Forum Index
»
Infants, Toddlers, & Preschoolers
Help I need a schedule for a 13 week old
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
Water Intoxication in Infants
For healthy adults, nothing seems to quench a thirst better than plain, pure water. We're encouraged to drink several glasses a day to keep our systems in balance. But for children under 1 year old – and especially during the first nine months of life – drinking too much water can be dangerous. In fact, according to pediatricians like James P. Keating, MD, medical director of the St. Louis Children's Hospital Diagnostic Center, too much water dilutes a baby's normal sodium levels and can lead to seizures, coma, brain damage and death. Breast milk or formula provides all the fluid healthy babies need. If a mother feels her baby needs to take additional water, it should be limited to two to three ounces at a time and should be offered only after the baby has satisfied his hunger with breast feeding or formula. Dr. Keating also recommends that parents avoid participating in infant swimming lessons. "Repeated dunking of infants can cause them to gulp water and has caused seizures in the infants at the poolside," he says. Since the brain is the organ most susceptible to water intoxication, a change of behavior is usually the first symptom in older children. They may become confused, drowsy or inattentive. They also may suffer from blurred vision, muscle cramps and twitching, poor coordination, nausea and vomiting, irregular breathing and weakness. If you notice any of these symptoms, call your pediatrician. http://www.stlouischildrens.org/tabid/88/itemid/166/Water-Intoxication-in-Infants.aspx |
Anonymous
| Thanks everyone. To the PP with the 12 week old - I've done basically the same thing as you for about a week now and I'm still having trouble getting her to take longer feedings. I think she is pretty efficient but after 10 minutes MAX (usually on one side) she is done. I'm not sure if she gets frustrated with the slower flow of milk. Sometimes if I wait for 10 or so minutes I can get her to latch on the other side but she usually makes a big stink before giving in and feeding for another 5 or so minutes. So now I'm concerned that she is eating less because of the 3 hour schedule. Urgh... |
Anonymous
Don't be ridiculous, people. we are talking about an ounce or two to settle a baby in the night who no longer needs night-time feeds, not replacing breastmilk as a source of nutrician. This isn't going to kill anyone. This works well and is commonly used in many countries. Many of the respondents here are at the extreme end of the spectrum - e.g. you have to feed on demand for a 13 week old? You most certainly do not! What you need to do is ensure they are getting enough milk for hydration, energy and nutrician. |
Anonymous
What countries? |
Anonymous
Australia, UK... |
Anonymous
| If you think breastfeeding an infant on demand is challenging, try parenting a toddler! Honestly, feeding my baby on demand is one of the easiest aspects of parenting for me. My baby signals when he's hungry, and he's fed. Nursed my first child on demand and now he's 3.5yo and let me tell you figuring out what he "wants and needs" is an entirely different challenge. Your baby is biologically designed to feed on demand, and your baby should triple in size (weight) in the first year of life while all his organs are developing. This is not the time to play guessing game of maybe he isnt really hungry so i'll just give him water. The infants needs are so basic and rarely fall neatly into a schedule at this age of their development. Try to enjoy it, even the night feedings as they disappear! |
Anonymous
|
12 weeks poster here again:
Really try and stretch the time between feedings then if you can, because then you know they will eat more at one feeding and be getting the "hind milk" or fat that they need. Especially if they are only eating for 10 min or less or on one breast, they probably weren't that hungry. Also, I was told by my lactation consultant and my pediatrician NOT to give anything but BM or formula now. If you are in doubt, I would not talk to this board, I would talk to your pediatrician. |
Anonymous
Wrong! In the UK, they tell you NOT to give your baby water. My children were born there, and I was warned against it, repeatedly. Every time the Health visitor came, she she reminded me not to give the babies water. |
Anonymous
| Op here - thanks PP. Not sure how the water discussion started but I'm not considering it. |
Anonymous
| My daughter was born in the UK and it is absolutely common there. Also, when children have had general anesthetic at a very young age as my daughter did in the UK and a friend had in NYC last week, hospitals GIVE babies sugar water afterwards to keep them hydrated before offering breast milk. So it is advised in some cases even here, the horror. Of course the OP and all of us should do what works for us. |
Anonymous
Sugar water is much different than regular water. The sugar keeps the water from flushing everything out. Babies in the UK are given bottles full of Ribena, all the time, but mothers are always advised against it. As I said before, when I had my children, I was told not to give them water. This was living in two different villages, and having completely different health visitors. The UK Department of Health says nothing, other than milk (and this includes water) for children under six months of age. |
Anonymous
lets just be clear, no one is talking about feeding babies water as part of their diet! this is about giving a baby water once or twice in the night to wean them off the night feed. Find me a pediatrician who says that 2 ounces of water once or twice is going to poison a three month old! this was done to me as a baby and many other mothers I know have done it. it is normal, and very different from feeding a baby ribena (which, incidentally, I have never heard of anyone doing!). |
Anonymous
Who knows if this is just an ounce or two? |
Anonymous
Is this a trick question? You put one or two ounces in the bottle. That way they have something in their stomaches and go back to sleep. You do it for a couple of nights until they stop waking up. Most babies over three months should be able to have their nutritional needs met between 7am and 11 pm. Gina Ford is the big authority in the UK and this is what she advocates. Of course there are plenty of moms who enjoy night feeds like PP, and more power to them. This is just an idea people can consider if in their view continuing to feed at 3 in the morning indefinitely is difficult to reconcile with having a good relationship and life. To each their own. And of course people should discuss with their pediatrician, family, spiritual advisers etc first. |
Anonymous
| People you are ridiculous. I am the one who posted initially about giving water and yes, of course I meant an ounce or two to wean off of the night feed when the baby no longer requires it because he is gaining enough and is getting enough during the day. Babies often continue to wake in the night due to habit rather than need. This just proved everyone on this board wants to start world war III. Assume the worst about everyone. Really nice. |