CARE Fertility Bulletin Board

Katydid · 19 Jul 2011

Hi everyone,

On Tuesday my HV told me that in this hot weather I should wake my 8 week old baby up during the night to Feed her to make sure she doesn't dehydrate. Last week she was sleeping between 6 and 8 hours but since Tues I've been waking her every 3-4 hrs and as a consequence we are both exhausted! Our bedroom has been 24 degrees each night since the weather became nice and I've been dressing her in a short sleeved body suit and using a sheet which she kicks off after a while. She feeds for a long time before she goes to sleep and has continued to do this. I just wondered if anyone else had been told to do this? I don't consider 24 degrees to be all that hot, I'm terrified of her coming to harm but DD and I are so tired!

Katy x

Marshmallow · 05 Jun 2006

Hi Katy,

I've not been told to wake my twins (now 19 wks) but the heat has meant that one of them has become more irritable in the night so at around 4am I've had to give her a feed. Last night wasn't as bad but I fed them at 10.30pm so they'd had a pretty good feed quite late on, and it wasn't until 6am that they began to wake up. TBH I've put them in short sleeve body suits, and even one night which was particularly hot and humid (25+ degrees in the bedroom) had them just in their nappies with a cellular blanket resting over the top of the moses basket, but not actually touching their skin. They tend to kick covers off if they are too hot and will be irritated and noisily object to being covered up!! I'd just use my common sense and make sure that your little one has a feed as late as possible, just before you go to bed yourself, to ensure that she's got some fluid in her. I've noticed their nappies aren't as heavy first thing in the morning, but they soon rehydrate and are like bricks as the day progresses!

Take care

Alex xx

daisyblue · 02 Oct 2005

Tbh I think that sounds silly, if your baby was thirsty she would be uncomfortable and not be able to sleep! Some friends of friends live in Hawaii and they were told the same but when baby was born not 8 weeks old. The weather was like this when Leo was born and nothing was said??

I would go back to your own routine as little one was sleeping really well Very Happy

Leo only ever wore a vest in weather like this, sometimes nappy only and a cotton sheet as long as the get plenty of water offered she will be fine.

Xxxx

Katydid · 19 Jul 2011

Thank you! I've been looking online and the only website that says anything about waking baby in hot weather is an Aussie website and I guess their definition of hot weather is a bit different to ours! I'm breastfeeding on demand and I'm sure she's getting enough - we're getting lots of wet nappies! I shall leave her to sleep tonight. It feels a bit cooler anyway.

Thanks again xxx

Red Badger · 20 Sep 2006

Katy,

Breast milk is mostly made up of water and if you are feeding on demand should be no need to wake in the night, although for younger babies they are supposed to need at least 4 hourly feeds day and night irrespective of the weather.

Hutchy · 30 Aug 2007

My HV advised to give boby water inbetween feeds which he pulls his face at lol.... he isn't finishing his feeds at the minute due to the weather so is feeding more regularly... I have DS in a short sleeve vest and a 1 tog grobag which he is happy in and room temp is also 24...

Hutchy xx

LottieH · 23 Mar 2009

Hi Katy,
I would say that as you're breastfeeding your body will be adapting to what the baby needs - that's what my HV said this morning anyway - we are waking anywhere between 2 and 4am but that's more to DD having 4 month fussies than anything else but she's thirsty then! You can tell if she's dehydrated by the dint on her head anyway - if you can feel it more than normal then make sure she's feeding for long enough. If she's thirsty she will wake you so I shouldn't worry too much. My dd is sleeping in a 1 tog grobag in a vest and if it gets too hot we switch on the fan - for our benefit as much as hers.
Lx

bonebox · 14 Jul 2008

Hi all

If babies are hungry they tell us same as if they are thirsty too hot or too cold, we know our babies and we have common sense, something lacking in some health pro's !! Smile

BF babies in hot weather can have shorter feeds but sometimes more frequent, when the girls were more on modified cows milk ( formula) than bf they had a few sips of boiled water from the bottle every now and again, they often spent time with just a nappy on too

BF babies tend to self regulate sticking to the earlier part of the feed which is lighter in the fat content and so gives them a light snack with hydrating fluid little bit like us having a salad LOL

Happy days and enjoy the weather while we have it

Katydid · 19 Jul 2011

Thanks everyone! I've been leaving her to wake me up and surprise surprise, she's woken herself when she's hungry/thirsty with no symptoms of dehydration! It's taken a few days for her to get back into her previous sleeping habit after being woken up and unfortunately I'm still waking in the middle of the night myself! Next time I think I'll take my HV's advice with a pinch of salt and have a bit more confidence in my own common sense! Also I always have you guys to check with! Thanks again xxx

Briony · 06 Apr 2001

Hi Katy,

If you're exclusively breastfeeding and on demand then you're doing just the right thing. I think sometimes HV don't have the most up to date breastfeeding information or even training, and often relate formula feeding advice to breastfeeding mums, which is just not relevant (ie cooled boiled water, so not needed if you are just bf). You can always call the La Leche League helpline for excellent breastfeeding support, or their book 'The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding' is absolutely fantastic, like a BF best friend in print! I found it invaluable.

Keep up the good work Mama, I hope you get your sleep pattern back to normal soon!

Love Briony