Water and Milk???

DON'T give whole milk until he's one year old. Water (in small amounts) is O.K. Continue with formula or breastfeeding until he's one. That's his most important form of nutrition for now.

I give my baby ( 9 months) water in a gerber sippy cup with all her meals. She eats 3 meals a day. I do not give her regular milk yet. She still gets mommys milk and formula in between meals. I am planning on giving her milk at 12 months. :)

Hi S.,
Our doctor had us use formula for 12 months then whole milk for 12 months then low fat milk starting at 2 years. The babies need full fat milk until they are 2. You can start trying to give some water now. Babies usually don't like to drink water at first and it takes awhile to get them used to it. If you can get the baby used to it now, then when he is older you can give it to him more often when he is thirsty rather than more milk or juice. My son is 6 now. I tried water a little before a year old and he didn't want it. I kept trying and he started to like it. Now he usually asks for ice water to drink - he still has milk for breakfast and some at bedtime but he loves to drink water. It's a good habit to start.

Good luck.

Water now, milk, no need if you're breast feeding.

Hi, i started giving my daughter water in a sippy cup at 51/2 months. Since i breastfed i asked the dr. if she needed it. He said only in the hotter months is it necessary at her age. Now she 7 months and she loves to drink water with her meals. I like her to drink water with the solids to help everything digest easier. Milk is not until they are a year old.

We just went in for my sons 6 month visit, and the doctor told me water right now is totally normal (especially since we live in Arizona.. hydration is the key). Milk should not be given to a baby till their 12 month milestone.

Check with your ped before doing anything. Every child is different. I don't believe regular milk should be given until after age 1. I think it's important to start encouraging drinking water. My ped said 1 ounce per day for each month. So, at 9 months, up to 9 oz water each day. Make one water bottle in the morning and use it all day. When it's gone it's gone. Overweight children may be able to have more. My children were all underweight, so we didn't want them getting full on water. Good luck.

Hey S.,
Regular vitamin d milk shouldnt be given until 1 yr old and if your nursing usually water isnt necessary they get all the water content through breast milk, if you are bottle feeding then its ok to give water now formula is thicker than breast milk so they need extra...
Ive had 4 wonderful kids to try this out on!!!

hello!

water should be involved with formula feed babies. milk is ok, but really, formula should still be his main stay till he's one. is there a reason that you want to give him regular milk instead of formula at this point?

Conventional wisdom says not to give cows milk until at least the age of 12 months. However, cows milk is really not meant for humans and is responsible for a heck of a lot of allergies. And the earlier you introduce cows milk, the greater the chance of allergies developing. Since there is no reason to start giving cows milk at a year old, my attitude was always "better safe than sorry". I kept mine on breast milk or formula until they were at least 18 months.

As for water, that is only necessary for formula fed babies, and never in place of formula, only as an "extra".

Hi S.,
Babies can have water at 6 months. It doesn't have any calories or nutritional value, so it shouldn't replace formula/breastmilk. What we have done with my daughter is keep a sippy cup with water in the living room so it's available to her in between feedings. She'll take a few sips when she's thirsty.

He can have whole milk at 12 months. My sister-in-law started her son on whole milk at 11 1/2 months when she used up her last can of formula because she didn't want to buy another can when he was so close. A few weeks shouldn't make too much of a difference.

"Regular" milk, must be whole milk... and given from 1 yr. until 2 years old.
The reason for "whole" milk is that the milk fat in it is an essential nutrient for brain growth. The reason for waiting until 1 year old is per allergic reactions and the baby's body has to develop to where it can "digest" it better.

As for water... "usually" this can be introduced from about 6 months old... in a sippy cup. HOWEVER, ask your Pediatrician. There are many timetables about this.

HOWEVER, water should not constitute the majority of the fluids a baby/child gets. For the first year of life... breastmilk/formula is the PRIMARY source of nutrition for a baby. Not solids, and not water.

hi S.. my ped told me my boy can have 4 oz of water and 4 oz of juice daily but in addition to the oz of formula. i just offer him water and if he's thirsty he'll drink a bit. he sips many times all day. talk to your ped. and he'll let ya know!

My pediatrician had us start with whole milk when my kids were each 9 months old (I was still breast-feeding as well). It seems that most doctors recommend 12 months. I can't remember when we started with water, perhaps at the same time.

Hello S.,
No milk until 12 months and water anytime!

Pure water anytime if he is already on solids. (Not distilled because too much of it leaches the nutrients from your body.)
Cow's milk is not really that great fro kids contrary to popular belief....and the milk advisory boards.....the cow milk molecules are larger than human milk's so they don't pass through our systems well and they clog the whole thing up! Extra mucous, arteries clogging, etc... There are many other ways to get calcium and soy milk now has vitamin D added if that is a worry. Goat's milk's molecules are more the size of our own an do not create the same problems in humans.

Besides, cows milk is for baby cows to grow into the best adult cows. And what makes a good cow? Being fat and kinda dumb. That's what we want to push on our kids? Hmmmm....on the other hand, human milk is brain food and provides specific nutrients and immunities for humans....think about it.....

Sounds like you are still nursing. PLEASE do it as long as you can!! For so many reasons you won't regret it. Seems like a hassle now, I know, but it won't last long and the physical and emotional benefits are enormous!!!!!

Thanks for being a loving and caring mom.

Love,
Deb

Hi S., Water should always be given especially as hot as it has been. Regular milk at one year, unless your doctor advises different. J. L.

wait until he is 12 months old