Does a Baby Need Water?

I have heard many conversations among parents, and there have been threads on the forum about this. Most of it stems from advice that parents got years ago versus advice that parents are getting today.

I think we all need to step back sometimes and think about how things have changed over time. How many of us didn't have car seats when we were babies? How many babies died getting their heads trapped between crib slats before they started regulating that? Who remembers outlet covers? I sure never saw them in my house when I was growing up.

So even though your mother or well-meaning others might be questioning your sanity because you don't give your baby a bottle of water between feeds -- take a deep breath. Then call your health care provider and do some research. A good place to start is with this article from Pediatrics Guide Vincent Iannelli that addresses this concern.

Now, this isn't to say that all your mom's advice is wrong, but just be sure you do some fact checking and listen to a health care provider that you trust.