Why shouldnt babies drink water

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Hyponatremia is common in marathon runners who drink too much, too fast during a race without also providing enough sodium to balance out their blood.

And if you keep drinking, that excess water will eventually reach the cells in your brain. By this point, you have a dangerous case of water intoxication, which affects roughly , Americans each year. It occurs when your brain cells swell, which builds up pressure inside your skull. That can lead to seizures, brain damage, and — in severe cases — death. But don't worry, dying from water intoxication is extremely hard for a fully-grown human.

An adult would have to drink 2. But for newborns, it's a different story. Their kidneys are about half the size of an adult's. If your drinking water comes from a private well Test your well water before or during pregnancy Most private well water in Minnesota is safe, but some well water may have contaminants in it that can make babies sick or harm their development.

Babies are at greater risk of harm from water contaminants Babies drink more water for their size than older children and adults. MDH recommends testing for: Coliform bacteria at least once a year. Nitrate every other year. Lead at least once. Manganese at least once. Arsenic at least once. Fluoride : talk with your baby's doctor or dentist about whether you should test for this. Coliform bacteria Coliform bacteria can indicate that other infectious bacteria, viruses, or parasites may be in your water.

Nitrate High levels of nitrate can affect how blood carries oxygen and can cause methemoglobinemia also known as blue baby syndrome. Lead Lead can damage the brain, kidneys, and nervous system. Manganese High levels of manganese can cause problems with memory, attention, and motor skills. Arsenic High levels of arsenic can contribute to reduced intelligence in children and increased risk of cancers in the bladder, lungs, and liver.

Fluoride The right amount of fluoride helps prevent tooth decay. How to test You are responsible for keeping your well water safe and testing it as needed. Reduce lead in drinking water Lead can get in your drinking water as it passes through your household plumbing system.

Follow the steps below to protect your baby from lead in your drinking water: Let the water run before using it for drinking or cooking. If you have a lead service line, let the water run for minutes. If you do not have a lead service line, let the water run for seconds.

The more time water has been sitting in your home's pipes, the more lead it may contain. You can find out if you have a lead service line by contacting your public water system, or you can check by following the steps at Are your pipes made of lead? The only way to know if lead has been reduced by letting it run is to check with a test. Jennifer Anders, a pediatric emergency physician at the center, told Reuters Health. Losing sodium can affect brain activity, so early symptoms of water intoxication can include irritability, drowsiness and other mental changes.

After his first birthday, when your baby's eating solids and drinking whole milk , you can let him drink as much water as he likes. Giving a baby younger than 6 months old too much water can interfere with his body's ability to absorb the nutrients in breast milk or formula. It can also cause his tummy to feel full, which curbs his desire to feed.

In rare cases, a baby who drinks too much water can develop a condition known as water intoxication, which can cause seizures and even a coma. Water intoxication happens when too much water dilutes the concentration of sodium in the body, upsetting the electrolyte balance and causing tissues to swell. Don't try to stretch formula by diluting it with water — carefully follow the package directions for making formula and use the recommended amount of water.

Adding too much water to your baby's formula not only risks water intoxication, it means that your baby is taking in fewer nutrients than he needs. In some instances — if your baby has stomach flu gastroenteritis , for example — the doctor might advise you to give him an electrolyte drink like Pedialyte or Infalyte to help prevent dehydration. What kind of water should I use to prepare formula? When can my baby drink carbonated or mineral water? Is it safe to mix milk with formula?

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