As adults, we’re constantly reminded to drink gallons of water in a heatwave to avoid dehydration – but the same isn’t advised for babies.
Parents might worry that their newborns need water to keep them hydrated in the scorching temperatures – but this could put their health at risk.
The National Childbirth Trust (NCT) states young babies under six months don’t need to have any water or extra drinks, other than their usual milk.
“Even in hot weather, you won’t usually need to offer your baby water if you feed them breastmilk,” the NCT states. “They will just breastfeed more frequently if they need to.”
If you feed your baby formula milk, you might need to offer them tap water in hot weather as well as the milk – but the NHS advises you give them “a little cooled boiled water”. Water straight from the tap is not sterile so is not suitable for younger babies.
[Read More: 8 Ways To Help Your Children Sleep In The Heat]
According to Abbas Kanani, pharmacist at Chemist Click, babies’ kidneys are too immature to drink too much water. Adults are made up of 55-60% water, but the average baby is about 75% water – this means even a small amount of water could affect the balance in a baby’s body.
“Water [in babies] can cause intoxication as a result of an imbalance in electrolytes such as sodium,” Kanani told Yahoo UK. “This can cause complications such as swelling of the brain, seizures and, in extreme cases, death. Their stomachs are so tiny and can fill up easily with water, making it difficult for them to get the nourishment they require.”
So how do you know if your baby is getting enough to drink in the heat –whether you are breastfeeding, formula feeding or both?
“Their stomachs are so tiny and can fill up easily with water, making it difficult for them to get the nourishment they require.”
The NCT states that in general, your baby is getting enough to drink if they have at least six heavy, wet nappies every 24 hours. “This should be the case from when your baby is five days old, as long as they’re happy and alert, and they’re feeding frequently,” the charity advises.
Once your baby is six months old, you can offer them water straight from the tap in a beaker or cup. They’d have this as well as their usual milk.
Don’t give your baby bottled water, as it may contain too much salt or sulphate.
For more information on giving babies water – and when you should – visit the NCT advice page.