6 Month Old Dry Diaper Overnight

Updated on June 25, 2013
D.J. asks from Clearfield, PA
9 answers

My (almost) 6 month old daughter went to sleep between 7:30-8PM last night. I woke her up to nurse her for about 15 mins around 9:30PM... she slept until just about 6AM... and when I went to change her, she was dry. She nursed for about 8 minutes and then I noticed that she had wet her diaper then... so when I went to change it, it still wasn't very full. Should I be concerned? I've never had a dry diaper overnight for either of my kids. My daughter is a light eater and yesterday was kind of worrisome because she didn't want to eat much... but her output was OK yesterday during the day. (She is exclusively Breast Fed)

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So What Happened?

Well my daughter had 3 fairly wet diapers in the 2 hours after she woke up. I called the doctor and they said that it's not uncommon for a baby who starts sleeping through the night to hold their urine until they wake up, if they were sleeping soundly. And the fact that she went quite a bit in her diaper(s) over the next 2 hours was a good sign. So I am just going to keep monitoring her output and make sure she eats as much as possible today. She is otherwise happy and healthy! I think I'm the most paranoid parent on the planet! My first daughter was so easy!

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D..

answers from Miami on

I don't like that, D.. I'd get her to the doctor. That's not normal. Dehydration can cause a baby to go downhill fast. Take her in as soon as the ped opens and don't even bother to call.

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C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

D.:

You are exclusively breast feeding a 6 month old, right? Unless you are pumping/expressing - it's hard to tell how much milk she is getting.

When you look at her diaper - is the urine REALLY dark or is it normal looking? if it's REALLY dark - call your pediatrician. If it's normal - a light yellow to clear? She's fine. I would guess that it's teething time...

My oldest son was exclusively breast fed for the first six months of his life as well. At around six months - teeth start coming in - so the gums are a little sore - drooling is greater and sometimes they eat less.

Call your pediatrician to put your mind at ease.

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B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

I'd worry that she might get dehydrated.
Has she got any teeth coming in?
6 months old is prime time for teeth to make an appearance (some will start sooner and others later) and teething pain /itchy gums can put them off their food for a little bit.
Drink plenty of water yourself and nurse her as often as she wants.
She might be in between growth spurts but that shouldn't last very long.

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B..

answers from Dallas on

Does the urine have a really strong smell? Like it's super concentrated?

For what it's worth, my son started having dry diapers at 10 months, and hasn't wet the bed since. He drinks A LOT of water, and has always stayed hydrated. We were just lucky that our kid has a developed bladder!!

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B.P.

answers from Cleveland on

Id get her to a Dr tomorrow k
Wait today n see how her output is after in take you should know how you daughters system works by now

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I'd be worried. I'd call the doc right away so they could check her out for dehydration.

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J.G.

answers from Chicago on

I have a 4 month old that sleeps through the night --12 solid hours. Her diaper was dry yesterday morning. She peed immediately when she got up. I would watch it, but I wouldn't panic.

J.S.

answers from Hartford on

Was the dry diaper the only thing? Her behavior is the same and her appetite is the same? And she did pee well after waking up. Your doctor didn't want to see her and wasn't worried. I would follow your doctor's lead. He was right.

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What is dehydration?
If your baby's dehydrated, it means that he doesn't have as much fluid in his body as he needs. It can happen if he takes in less fluid than he loses through vomiting, diarrhea, fever, or sweating.
Dehydration can be mild and easily corrected, moderate, or severe and life threatening.
Babies and children are more prone to dehydration than adults, and babies can quickly become dangerously dehydrated – so it's something to watch out for.
SYMPTOM GUIDE

Is it serious? Find out fast

How can I tell if my baby is dehydrated?
Any of these signs could indicate that your baby is dehydrated or is becoming dehydrated:
More than six to eight hours without a wet diaper
Urine that looks darker in his diaper and smells stronger than usual
Lethargy (low energy)
A dry, parched mouth and lips
No tears while crying
Signs that your baby may be seriously dehydrated:
Sunken eyes
Hands and feet that feel cold and look splotchy
Excessive sleepiness or fussiness
Sunken fontanels (the soft spots on your baby's head)
What should I do if my baby shows signs of dehydration?
If you think your baby shows signs of serious dehydration, take him to the emergency room immediately. He may need to receive liquids through an intravenous (IV) tube until he's rehydrated.

