Is there a difference between the water requirements of breast-fed and bottle-fed babies?
According to Dr. Sears, “Breastfeeding babies do not need extra water, though formula-fed babies often do. Your breast milk contains enough water for your baby (it is 88% water,) even in hot, dry climates. Formula contains higher concentrations of salts and minerals than breast milk does, so that extra water is often necessary for the kidneys to excrete the extra salt. Also, because of less efficient metabolism, formula-fed infants lose more water.” (Click for source.) Doctors often recommend that formula-fed babies should be given sips of water beyond 6 months of age when solid foods are introduced, to avoid constipation. However, this is only a suggestion, not a strict condition. Don’t force your baby to drink water if he does not want to, he knows how much his body requires. How much water should a baby be given? Beyond 6 months, a baby can be given around 2-4 ounces of water a day. The baby will mostly need this water in hot weather or when he has a fever. However, it should be kep
