Water is the source of life, very important for everyone, and drinking water in the right way is also beneficial for the body. The water demand of babies is related to their age, with younger babies requiring more water. Therefore, many mothers also give their babies water at night. Is this practice good, especially for giving babies water in the middle of the night?
Can I give my baby water in the middle of the night
When babies feel thirsty at night, they can be given water. But in the two hours before the baby goes to bed, try not to give them water if possible. Even if the baby says they are very thirsty, there is no need to give them too much water. The reason why it is not recommended to give babies water before bedtime is because babies are relatively young and they do not have the ability to freely control their urge to urinate. For example, drinking too much water before going to bed can easily cause bedwetting, or children may frequently get up to urinate and affect their sleep.
What are the hazards of not drinking water for babies
1. Kidney stones come knocking at your door
The habit of not liking to drink water can lead to urine being concentrated for a long time, which invisibly creates extremely favorable conditions for the formation of stones
2. Reduce the cognitive ability of the baby
A study found that children who experience dehydration under natural conditions tend to have a reduced auditory digital breadth, semantic flexibility, and image recognition ability, indicating that dehydration can lower children's cognitive abilities.
3. Easy to constipated
Babies who drink too little water on a regular basis can easily suffer from constipation, which can prevent the smooth elimination of feces and toxins from the body, and suppress gastrointestinal function.
4. Summer is prone to heatstroke
In summer, the weather is hot, and the moisture and organic salts in the baby's body will be eliminated through sweat. If water is not replenished in a timely manner, it can affect the baby's skin's ability to dissipate heat, leading to heatstroke.
Babies who drink more water at night tend to have higher urine output. Drinking water for babies at night can also cause poor sleep, but sufficient sleep is crucial for their growth and development. Therefore, it is best not to give babies water at night. If the baby has developed a habit of drinking water in the middle of the night, parents should help the baby adjust the drinking time.
