Childhood Diseases

Posted by: zama | 2010-08-04



can i give my two month old girl juice between feeds?

Expert's Reply



No you should not do this.Your baby must only have milk at her age.


user comments


Posted by: Purple | 2010-08-04


Your baby should not have anything other than breastfmilk for at least the first 6 months.

The reasons for this are because, firstly, she doesn''t need anything else, the breastmilk has enough thirst quenching foremilk to quench her thirst even on the hottest days.
IF you give juice or water between feeds, she will not get enough breat milk meaning it will affect her growth, also, it will reduce your milk supply.

When you start solids, you can start giving some cooled boiled water at meal times. At around a year you can introduce diluted fruit juice with meals and water inbetween meals (dilute the fruit juice one quarter pure fruit juice and three quarters water).

The reasons for waiting till 6 months with solids are because it reduces the amount of breat milk baby gets when milk is still the primary source of nutrition. Some people say its because it increases the chances of allergies, but there is lots of evidence to say exactly the opposite too.
There is some research showing that it reduces babies ability to absorb iron and can lead to anemia problems in adulthood if they start solids too early.

In communities where they don''t have access to blenders and so on for blending baby food to puré  mothers generally start babies on solids when they are able to manage to eat a chewed piece of food or something like a soft mashed banana mixed with breastmilk, which is around the 6 month mark. These babies grow just fine.

The world health organisation recommends exclusive breastfeeding until baby is 6 months old. This means no water, juice, rooibos tea or cereal or other solids until baby is 6 months old.

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