When we feel thirsty, we will search for water. Not just any water, but plain water. Have you noticed that sweetened drinks do not really help you with your thirst? You may feel refreshed at first. However, sugary drinks can be dehydrating.
So, the best choice to quench your thirst is by drinking plain water.
However, do you know that plain water can be dangerous for some people? It is harmful to babies under the age of 6 months!
When you want to introduce your baby to solid food, you have to wait until they are 6 months old. That same goes for normal water.
According to Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia, it is dangerous because:
1) It can interfere with the breastfeeding process because the baby no longer feels thirsty. Thus, it causes the production of breast milk to decrease.
2) Removing the protective layer that has been built by the mother’s milk on the baby’s intestines. Therefore, the baby is prone to be exposed to infection.
3) Plain water does not contain any calories to fill a baby’s tummy.
4) Risk of water intoxication (excessive plain water dilutes the mineral content of sodium in the body. This will increase the risk of brain swelling and death).
Thus, wait for your baby to get slightly older to give them plain water.
Source: @BhgPemakananKKM (Twitter)