Patient's question:
Detailed medical condition and consultation purpose: She refuses to drink water from a bottle unless she is hungry, but I am afraid it will affect her milk intake (she is currently going through a nursing strike). With a dropper, I can force her to drink 5-10ml, but only 20-30ml per day. Is this amount sufficient? How can I increase her water intake? Can I add an extra 10-20ml of water each time when mixing the milk, in proportion? (For example: the standard is 90ml of water mixed with 3 scoops of, changed to 110ml of water mixed with 3 scoops of) First follow-up question: What specific amount is appropriate?Doctor's answer:
The baby doesn't like to drink water, you can use the following methods:1. When starting to feed water, you can cook some fruit water. The fruit water doesn't need to be added with anything and should be kept in its original flavor, while vegetable water can be slightly sweetened (though it can also be unsweetened). Examples include carrots, cabbage, etc.
2. Add some calcium supplements with a good taste to the water.
3. You can also prepare a delicious soup for the baby with each meal. Drinking more soup can also help supplement water and is rich in nutrients.
4. If the baby refuses to drink water, don't force it too much, as this may cause them to develop a dislike for water, making it harder to feed in the future. You can try a different approach, such as playing role-playing games.
5. It's best to encourage and praise the baby more, and to praise them for drinking more water than other babies. However, note the following:
1. Avoid drinking a large amount of water before meals, as it may dilute stomach acid, hinder digestion, expand stomach capacity, and increase feelings of fullness, affecting appetite.
2. Avoid drinking a large amount of water after meals, as the food in the stomach can easily be bloated by water, causing the food to expand in volume and making digestion difficult, which may cause discomfort to the baby.
3. Avoid drinking water one hour before bedtime. Drinking a lot of water before bed is not recommended, as it may lead to the production of a large amount of urine, increasing the frequency of bedwetting and affecting the baby's sleep quality.
Generally speaking, the younger the baby, the more water they need. The daily water requirement per kilogram of body weight for children is as follows:
1–3 days: 20–40 mL
4–7 days: 60–100 mL
2–3 weeks: 120–150 mL
1–3 years: 110–155 mL
4–6 years: 90–100 mL
7–9 years: 70–90 mL
10–14 years: 50–85 mL
Additionally, if the baby doesn't use a bottle, you can switch to a simulation nipple for the baby. Make sure the holes in the nipple are slightly larger so the baby can suck without difficulty.