Living and breastfeeding in really hot weather

[mallorcanmummy]

Hi, FTM living in country where the temp is already 26-29°C daily and it will only get hotter...could be daily temps of 35°C and breastfeeding.

Can anyone advise me on how I should make sure DS (8wks) gets enough liquid?

Some people here have told me to give him water but the advice in the UK is to feed more. But I imagine this advice is perhaps aimed more at a few days of good weather, or a holiday abroad, rather than every day for 5 months!

DS seems to have fallen.into hiss own routine of every 2.5/3hrs, with maybe a couple of 2hrs gaps in yhe evening, then one or two night feeds, depending on when he goes off to sleep properly after his last feed.

Does anyone have any experience of living and breastfeeding in a hot country? Instinctively I feel I don't want to give him water at this stage, but I'm happy to do it if it's what he needs.

You're pretty much left to it after the obligatory 2 days in hospital after birth, so I don't really have anyone here that I can ask.

Thanks!

[lalath]

I'm living in a country that sounds as hot as yours. DD is 15 weeks now, and it's been close to 30 degrees for the last month.

I do just feed her more often - during the day she wants feeding more or less hourly - she's obviously very thirsty! I don't think there's any other option, unless you want to give water or switch to formula. I tend to just find a shady spot and feed as and when she wants it.

[ICJump]

Just feed frequently and keep an eye on nappies(5-6 a day).

[tiktok]

Millions of mothers breastfeed in tropical climates without the need for water :)

Just feed responsively. Why give water? It's easier to breastfeed than to mess about with bottles and water, and breastmilk is very effective hydration.

Just feed in response to his needs, as you would any other time.

A healthy baby of eight weeks is easily able to let you know if and when he wants more.

[Junosmum]

Make sure you drink plenty of water.

It's been 26 degrees here and I have noticed DS wanting to feed on me more. The foremilk is thirst quenching so no need for extra water, just offer the boob more frequently.

[mallorcanmummy]

Thanks so much for the replies. It's what I thought. Most of my friends here come from another country again, in South America, and seem to have completely different wAys of doing things to how I instinctively feel or to what I've read from the UK. I find myself questioning myself a lot after speaking to them.

For example, a friend was shocked that I put DS down in his buggy on his back yesterday. Apparently, you must NEVER do that because they will choke on their vomit. You must ONLY let them sleep on their side.

While I'm here, can I ask another question? What do your babies sleep in at night in this hot weather?

[mallorcanmummy]

icjump we use cloth nappies and average about 10 a day, but I'll keep an eye on them :)

junosmum I'm on 4.5ltrs a day plus teas/juice. I still get thirsty at times! I'll aim for 5 ltrs!

[trebleclef101]

I live in a similar sounding climate, and my DD was born at the end of July so right in the hottest part of the year. She was EBF and I never gave her water, just fed her frequently, sometimes every hour or less during the hottest parts of the day.

She is now 10mo, and currently sleeping in a short sleeved vest and a 1 tog sleeping bag, but in July / August she will probably be in just the vest or a super thin bag.

[ICJump]

10 wet nappies is great. Lots of milk going in.
We used a singlet it short sleeve baby grown and a muslin sleeping bag during summer or on very hot nights just a nappy. We co sleep so I could keep an eye if he got too cold

[VioletBam]

My DD1 spent her first year in Adelaide where temps reach over 40. Some days it was 44. That's VERY hot.

She was and is just fine. If the heat is the dry type, hang wet towels around the room to add moisture. We didn't even have air conditioning. Just fans!

DD is 11 now and we're back in Adelaide. It's uncomfortable but you manage.

[mallorcanmummy]

Thanks everyone!

We don't have air con either, so we use fans too.
Plan for the day, hunt down a shop that sells v thin sleeping bags

[BertieBotts]

Yes, it's funny. When you experience such temps the UK advice to keep the baby's bedroom no warmer than 16c becomes quite impossible! And it isn't recommended anywhere else.

That said, back sleeping causing choking is very old advice. It was thought about 30 years ago but then we changed to the back to sleep recommendations and it hasn't been a problem. It's interesting parenting cross culturally as you get to hear all these indiscrepancies and get a feel for how much wiggle room there really is.

FWIW, I was told by a UK midwife that side sleeping is perfectly safe, the only reason they don't recommend it is because it's easy for a side sleeping baby to roll onto their front and/or because parents become likely to use props to hold their baby in position which can be a suffocation hazard.

[BertieBotts]

Oh and I meant to add. If you Co sleep skin to skin your body temperature will adjust slightly to keep his constant, so that could be a useful tip although I don't know if it works when the air temperature is high.

[Junosmum]

Mines just been sleeping in a nappy and t-shirt. When it cools down in the night I pop a light blanket over him.