Hi everyone

My lo will be 8 weeks on sunday and we've just been giving aptamil for feeds. i've been reading that some people give their babies cooled, boiled water. Does anyone know from what age and how often to give water?? I've also heard that some people substitute the night feed for water to encourage them to sleep through??

any tips would be great on this as lo currently feeds approx every 3 hours in the day about 3 .5 - 5 ounces and then sleeps for approx 5- 6 hours at night and then when wakes takes about 3.5 ounces and goes of again for 2-3 hours.

thanks :-))

xxxxxx

Hi.

Our lo had the same sleeping habits. My best friend is a qualified nurse and midwife and she suggets not to substitute water for a feed. We give our Son (who's 10 weeks) cooled boiled water during the day just if he is thirsty since he was about 6 weeks old. Say if he has had a feed and then 1/2 hr later is grumpy, we will then give him about an oz of water to quench his thirst.

As for him sleeping through. I think we will just have to wait until he decides to and let nature take its course.

I agree, at this early stage they wake because their hungry and need to eat. They dont know how to be greedy at this age, they'll only take as much as they need and if they take more it'll just come back up. I wouldnt be thinking about sleeping through too much at this point hun, it'll only depress you! Some people are very lucky to have babies that can take alot in one go and sleep through but Theo isnt like that, he always needs at least 1 feed in the night.
I gave Theo boiled cooled water when he was constipated and sometimes if he seems to be wanting a feed but I know he shouldnt really need one yet I offer him it and he just turns out to be thirsty but I warm it a little first.
xxx

Hi, don't quote me but i'm sure i've read somewhere that babies may not require night feed after 12 wks (or maybe 16wks, sorry i've a crap memory, will try to flick through baby mags, see if it was in them!), so i wouldn't worry about Maiya being up through night for a feed. Dylan is still up most nights between 2 and 4 (last night was 12 and 4 but only cos i'd expected him to wake for a feed at 10pm and he slept till 12). He's only gone without the very odd night. Usually when he wakes he needs a feed, if he wakes soon after a feed he'll be pacified with a dummy.

Not sure about water, had meant to ask hv about this. I'm still bf for a couple of feeds so know Dylan gets extra fluids then, but wasn't sure whether if/when soley bf you need to add extra water all the time, or only if baby seems dehydrated or its very hot etc.
I think if you're getting plenty wet nappies then Maiya is probably getting enough fluid.

xx