Otherwise, call your baby's doctor for advice. She may want to see your baby to make sure he's okay.
How is mild dehydration treated in a baby?
If your baby is mildly dehydrated, you'll probably be instructed to give him more fluids.
If he's younger than 3 months, the doctor's likely to suggest sticking with breast milk or formula but increasing the frequency by giving your baby smaller amounts more often than usual.
If your baby is 3 months or older, the doctor may recommend a special liquid, in addition to breast milk or formula, to replenish the water and salts (electrolytes) that his body has lost. Electrolyte liquids are available in most pharmacies under brand names such as Pedialyte, Infalyte, and ReVital. Ask your pharmacist about generic versions, too.
Your baby's doctor can give you exact directions for using electrolyte liquids, based on your baby's weight and age. A guideline for the amount of total solution over the course of three or four hours would be 5 teaspoons (25 mL or cc) per pound. So, for example, if your baby weighs 15 pounds, this would equal 75 teaspoons (375 mL or cc), or about 1 1/2 cups.
How can I keep my baby from getting dehydrated?
Make sure your baby drinks plenty of fluids, especially on very hot days and when he's ill. Continue to breastfeed or bottle-feed him and, if he's 6 months or older, you can supplement with a little water (about 4 ounces per day until he's eating solid foods, at which point you can increase the amount).
If your baby is younger than 6 months and you're concerned about possible dehydration, don't give him water without talking with his doctor first. It's usually not necessary and can even be harmful: See what our expert says about why it's usually not a good idea to give water to babies younger than 6 months.
Juice is also a no-no for babies under 6 months (and not nutritionally necessary for kids in general). If your baby is at least 6 months old and does drink juice, don't increase the amount he drinks in a day, but you might try diluting it with water to increase the fluid intake.
If your baby drinks 3 or 4 ounces of juice a day, for example, you could dilute this to 6 or 8 ounces of liquid. (The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting juice intake to 4 to 6 ounces per day for kids ages 1 to 6 years old.)
Don't give carbonated soda drinks to babies of any age, as they're terrible for the teeth and generally unhealthy
Treating dehydration in special circumstances
Be especially alert to symptoms of dehydration under these circumstances:
Fever: Offer your baby plenty of liquids. If he seems to be having trouble swallowing, ask his doctor whether you can give him a pain medication such as children's acetaminophen or ibuprofen (if he's 6 months or older), to help with the discomfort.
Overheating: Too much activity on a hot day or just sitting in a stuffy, sweltering room can lead to sweating and fluid loss. Give your baby more fluids than usual during hot weather.
Diarrhea: If your baby has an intestinal illness, especially acute gastroenteritis, he'll lose fluid through diarrhea and vomiting. Don't give him fruit juice, which may just make the situation worse. And don't give him over-the-counter diarrhea medicine unless the doctor recommends it.
Instead, encourage your baby to drink extra breast milk or formula, and supplement with a little water if he's 6 months or older. If your baby is at least 3 months old and you think he's becoming dehydrated, you might give him an electrolyte drink as well.
Tip: If your baby's dehydration is caused by diarrhea, his stools will be loose. If other fluid loss (from vomiting or lack of fluid intake) causes dehydration, he'll have fewer bowel movements.
Vomiting: Viruses and intestinal infections can lead to vomiting. If your baby is having trouble keeping liquids down, he can easily become dehydrated.
Try giving him very small amounts of fluid frequently, primarily breast milk or formula, plus a little water if he's 6 months or older. Electrolyte liquids are helpful for rehydrating babies 3 months or older who have been vomiting. Start by giving your baby slow, frequent sips when his tummy settles down – about 1 teaspoon (5 mL or cc) every ten minutes for a couple of hours. Then, if all goes well, you can increase the amount to 2 teaspoons (10 mL or cc) every five minutes.
Refusal to drink: A sore throat or ailment such as hand, foot, and mouth disease can cause so much pain that a baby sometimes stops drinking. Ask your doctor about easing your baby's discomfort with children's acetaminophen, or with ibuprofen, if your baby is at least 6 months old. Then continue to give him very small amounts of fluid frequently, primarily breast milk or formula, plus a little water if he's at least 6 months old.

http://www.babycenter.com/0_dehydration_11527.bc

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A.P.

answers from Washington DC on

Wow, I'm in the minority on this one! I was going to reassure you that it's no big deal and sometimes that happens. I really thought your question was going to be about potty training - lol.

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