What is dehydration in newborns?
Dehydration means that your baby has lost too much fluid. This can happen when a baby hasn't been taking in enough breast milk or formula. Diarrhea, vomiting, or sweating can also cause a baby to lose too much fluid. Common signs of dehydration include a dry diaper for 6 or more hours, a dry mouth, or sunken eyes with few tears.
This condition can be serious. Your baby's body needs fluids to make enough blood. Without a good supply of blood, vital organs such as the heart and brain can't work as well as they should.
Your baby may need special care, such as being in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). This may be scary for you. But the hospital staff understands this. They will explain what happens and will answer your questions.
How is dehydration treated in newborns?
While your baby is treated for dehydration in the hospital, your baby will get fluids.
Your baby may drink fluids from a bottle. Or your baby may get fluids through a soft tube that goes through the nose and into the stomach. It's also possible that the fluids will be given into a vein (I.V.). This may be done through a vein in the belly button or in another location.
Caring for your baby who is dehydrated
Don't wait until you see signs of dehydration in your newborn or baby younger than 1 year of age. These signs include your baby having fewer or no wet diapers and dry mouth and dry eyes (fewer tears than usual). Here are some things you can do help prevent your baby from getting dehydrated.
- Give your baby more fluids.
Breastfeed your baby more often. Offer each breast to your baby for 1 to 2 minutes every 10 minutes. If you use a bottle to feed your baby, increase the number of feedings to make up for lost fluids. The amount of extra fluid your baby needs depends on your baby's age and size. For example, a newborn may need as little as 1 fl oz (30 mL) at each extra feeding. A 12-month-old baby may need as much as 3 fl oz (90 mL) at each extra feeding.
- Check with your doctor about using an oral rehydration solution (ORS).
If your baby still isn't getting enough fluids from formula or the breast, you can try an ORS, such as Pedialyte. The amount of ORS your baby needs depends on your baby's age and size. You can give the ORS in a dropper, a spoon, or a bottle.
- Give your baby more cereal.
If your baby has started eating cereal, you may replace lost fluids with cereal. You also may feed your baby strained bananas and mashed potatoes if your child has had these foods before.
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