Why newborn babies should never drink water

Babies of under six months should never drink water, and doing so could have fatal consequences.

A video from Tech Insider explains the risks of newborn babies consuming even the tiniest amount of water.

While adults are made up of 55-60% water, the average baby is roughly 75% water.

This means even the smallest amount of H20 would affect the balance of water in a baby’s body.

This can overload the kidneys, leading to a dangerous condition called hyponatremia.

Abbas Kanani, pharmacist at Chemist Click, explains to Yahoo UK: “Kidneys are also too immature in infants under six and water can cause intoxication as a result of an imbalance in electrolytes such as sodium.

“This can cause hyponatraemia, which is where too much water has diluted the sodium levels of the body.

“This can cause complications such as swelling of the brain, seizures and, in extreme cases, death.”

Kanani adds that giving babies water can also affect their nutrition.

“Giving water to an infant can affect the baby’s ability to receive adequate nourishment.

“Their stomachs are so tiny and can fill up easily with water, making it difficult for them to get the nourishment they require.”

For more information on baby’s health, consult to the NHS pregnancy and baby guide.

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