What is dehydration?
Dehydration happens when a child loses more fluid than they take in. It can happen with fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or any illness where your child isn’t drinking well. Young children get dehydrated faster than older children or adults. Dehydration makes every illness worse.
Signs of dehydration to watch for
- Fewer wet diapers: normal is 6 or more wet diapers per day for infants. Fewer than 4 is concerning
- No tears when crying
- Dry mouth and lips
- Sunken eyes
- Sunken fontanelle: the soft spot on a baby’s head sinking in
- Very dark yellow urine: or no urine for 8+ hours in older toddlers
- Skin that stays ‘tented’: pinch the skin on the belly gently — if it stays tented instead of snapping back, dehydration may be significant
Keeping your child hydrated
- Infants under 6 months: breast milk or formula only — offer more frequently in smaller amounts
- Infants over 6 months: breast milk, formula, or small amounts of water. Oral rehydration solution (like Pedialyte) for active dehydration
- Toddlers: water, diluted juice, broth, popsicles, oral rehydration solution
- Small and often: if your child is vomiting, try 1–2 teaspoons every 5 minutes — small amounts more likely to stay down
- Avoid: sugary drinks, full-strength juice, sports drinks — these can make diarrhea worse
| 📞 Call your provider if: Fewer than 4 wet diapers in 24 hours No urine for 6–8 hours in a toddler Dry mouth, no tears Not keeping any fluids down for more than a few hours Child seems very tired or less active than usual | 🚨 Go to the ER immediately if: Sunken eyes, sunken fontanelle Limp, very difficult to wake No wet diaper for more than 12 hours Skin that stays tented Lips and mouth very dry, child not responding normally |