drinking water or juice

[mammalicious]

i have been told that after solids are introduced that we should give some water and small amount of juice to our baby as well as the regular breastfeeds for the day. but my baby will not take water and i tried apple juice today and she is refusing that.

any suggestions on how i can get her to take some water? i'd rather not add the glucose sugar that the locals have suggested, but even then, i bet she won't take it!

thanks

[Wee Kean]

I was breastfeeding my daughter exclusively until 6 months old and I only started to give her water when she started to have solid at 6 months old. She refused water/juice totally. I tried different types of cups and they never work. Then, I found out that she was willing to drink water from my water bottle or glass directly. Also, I tried to cut the straw shorter and put it in my cup so that she can suck water and she enjoyed that very much. When she beginning to get used to the water taste, I gave her baby straw cup and since then, I never have any problem giving her water. Whenever she is thisty, she will say: "shui" (water in Mandarin) I seldom give her fruit juice, only water and fresh milk. She is now 15 months old.

[jools]

Dear Mammalicious,

I was advised that if you are breastfeeding you're baby you didn't need to give them water for the first year, even when solids were introduced. It was suggested though that I gave them a sippy cup with water in to 'play' with and practise, but not to be concerned if they drank anything from it. I stuck to this advice and both my children are thriving and both drink large amounts of water now. Not only does breast milk provide the nutrition that your child needs, but is also the best drink they could have.

With regards to the juice, I know that all the advice I have ever been given is to avoid it if you can, as it can lead to tooth decay. My theory is if they only have water, then they don't know any different and will love drinking it; as both mine do. Remember it might take some time to get used to water as it is a very different taste to breastmilk, but if you just let them practise with the sippy cup as I've said before and stay relaxed about it, they will take to the water when they're ready to. If you are still keen to used juice then it must be incredibly dilute, to reduce the chance of tooth decay.

I hope that helps

Jools

[capital]

I agree with jools.

Breastmilk is 90% water and 10 % solids so it is not necessary to give water from a nutrtion standpoint. I too started with water at 5 months with the sippy cup but it was more to do with learning to use the sippy cup, rather than wanting to give water. Baby never really did use sippy cup with water consistantly until cloer to 12 months. i didn't give juice until well over year, and then it is always 100% juice and in limited quantities.

[mammalicious]

i am only resorting to juice as she will not drink the water. i wasn't concerned until i found her poos to be very hard and she must be having a hard time getting them out. i don't want to be graphic but her poos are actually like capsules. they are very hard and dry. so i'm concerned about her liquid intake.

i tried to just add a little of baby juice (which is already diluted) to water to tempt her to drink some, but she won't so tried baby apple juice without adding water and she still won't drink it.

[jools]

Dear Mammalicious,

If you are still breastfeeding, then I don't think it can be dehydration that is causing the 'pellet poos'. Are you feeding on demand i.e. your baby is getting a drink (breastfed) when she wants it?

Jools

[mammalicious]

yeah pretty much when she fusses i put her on the breast. i worry if she is getting enough milk? what else can be cause for pellet poos?

[mandz]

Hi

I to was worried about not taking water and the resulting firm poos, someone suggested blended prunes with baby rice for breakfast rather than juice.

It seems to have worked. Baby is 7 mths old, plays with the water cup, is breast feed on demand.

It might work for your little one?