My sister and I, and many of our friends have had just about everyone ask us this question, and she posted the following blog for the answer. I took this right off of her page, so I give her all the credit (Thanks Lyssa!)...I just wanted everyone who reads my blog to know why also. Here goes:
This question I think I've been asked more than "Why do you swaddle?" I know things are different now than they used to be. I know things worked for moms like when my mom was a new mother but I really like doing things the way this generation of new moms does them, not that there's anything wrong with how my mom's generation of new mothers mothered. Here is the latest on babies drinking water and maybe coming from a reliable source it will help new mothers answer why we don't give water to our babies. This is taken word for word from the September 2008 Parents magazine.
Don't give extra water to infants younger than 6 months and don't give more than six ounces a day to babies between 6 and 12 months of age. Water triggers babies' immature kidneys to flush away sodium, which can disrupt normal brain activity and cause a seizure, explains Jennifer Anders, M.D., a pediatrician at Johns Hopkins Children's Center, in Baltimore. "The smaller the baby, the smaller the amount of water it takes to do harm," she says. The best way to hydrate a thirsty baby is with breast milk or formula--and you should never dilute formula with extra water.
I like reading articles like this because I know why I've done things the way I have but I like having an educated response (not that I need to explain myself). The only response I've had was, "because she doesn't need it. Everything she needs is in my milk." I like to read books and talk to friends and our pediatrician so I know WHY I do things the way I do them and which is best for our baby. I feel I'm really lucky that I have so many friends who are journeying through parenthood along with Andy and me to whom I may ask questions. I feel we have had great support and encouragement from those people and so this is me saying THANKS!!
I hope all of the questions can now be answered. We will decide when Harrison needs more to drink.
3 comments:
What I shouldn't give my newborn a bottle of water?.....crap..jk
Paige,
You go baby girl !
Kick em to the curve, when you've
had enough of their foolishness !
Love,
Aunt Helen
I keep reading how I should offer water to my baby at each meal which seems so funny to me. She won't even take a sippy cup or a bottle! So, I've had to put this tiny amount of water in a small cup and put it up to her mouth. She might take a little of it in her mouth and then it just sits there and dribbles out. It's hilarious! I know she is getting much more liquid from my breastmilk than from that cup. Thanks for the post-it makes me feel much better!
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