Q: My friend said I shouldn't give my 2-month-old daughter bottles of water.  Don't babies need water?

A: Your friend is right. According to CNRC pediatrician Dr. William Heird, healthy babies do not need, nor should they be given, bottles of water or any other liquid except breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula during the first year of life. The reason is that a baby's stomach is quite small and if she 'fills up' on water she might not drink enough formula or breast milk to get all the nutrition she needs to stay healthy and grow.  So don't worry, as long as your daughter is feeding well, she is getting all the "water" or "liquid" she needs from the breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula she's consuming.

The exception to this "rule" is when a baby is sick and losing water from his or her body through excessive sweating or diarrhea.  However, a sick baby should ALWAYS be seen by a doctor who will make suggestions to ensure that the baby recovers and does not become dehydrated during the illness.  Of course, well babies need to see their doctor on a regular basis, too.

The following article from the CNRC website is a good guideline for feeding a baby during the first year of life: http://www.kidsnutrition.org/consumer/archives/firstyear.htm