Offering Water to Breastfed Babies is Harmful to Their Health

When babies are born, they are properly hydrated and remain so if their mother continues to breastfeed them day and night, even if the climate becomes dry. Offering water to breastfed babies does more harm than good. Yet, some mothers persist in feeding their babies with water and formula during the first six months of recommended breastfeeding. This occurs in many countries which bring harmful effects to the health of the baby. Experts recommend that mothers breastfeed their infants during the first six months for their child's proper development, growth and survival.

Babies are provided the necessary nutrients and energy during breastfeeding. It also reduces infant mortality caused by diarrhea, pneumonia and other sickness brought about by contaminants in the baby's formula. Babies recover faster from diseases when breastfed regularly and it helps families space their children.

To bring good health to newborn infants, they need regular intake of fluids. The average daily water requirement of babies range from 80-100 ml/kg in the first week of birth to 140-160 ml/kg between three to six months. A breastfed baby receives these amounts if it is given exclusively and unrestricted for two reasons:

The water in a mother's breastmilk contains the necessary amount of water to provide their baby's safety. Even if an infant gets a little water in the first milk (colostrum), no additional water is needed because they are provided with extra water by nature upon birth. More water is provided in the mother's milk on the third or fourth day of breastfeeding.

Water is very important for babies to flush out solutes. These are substances such as sodium, nitrogen, potassium and chloride. Since breastmilk is 88 percent water, it is low in solutes. The kidneys of infants, although immature up to three months, are able to expel these solutes in their urine to maintain a healthy and balanced body.

Why is water harmful to infants before the age of six months? It can cause significant impact in the baby's survival, growth, and development. Even a small amount of liquid can cause a baby to lose appetite for breastmilk. It can reduce breastmilk intake by as much as 11 percent. Sugar water fed to babies cause greater weight loss and decreases their immune system to fight common diseases . It also brings about diarrhea causing organisms especially if the water used is not treated well.

What do children after six months need? Infants six to eleven months do not need water if they continue to receive breastmilk. Other sources of water may come from fruits, vegetables, or small amounts of boiled water fed after each meal. Mothers should ensure that water or other fluids do not replace breastmilk, otherwise some nutrients from vitamin rich foods will be diluted. Soups, broths and other watery foods fed to babies fall below the required nutritional value to help maintain good health.

To guarantee a child's well being after the breastfeeding period, water fed to them must be safe and clean. Although the quality of water in America is generally safe, it is still contaminated with almost 2,100 various toxins. Drugs, pesticides, herbicides, sex hormones, and other industrial wastes are found in the water supply of American homes. The chemicals seep into old and corroded pipe installations before they enter the households. So even if the water supply had been treated by municipal water treatment facilities, the water that people drink is still unsafe. Bottled water is also considered unsafe because chemicals in the plastic used in packaging contain phthalate, a carcinogen that is very hazardous when used in the long run.

Water is vital to our health and especially to our babies. If we can provide them with breastmilk for their first six months, please continue to do so for as long as you can. But if you really need to use other milk products mixed with water, make sure the water used is safe and clean. The quality of water in the U.S. today is not what it used to be a decade ago. Know more about these in John's website and find out how you can protect your baby from chemicals in your drinking water.