BABIES and toddlers tend to be much more at risk of dehydration than adults.
Over the course of the day, little ones lose water when they cry, pee and poop, and replenish it when they feed.
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Your tot can get dehydrated if they lose more fluid than they take in. While it’s easy to treat, the condition can turn serious if not dealt with quickly.
According to ex- paramedic Nikki Jurcutz from Tiny Hearts Education, dehydration can be a sign that your little one requires urgent medical attention.
But unlike adults and older children, the signs of dehydration in babies can be subtler and harder to spot.
Nikki flagged a red flag that she warned parents “don’t take seriously enough”.
“If your baby is feeding less, and you notice the number of wet nappies is less than usual, I want you to be paying closer attention,” she wrote in a recent post to the baby and child first aid education page.
Your little one wetting fewer nappies means they’re peeing less, which could be a sign of dehydration.
It’s important that parents take dehydration seriously in their tots, as “children can become severely dehydrated much quicker than adults”.
“This is something you should pay extra attention to when your little one’s are sick,” the ex-paramedic explained.
While it’s normal for your baby to not want to eat as much when they’re ill, “sometimes they might not drink as much as usual too,” she went on.
Mums commenting under Nikki’s post echoed how important it is to pay attention to how much your little one is feeding and weeing.
One wrote: “A stop in feeding for a few hours was the only sign my three-week-old was very unwell. We were rushed into the emergency paediatric unit within hours of him not wanting feeds.”
Nikki flagged a further seven signs that could indicate your little one is dehydrated.
They include:
- Dry lips, tongue, mouth and throat
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Darker or smellier wee
- Few or no tears when crying
- Faster breathing
- A sunken soft spot at the top of their head – called a fontanelle – and sunken eyes
The NHS also notes that if your baby seems drowsy or irritable, it could be a sign of dehydration.
Meanwhile, GP Dr Sarah Jarvis recently told the Sun that cold hands and feet are another key sign to watch out for.
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This is because circulation might shut down and be diverted from your peripherals – your hands and feet – so it can supply your vital organs when you’re dehydrated.
The NHS says that if your baby displays these red flag signs, you should ask for an urgent GP appointment.