Babies having water

Why are you horrified? As time goes on more research is done and guidelines change. The baby doesn’t need water at all if they’re formula fed and they may have (but really don’t need) small sips of water in hot weather if formula fed.

Breast milk is composed of about 88% water plus all the nutrients baby needs. No need to give extra water and why would you want to anyway as it could contain contaminants. I breast fed all 3 of mine and never saw the need to risk water. Son has been advised correctly.

I know my sons weren't given water as young babies as neither would drink from a bottle. They had water once they could drink from sippy cups.

Baby is bottle fed. I've always treated it as the milk is their food so they need water as a drink. I've had 5 and they've all turned out fine.

My second child, born 1960's I Amsterdam was given water between feeds from birth. The nurses used a small, stainless steel cup, like a large thimble with an elongated edge to fit between baby's lips.

Yes, I can remember being told to give mine cooled boiled water in a bottle if they wouldn't settle.
It didn't work.

Yes, this is the advice now. I asked the midwife when my DGD was born 9 months ago as she had jaundice.

This NHS advice:

www.nhs.uk/baby/weaning-and-feeding/drinks-and-cups-for-babies-and-young-children/

Water

Once your baby has started to eat solid foods (from around 6 months) you can offer them sips of water from a cup or beaker with meals. Drinking water for babies over 6 months does not need to be boiled first.

Fully breastfed babies do not need any water until they've started eating solid foods. During hot weather they may want to breastfeed more than usual.

Formula fed babies under 6 months of age may need small sips of cooled boiled water during hot weather as well as their usual milk feeds.

How is baby being fed?

Perhaps it’s my bad memory but I don’t remember giving water to my young babies