Can i give newborn baby water

In fact, water can be toxic to anyone if drunk in large quantities. An adult with healthy kidneys, for example, would have to drink several liters in a short period of time to get to the point of water intoxication. That said, it does happen to people, particularly soldiers and athletes, who tend to be in situations where they can become dehydrated quickly and then overcompensate.

In short, when the kidneys are given more water than they can handle, the excess water ends up in your bloodstream. This dilutes the fluid in your bloodstream and lowers the concentration of important electrolytes, like sodium.

So giving a baby younger than 6 months even a moderate amount of water in a short period of time can lead to hyponatremia, which at its most dangerous can cause brain swelling and even death. In fact, because the brain is still developing as well, the swelling can happen more easily in an infant with hyponatremia than in an adult with hyponatremia. Another seemingly harmless act that can lead to trouble is diluting formula or breast milk.

Because formula and breast milk are calorie rich, they stay in the body longer rather than overwhelming the kidneys. Most babies will see water as a sort of novelty at this age and still prefer their milk. Some might even balk at the taste and make a face, especially if they were expecting something else!

Related: When can baby drink water? Depending on if your baby was born prematurely or has certain health conditions, your timeline for introducing water may vary. In addition, if your baby shows any of these signs of water intoxication, head to the hospital immediately:. For babies under 6 months, drinking water can lead to diarrhea and even malnutrition.

With breastfed babies, the introduction of water can cause the baby to breastfeed less or stop entirely, leading to malnutrition.

Less frequent nursing can, in turn, result in a reduction in breast milk supply as well. The best way to introduce water to your baby who is 6 months or older is to give her a small amount in a sippy cup. This is why the time when you start giving solids is also a good time to slowly introduce water.

Drinking water will also help your child develop healthy habits. Giving your baby juice is not recommended, as it can cause her to crave sweetened drinks, which can lead to her becoming overweight or obese later on. What's dangerous is adding extra water to the formula. Diluting formula or giving your baby water in addition to formula can lead to a condition called water intoxication.

This can lead to slowed development, electrolyte imbalances, and possibly seizures. Plus, you don't want to fill up your baby on water, since she might not be hungry for feedings. This decrease in appetite may leave her malnourished, potentially leading to weight loss. It may also cause your breast milk supply to diminish. Never dilute formula with water, and always consult a doctor before introducing water into your baby's diet.

Another reason pediatricians are cautious about water: It's very easy to overload your baby. Giving a baby too much water too fast can cause her kidneys to flush out sodium and electrolytes, leaving her salt-depleted. Your infant will get all the necessary hydration from breast milk or formula.

Even when a mother's milk supply is just coming in during the first few days after delivery, the baby is getting colostrum , which is enough to keep her well hydrated. Water can interfere with a young baby's ability to absorb the nutrients in breast milk or formula and, because it can make her feel full, it may prevent her from feeding as much as she should.

Giving water to an infant can also cause water intoxication, a serious condition that happens when too much water dilutes the concentration of sodium in the body, upsetting the electrolyte balance and causing tissues to swell. It's uncommon but serious, potentially causing seizures and even a coma.

If a young baby needs more hydration — because of a bout of gastroenteritis, for example — the doctor may recommend an electrolyte drink like Pedialyte or Infalyte. You may have heard of researchers using sugar water to pacify babies during immunizations. While this practice might safely be used during a medical procedure, giving your baby sugar water at home whether in an effort to pacify her or quench her thirst isn't a good idea.

She doesn't need the water, and the sugar isn't good for her. Read more about when your baby can drink water.