Question
A three-month-old baby, exclusively breastfed, refuses to drink water. Whether sugar is added to the water or a bottle is used for feeding, the baby does not want to drink. How should this be handled?
Answer
For breastfed infants, even in hot summer weather, it is usually not necessary to supplement with plain water. Infants’ taste buds are fully developed at birth, and many babies may not like the taste of water. If the baby is formula-fed, you can add a sip of plain water between two formula feedings. If the baby refuses to drink water, you can try giving a diluted formula after two normal concentration feedings. If the baby has started on solid foods, consider using rice porridge, rice soup, fruit puree, or juice as an alternative to plain water.