Can babies drink water before six months? – Dr. Shaheena Athif

As per the WHO guidelines, any baby that is 6 months of age, that is term or pre term baby contains only breast milk. It contains all the nutrients that the baby requires till this age. So we need not give any water or any particular medicines as such. But however if the baby has any problems like gastroenteritis, then the pediatrician will be prescribing you with oral rehydration fluids or any other medicines as of required for the situation. So the baby is said to be exclusively breast fed only if the baby takes the breast milk along with any medication only if it is required. At any particular age before 6 months, that is no need to give any fluids or any water. The baby requires only breast milk for the first 6 months but in case the baby is on formula milk, we need not substitute or add on any other fluids. As it is the baby requires enough calories which is only attained by milk. 100 ml of milk contains almost 67 – 70 kilocalories and this is attained only if the baby takes milk. If you give fluids, it only fills the stomach and gives hydration to the baby and does not meet the calorie requirement that the baby requires. So if you feed the baby with water, the baby only attains a hydration and the net effect, the baby gets malnourished and there is an extra chance of infection for the baby as you are giving extra water to the baby which is already boiled and if it is boiled also it may contain germs and may result in gastroenteritis and may result in diarrhea and it results in the overall illnesses in the child. So it is not recommended to give water or any other liquids before 6 months.