[fossie]

I have been worried because my little boy has passed hard formed stools the last couple of days and in reading about this to determine if I should be worried a lot of people mention that their babies have a little water supplemented to forumla - are any of you giving water to your babies?

[larklynn]

I have never given water to them until they are older. I did ask the lactation specialist about the stool thing and they said sometimes it means they are not getting enough... but all my kids have had the constipation problem as infants and we would have to resort to helping them go.

[anirtak]

I read an article in a parent magazine and it said to never water down formula. It said that babies under 6 months should not be given too much because of their underdeveloped kindneys. It gace a specific amount of water that should not be surpsassed but I can not remember the amount.

[mazariee]

I read that the water used to make their formulas is all they need at the start. I never gave my son any water in addition to his formula. I began giving him water after 6 months I believe and even then it would only be an ounce. I would say call your PEDs to discuss the hard stool and possible remedy.

[futuremom2b]

Katrina is absoutly correct! No water for babies. It may just be his system getting use to formula (are you Breastfeeding or formula)?

[fossie]

Originally Posted by futuremom2b

Katrina is absoutly correct! No water for babies. It may just be his system getting use to formula (are you Breastfeeding or formula)?

I am doing both and have been from the beginning and they are on the same formula as in the NICU, so odd that this just developed when nothing has changed and his sister is pooping really well!

[hannah01]

i've read and heard that if you are breastfeeding, you should not need to give your baby any water. is he urinating normally? i think that would be your best indicator for whether he is getting enough fluids.

[MIRANDA12503]

I agree with the others. I have never given water to my babies. I also BF and use formula and think it may just be them getting used to it....ask your Dr and see what they think.

[kcmour]

I agree with everyone else. Our peds. said no water until they are older...6+ months...and just a little then. Call the Dr. & see what they recommend.

[jenedens6102]

Ethan was constipated at 7 weeks old and the first request from his ped was to give him two ounces of water. If that didn't work after a few days to give him one ounce of juice and one ounce of water. When neither of these worked we were told to use glycerine suppositories but that didn't work either. We ended up in the ER only to be asked if we had considered changing his formula! We changed that day and he's been great since! I breastfed for the first four weeks and then switched to formula, it took three weeks on formula for him to develop his problem - so don't count that out. Talk to his ped.