Breast feeding question?

No. Breastfed babies do not need extra water until they are over 6 months old, eating solids and drinking from a cup.

Breastmilk is intended to provide all the water baby requires, and extra water can actually be harmful.

http://kellymom.com/nutrition/starting-solids/baby...

In ante-natal classes I was told that when a baby feeds from the breast, the milk changes according to his or her need. If they are hungry the milk is richer [hind milk] if they are thirsty the milk is thinner.

When my daughter was about 3 months, a family friend who was a midwife visited. She asked me what I was giving her. [That was in the days when starting solids were recommended from 3 months - which some interpreted as 'A baby SHOULD be given it's 1st solids at EXACTLY 13 weeks!]

My friend looked horrified when I said I was giving breastmilk only. She said in no uncertain terms that I

SHOULD be giving water by now, and went on about how her grandchildren had it from 1 week. When she left, I offered my daughter cooled boiled water in a bottle. [I sometimes gave expressed breast milk.] She did not seem interested in the water, so I concluded that I was indeed satisfying her thirst.

I tried again a few months later when my daughter was having solids 3 times a day, and soon gave water instead of breastmilk with one solid meal. While I planned when to drop breastfeeds, I felt flexibility was important.

What worries me, is a less confident mother might have got worried by the midwife, and forced their baby to drink water.

Not before 6 months, and even 6-12 months it should only be minimal amounts as water can easily mess up electrolyte balances in their tiny bodies.

breast milk is all your baby needs until baby is over 6 months old.

No.

The breast milk has all they need.

Yes they should.

I have two of my own kids. My daughter who is 30 and my son who is 23.