 |
 |
Send to a Friend |
Signs of dehydration
If your baby is vomiting, has diarrhea, or is feeding poorly, it is possible that he may become dehydrated (doesn't have enough fluid in his body).
If your baby shows one or more of the signs listed below, call his health care provider right away:
- has fewer than 4 to 6 wet diapers in a day
- has dark urine that's almost brown in color
- has fewer than 2 stools a day (A breastfed baby's stool can be quite loose. The number of stools can decrease after your baby is 4 to 6 weeks old. This is not a sign of dehydration.)
- acts very sleepy or is hard to wake up
- has a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
- has skin that feels dry or that stands up between your fingers when gently pinched
- has sunken or dry eyes
- has a dry mouth (Feel inside his mouth. A healthy baby's inner cheeks, gums and lips should feel wet.)
- has a sunken look to the soft spots on the top of his head.
Related Links
Signs to call your baby's health care provider
Source: Allina Patient Education, Beginnings: Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond, fourth edition, ISBN 1-931876-14-2
First published: 04/01/2002
Last updated: 06/19/2003
Reviewed by: Allina Patient Education experts