Water Intoxication & Babies

I recently received an e-mail from a reader who was concerned about powdered baby formula being diluted more than the recommended amount. He was dicsussing how it had become a common practice as a way to stretch the formula (which is relatively expensive). However, baby formula is nutritionally balanced when mixed according to directions. If you dilute the formula, or supplement formula with bottles of water, the baby has to take in more formula to get the nutrients he or she needs. Basically, the baby either becomes malnourished or runs the risk of water intoxication.

Overdosing on water is something that's pretty hard to do as a kid or adult, but actually relatively easy for a baby. The symptoms of drinking too much water are subtle for an infant, but may include fluttering eyelids, inconsolable crying (swelling of tissues causes a headache), difficulty breathing (fluid accumulates in the lungs), and an irregular heartbeat. Immediate medical attention is required if water intoxication is suspected. The more common danger from diluting formula is chronic malnutrition, at a time when an infant really can't afford the deficit. The bottom line: don't dilute formula or give infants bottles of water. Learn more about water overdose...