After birth, many young mothers face various problems. Even such a well-known process as breastfeeding, contains a lot of unknown. Often parents ask themselves the question: what to do, the child does not drink water? Therefore, it is necessary to understand when and in what quantity to give it to a newborn, and also need it at all at this age.
WHO recommendations
Full-fledged breastfeeding does not include dosing of the baby. According to WHO, breast milk fully compensates for the baby's need for fluids. 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 unchanged at all stages of lactation. At the same time, the concentration of the remaining components may vary depending on the needs and needs of the baby.
Moms are interested: if a 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 contains enough water.
If for some reason it is not possible to organize breastfeeding, then when using infant formula, the newborn needs to be fully dosed.
Sometimes other situations arise. In some cases, when breastfeeding, a situation arises when the newborn needs to be given additional water.
Indications for soldering
Moms ask a question: what to do - the child does not drink water? Usually he does not need it if there are no serious reasons.
It is allowed to give water to an infant under 6 months of age in such cases:
- diarrhea or vomiting;
- high fever for several days;
- dehydration confirmed by a specialist;
- lack of a comfortable microclimate in the baby’s room.
Should I give newborns water while breastfeeding? The need for the introduction of fluid into the infant's diet may become an insufficient amount of breast milk in a woman. Only a specialist can determine this. In this case, doping is carried out until the cause of this condition is eliminated.
With dehydration, the newborn needs to organize dosing. Usually, the need for it manifests itself in the form of dry stool, restless sleep, insufficient urination and other causes. A specialist should establish the correct diagnosis.
If the infant does not drink water, it may not be necessary. The frequency of breastfeeding should be determined according to the baby’s age and adjusted according to the individual characteristics of his body. If the newborn receives enough milk, then he sleeps normally, gains weight and develops.
External factors affecting doping
The reason for the lack of fluid in the body of a newborn is often an unfavorable climate in the baby’s room. Humidity should be 40-60%. The temperature regime is 22-24 degrees.
Parents need to regularly ventilate the room where the baby is sleeping, while avoiding drafts. And also it is not recommended to sharply lower the temperature. If the room is too dry, then use a humidifier. Parents should know that excessive humidity is harmful to the baby’s health even more than dryness.
It is important to properly equip the room of the newborn. The correct microclimate must be observed in it, which is important for his health.
How to give water
Only fresh drinking water should be started. Other drinks, such as jelly, compotes should be introduced into the diet a little later. Do not add anything to the first drink. Pure water is the safest source of fluid for the baby’s food system.
Using a bottle of water for a child who is breast-feeding is not recommended. This can lead to a loss of chest grabbing skills. After all, it’s easier for a child to drink from a bottle.
Breast sucking is hard work. And if the baby begins to drink water through a bottle, he will quickly get used to it. Sometimes this contributes to the rejection of breastfeeding.
You can give your child water with a syringe or spoon. This can prevent breast abandonment.
Sometimes parents drink their baby with a non-spill cup. This helps him quickly learn to use water or other liquid from the mug.
How much water does a baby need?
The child's needs for fluid are strictly individual. Therefore, the volume of water is not regulated by any standards. It is necessary to give as much water as the infant himself 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 abandon the breast and receive less of the nutrients he needs.
Even after the introduction of complementary foods, water should not be given before meals. First you need to give him cooked food, then chest, and then liquid.
What kind of water to give the baby
The quality of water for the newborn is subject to increased requirements:
- The best option would be specialized bottled products for children. When choosing water, parents need to pay attention to the presence of an appropriate age marking. Such water is best purchased in pharmacies or specialty stores.
- The ideal temperature of the liquid for dosing the 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 there is no opportunity to purchase special water for the baby, then it can be boiled, then cooled to a comfortable temperature.
Parents should not give their children mineral or soda water. Offering liquid from the tap is not allowed for children at any age.
If water is sweetened with honey, sugar or additives, it will do more harm than good for the baby’s body. The exception is the teas prescribed by the pediatrician.
Is hiccup water needed
Hiccups - an involuntary contraction of the muscles of the larynx and diaphragm. Usually, children under one year old 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 excitement, air entering the stomach, as well as an 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, then he needs to warm. 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 his stomach.
Thus, it is necessary to give water to a baby with hiccups in order to get rid of unpleasant sensations.
Conclusion
When mothers are worried: “What to do - the child does not drink water?”, This is not always justified. In most cases, he does not need additional fluid during breastfeeding. Sometimes situations arise when the baby needs to be drowned. This process is purely individual.
It is important to monitor the health of the child and regularly visit a pediatrician. Only thanks to this it will be possible in time to offer the baby water during breastfeeding.