dehydrated baby.

[mummyinlove]

My 7 month old is breast fed and loving his food.
My problem is lately he's too distracted to have his 1pm and 4pm milk feed. I give him fruit juice/water in a cup but after one sip he would rather bang it on the table than drink any more! I wouldn't worry and presume he'd drink if he was thirsty but he is really struggling to poo.. straining, going very red and even crying-so he must be dehydrated.
Any ideas on how to get more liquids down him? Shall I give him formula in a bottle or expressed milk in a cup? ???

try him on a couple of orange segments - thay should help with poo. If he was really thirsty, he would probably feed abit better IMO. Agree with motherhurdicure - try offereing it more often - maybe he's just not thirsty at 1 and 4pm!

Thanks for your advice, I do offer breast often but as I am usually out and about I feel like people think I'm just trying to get my breasts out and forcing them on a child who doesn't seem at all interested!!

I will definately try going to a quiet place and also the orange segments.

struggling to poo means he;s constipated, not dehydrated

dehydrated would be not weeing much, and what little there is being dark yellow.

Is he having any solids? if so, try more fruit, esp dried fruit like prunes or apricots (pureed if ecc)

What are his poos like?

All your advice seemed to help! Had nice quiet feeds today, drank some freshly squeezed orange juice and have cut down on the bananas! It worked, no grunting or squeezing and lots of pooing! So thank you! smile