need to regularly ventilate the room where the baby sleeps, while avoiding drafts. And also it is not recommended to sharply reduce the temperature. If the air in the room is too dry, then you need to use a humidifier. Parents should know that excessive moisture is even more detrimental to the he alth of the baby than dryness.

It is important to properly equip a newborn's room. The correct microclimate must be observed in it, which is important for his he alth.

How to give water

It is necessary to start supplementing only with clean drinking water. Other drinks, such as kissels, compotes, should be introduced into the diet a little later. Nothing should be added to the first drink. Pure water is the safest source of liquid for the food systembaby.

Using a water bottle for a breastfed baby is not recommended. This can lead to loss of breast latch skills. After all, it is easier for a child to drink from a bottle.

Breast sucking is hard work. And if the baby starts drinking water through a bottle, he will quickly get used to it. This can sometimes help stop breastfeeding.

You can give water to your baby with a syringe or a spoon. This may prevent breast rejection.

Sometimes parents feed their baby with a non-spill cup. This helps him to quickly learn to drink water or other liquid from a mug.

How much water does a baby need

A child's fluid needs are highly individual. Therefore, the volume of water is not regulated by any standards. It is necessary to give as much water as the baby wants, but only after the main meal. If he drinks water on an empty stomach, then the baby will have an imaginary feeling of satiety. As a result, he will refuse to breastfeed and will not receive the nutrients he needs.

Even after complementary foods have been introduced, water should not be given before meals. First you need to give him cooked food, then breasts, and then liquid.

What kind of water to give the baby

Increased demands are made on the quality of water for a newborn:

1. The best option would be specialized bottled products for children. Atwhen choosing water, parents need to pay attention to the presence of the appropriate age marking. This water is best purchased at pharmacies or specialized stores.
2. The ideal temperature of the liquid for feeding a baby up to six months should be identical to breast milk. After 6 months, you can give him water at room temperature. Cold liquid in children under one year old can cause the development of colds.

If it is not possible to purchase special water for babies, then it can be boiled, then cooled to a comfortable temperature.

Parents should not give their child mineral or sparkling water. Offering liquid from the tap is not allowed for children of any age.

If water is sweetened with honey, sugar or additives, it will do more harm than good to the baby's body. The exception is teas prescribed by a pediatrician.

Do I need water for hiccups

Hiccups - involuntary contraction of the muscles of the larynx and diaphragm. Usually children under one year old very often experience this condition. This is due to the fact that the muscles of the diaphragm are characterized by increased excitability.

The main causes of hiccups include hypothermia, nervous overexcitation, air in the stomach, and increased accumulation of gases in the intestines.

If the child does not want to drink water, you can use the following methods. When the baby is cold, he needs to be warmed up. To get air out of the stomach, you need to vilify the baby"column".

In order to prevent increased gas formation, the child is given dill water or a warm diaper is placed on the stomach.

Thus, giving water to a baby with hiccups is necessary to get rid of discomfort.

Conclusion

When mothers worry: "What to do - the child does not drink water?", it is not always justified. In most cases, additional fluid during breastfeeding is not required. Sometimes there are situations when the baby needs to be soldered. This process is purely individual.

It is important to monitor the child's he alth and visit the pediatrician regularly. Only thanks to this it will be possible to offer water to the baby in time while breastfeeding.