To ask about dehydration in babies

[ihavetogoshoppingnow]

Sorry shamelessly posting here for traffic. DD (6 months) has a bad cold and cough poor thing. She’s been refusing her milk, at what point should I be concerned about her becoming dehydrated? She’s alert and happy but she’s hardly taken any milk since 8am

If she really isnt taking in any liquid at all then I would suggest you phone 111 right away and they will advise you. An 8 month old not taking liquid at all isn't a situation that can continue for very long.

When ill like this, it's not a bad thing to have a bottle of water or juice ( or 1 of each ) sitting around that she can just have a sip of to stop her getting dehydrated. Milk is food and might not feel like eating if she's poorly.

Keep an eye on her nappies, is she having a decreased amount of wet ones?
Also if she is more tired/irritable.
Does her fontanel seem sunken at all?
When she's crying does she have tears?

When they are properly dehydrated it can be quite easy to tell, step in some preventative measures now.
Perhaps being so bunged up its hard for her to feed - try offering sips from a small cup with water, even squiring small amounts of water or milk into her mouth with a syringe.

Any doubt at all then phone 111 for advice.

Mytwins got really sick at just before three months, one ended up in hospital needing tube feeds.

Easiest thing to spot would be a sunken soft spot, decreased wet nappies.

Try saline spray up the nose a few minutes before feeding, and trying to feed small amounts often.