IN 1991 the WHO came out with strong warnings
about giving water to infants. even if they are artificially fed, they will get all the water they need in the artificial milk. Giving water can cause problems. Your breast milk is 90% water and artificial milk is also made of water. If you think that your baby is not getting enough liquids, then you will have to check what is happening with the breastfeeding.......is the baby latching well? water will fill the baby's stomach with liquid which has no calories or food value, and this will cause him to eat less and will interfere with proper growth. Here is a study from the early 90's: Additional water is not needed for healthy breast-fed babies in a hot climate. Ashraf RN, Jalil F, Aperia A, Lindblad BS. Department of Social and Preventive Paediatrics, King Edward Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan. In Lahore, Pakistan, a community-based study was conducted to investigate whether or not it was necessary to give water to breast-fed infants. From May to November 1986, 2-4-month-old, breast-fed infants (n = 26) were selected. During the study period the maximum temperature ranged between 27.4 and 40.7 degrees C and humidity varied between 24 and 77%. Each infant was followed up for 15 days. Water was not allowed from day 1 to day 8 and water was allowed ad libitum from day 8 to day 15. All infants were subjected to a DDAVP test to estimate the renal concentrating capacity on day 15. A significant gain in weight (p < 0.001) was observed between day 1 to 8 and 8 to 15. The differences in the values of haematocrit and serum sodium between day 8 and 1 and between day 15 and 8 were not significant. This indicates that the infants were not dehydrated when water was withheld. Furthermore, no significant difference was observed for urine specific gravity between day 8 and 1, but urine specific gravity increased significantly after the administration of DDAVP (p < 0.001), indicating that, if needed, the infants could concentrate urine when water was restricted. It was concluded that 2-4-month-old, breast-fed, healthy infants showed no signs of dehydration if additional water was not given during the summer season.