In hot summer, especially when the temperature reaches ≥ 32 ℃, the baby should not only stay in a cool and ventilated room as far as possible, no matter how much the amount of activity, but also need to appropriately increase the intake of liquid. This is beyond doubt.
When we say liquid, we do not necessarily mean water.
Then parents will ask: How old does the baby need extra water? How much should I drink? Do you want to drink mineral water or pure water?
Should the baby drink water
A large number of investigations and studies show that under any environment with a temperature of 22 ~ 41 degrees and a relative humidity of 9% ~ 96%, the baby’s demand for water can be completely met by breast milk.
The baby’s daily water demand is as follows:
Therefore, we have summarized the following points based on the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics:
- Babies within 6 months: No matter whether the baby is fed with mixed or pure formula milk, Under normal circumstances, there is no need to feed extra water (plain boiled water) and fruit juice (unless there are medical indications). For babies over 6 months old: You can start thinking about feeding water in cups, But the quantity must be small, Typically not more than 50 mL every 24 hours, And don’t force your baby to drink. Don’t worry if your baby refuses to drink water, Because babies may prefer to drink milk (breast milk or formula milk) frequently to get the water they need. Babies who have added supplementary foods: The demand for water will increase relatively. Parents should take the initiative to find signs of thirst in their babies, such as dry lips, yellow urine, and few or no tears when crying. Sick baby: If the baby has fever, vomiting and diarrhea, the demand for water is also greater because the baby loses more water at this time. Please consult a doctor for details.
It is risky to replenish water for your baby at random.
- The Breastfeeding Society suggested that if babies under 6 months old are randomly replenished with water, the babies may face these risks: interfering with the normal frequency of breast-feeding, prolonging the interval between each breast-feeding by the mother, and delaying or preventing the mother from producing the best breast milk; Nutrition and energy in breast milk can help the baby grow, while water cannot provide nutrition. After drinking water, the baby will feel full, which will reduce the intake of breast milk and may lead to malnutrition. If the supplement is water or glucose water, the baby will face bilirubin increase, excessive weight loss, prolonged hospitalization time and potential risks of water poisoning. If the baby is rehydrated with light saline, sugar saline, soup (soup, rice soup, noodle soup, etc.) or oral rehydration salt solution, improper configuration will increase various risks such as hypernatremia.
Therefore, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends:
Unless there are certain medical indications, no additional water (including water, glucose water, formula milk powder and other liquids) shall be added to breast-fed newborns.
Plain boiled water is a treasure
Once again remind parents that warm and cool plain boiled water is the most suitable drink for children, and fruit juice and carbonated drinks cannot replace plain boiled water.
Drinking water is a habit problem that needs to be cultivated slowly. Drinking water during the day should be arranged between meals and once every hour when necessary. Don’t wait until you are thirsty to think of drinking water. Don’t swallow it too fast and too fast, which is easy to cause choking or hiccups or abdominal distension.
Can I have juice?
What parents need to pay attention to is that drinking water is a habit problem. We should try our best to let the baby form a good habit of drinking plain boiled water, which can benefit the baby for a lifetime.
Some parents may think that their children’s drinking plain boiled water is tasteless and want to give their children some fruit juice, but in fact fruit juice cannot be given to their children casually.
If the baby forms the habit of drinking fruit juice instead of plain boiled water, it may lead to the baby being willing to drink only sweet drinks when he grows up, which may cause the baby to be overweight, obese and other problems.
Therefore, parents must pay attention to remember the following two points:
- Try not to drink fruit juice for babies under 6 months old, including freshly squeezed fruit juice, 100% pure fruit juice and diluted fruit juice. Babies over 6 months old can drink a small amount of diluted fruit juice, but babies between 7 and 12 months old are more recommended to eat fruit directly. Because the nutritional value of fruit juice is not as good as real fruit, puree or small fruit grains are more nutritious and healthier than drinking fruit juice.
If you drink fruit juice, you must pay attention to the limit: the daily consumption of pure fruit juice for babies aged 7-12 months should not exceed 120ml, and that for babies aged 2-6 years should not exceed 180ml. Moreover, you should not drink it before going to bed, nor should you use it as a supplement for dehydration and diarrhea.