How Can I Introduce Water to Infants?
Once solid foods are introduced to babies, we can start giving water. The kidneys of babies have not matured adequately until the age of one to metabolize or digest too much water. Thus they require less amount of water or simply minimal water. However, it is good to introduce water in small sips to your baby to understand the taste of water. You can give water in few drops to sip from sippy cups or baby's bottle to baby.
How Much Water should be Given to Babies?
Babies less than 4 months of age do not require any water to be separately provided to them. As they are breastfed or formula-fed.Thus their bodies are hydrated well from the fluid in their feed. For 6 months old babies, it depends on the baby and his/her food habits. If he/she is still breastfed, a few drops of water is enough to satisfy them. The baby who is breastfed or formula-fed for them dehydration is not a cause of concern as they are well hydrated from their feeds.
Water Intoxication in Babies
For adults intake of too much water doesn't cause any irreversible damage to health. But for babies it is dangerous. Children younger than 6 months of age giving them too much of water can damage the body’s natural potential to take up nutrients from breast milk or a formula feed. Sodium levels will be dropped if babies drink too much water in a short span of time. Their kidneys are not mature enough to handle large quantities of water at a time, and this can lead to a dangerous condition called water intoxication. If such a condition occurs, immediate medical attention is required.
Is it necessary for Babies to Drink Water Sometimes?
It is said newborn babies don't need water to drink, as they grow older they will need. When they grow older you can safely introduce water into their diet. For 4-6 months old babies, they can drink about 30 ml of water. Don't give more water as it can affect negatively in baby's health. You can slowly increase the water quantity in his diet when your child reaches 9 months to 1 year of age. When he/she is one year old his body system is matured enough to metabolize or digest larger quantities of water. However, it is important to keep his water intake under regulation.
Tags: Baby,water,age,effects,quantity
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