Our DD had her first Dr's appointment today. I was thoroughly unimpressed. He was VERY old school (I thought). He told us to give her water in a bottle twice a day! I thought this was an outdated old school thing that was no longer thought to be needed. He said she needed it to keep her bowels moving and to keep her kidney's flushed. Well let me tell you, she doesn't NEED to keep her "bowels moving". LOL :rolleyes: Nor does she have any problems peeing. Everything I've read and been told (including by the hospital) has told us that she doesn't need water, and it will only lessen her urge to nurse because it gives them a false sense of a full tummy.

Has anyone else been told their infant "needed" water? He also went on to tell us that we're spoiling her and that we need to train her, not the other way around. AND, knowing full well that I WANT to breast feed exclusively, he told me I should supplement with formula every night!! I'm not going back, I'm finding a different pediatrician for her!

But about the water... does anyone else give their new borns water?

Oh my! Looks like you need to find a new pedi. No your baby doesn't need water. She gets everything she needs from your breastmilk. Water can actually cause problems.

Is your location NJ, I think my SIL has the same doctor, lol.

First of all the reason hospital personel tell you not to give your baby water is because they are getting enough of it int heir formula and also, becasue if you give your baby too much water he/she will dilute their sodium levels and can be extremely dangerous, leading to low electrolyes

As far as supplementing with formula is your baby is she gaining enough weight? This is the only reason I can see why supplementing would be necessary

I would get some answers and see if you can get an understanding from where he is coming from before you switch dr's, if it is still not toy our liking...switch

I agree with Val, especially at that age water is going to mess up her electrolytes which can be very dangerous!
And the supplementing thing, I would think he would only suggest if she appeared not to be getting what she needs from breast milk and losing alot of weight. Yeah, I would find a new pediatrician.

She is NOT loosing weight!! She was born 8 days ago at 9.2. She left the hospital at 8.7. Today she was 11.14. She gained 3 pounds in a week. She doesn't need to be supplemented!!

Thank-you ladies, you confirmed all of my concerns.

Wow! Why in the world would he say that she needed to be supplemented! That seems crazy!

My DS is 8mo old and still doesn't drink water, he just doesn't like it. I breastfed him exculsively until 5mo, and still do it now 4times a day. Never gave him any formula.

Definitly change your pedi.

Like she said in the first post, he thinks she should supplement to avoid the baby being too attached. This doctor is old fashioned and shouldn't be practicing anymore. Think of the mothers who don't read about childcare and listen to what he says like its law?

Neither of my kids could even keep water down in their systems until they were like 6 months. Always spat it back up.

Thank goodness there are places like this board to get "second opinions"

I think babies spit it up because they don't like the taste.

Our DD had her first Dr's appointment today. I was thoroughly unimpressed. He was VERY old school (I thought). He told us to give her water in a bottle twice a day! I thought this was an outdated old school thing that was no longer thought to be needed. He said she needed it to keep her bowels moving and to keep her kidney's flushed. Well let me tell you, she doesn't NEED to keep her "bowels moving". LOL :rolleyes: Nor does she have any problems peeing. Everything I've read and been told (including by the hospital) has told us that she doesn't need water, and it will only lessen her urge to nurse because it gives them a false sense of a full tummy.

Has anyone else been told their infant "needed" water? He also went on to tell us that we're spoiling her and that we need to train her, not the other way around. AND, knowing full well that I WANT to breast feed exclusively, he told me I should supplement with formula every night!! I'm not going back, I'm finding a different pediatrician for her!

But about the water... does anyone else give their new borns water?


It isn't a necessity for infants to have water. They get everything they need from formula/breast milk. But giving an infant water certainly wouldn't cause any harm. Its ultimately your decision.

I would defintely change pedi's. My sister is giving her baby water but she's almost 3 months old! He's very old school. I'm formula feeding but if you are nursing stick to it! For some reason he much be thinking that if you breastfeed you are spoiling your child?! Who knows..he's a wacko! lol.

For some reason he much be thinking that if you breastfeed you are spoiling your child?!

No, he said that because I commented on her not sleeping at night (having night and day mixed up). He said that I needed to "train" her before she trained me. :rolleyes: I'm sorry, but you can't "train" an 8 day old baby!! I'm a firm believer of them needing something at this age, even if it's just comfort from me. I will often let her resettle herself, but I will NOT leave her alone in her nursey while she wails in an attempt to "train" her, hence the reason he said she was spoiled.

He was a nice man, but certainly out of date, and I do NOT feel comfortable taking advice from him.

I've also been reading a lot about the whole water thing, and I'm STILL astonished that he advised it!!

Are ya sure this guy has a license? Just kidding. Everything mentioned here by these ladies is right. I would switch doctors, who knows what he'll be telling you next..........

I dont think its necessary to give babies or newborns that is water but I dont think it harms that unless your giving them a significant amount my DD is a week old and started taking 1 oz of water a day because she wasnt wanting to make a bowel movement and the water helped things right along..

North of 60...my advice is give that baby lots of water, put some Brandy in her bottle to make her sleep, then put her in a nice lead painted crib and stay in her room while you have a cigarette to make sure she falls asleep.

;)

Ok, that's kind of a scary joke...but it sounds like the next round of advice your doctor may give.