Patient's question:
My daughter only has a bowel movement every few days. The doctor said to give her more water, but it seems she can't accept anything other than milk. Every time I try to give her water, she cries after drinking just a couple of sips. When I use a bottle, she doesn't suck on it. What should I do?Doctor's answer:
It's perfectly normal, most babies are like this. You can try adding a drop of orange juice or grape juice to the water, but be very careful to use only a small amount—just a few drops are enough. Don't let the baby taste it as too sweet or too sour; a faint flavor is ideal. You can gradually reduce the amount of juice over time, slowly making the water less sweet. Eventually, the child will get used to plain water because it has no taste, and most babies don't like it.