What should you know about newborn dehydration?

Possible signs include fewer wet nappies than expected for the baby’s age, very dark urine, a dry mouth, fewer tears, unusual sleepiness, cool hands or feet, or a sunken soft spot. Causes include difficulty feeding, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, or excessive heat. [Dehydration](/conditions/dehydration/) is a clinical condition; urine colour alone cannot confirm it. Gastroenteritis and heat exhaustion are examples of illnesses that may increase fluid loss.

Contact the baby’s maternity, paediatric, or primary-care team as soon as you notice concerning changes. Continue breast or formula feeds if the baby is awake and able to suck, offering feeds calmly and more often as advised. Do not dilute formula, force a feed, or give plain water or home remedies. Write down feeds, vomits, stools, and wet nappies so the clinician can judge the pattern.

Seek urgent medical care if the newborn is hard to wake, refuses feeds, repeatedly vomits, has very few wet nappies, breathes abnormally, has a dry or cold appearance, or shows a sunken soft spot. Emergency help is needed for blue or grey skin, severe breathing difficulty, collapse, or unresponsiveness. Dark urine or [Cloudy Urine](/symptoms/cloudy-urine/) can have several causes, so report these findings rather than trying to diagnose at home.

Ask how many wet nappies to expect at this age, how to assess feeding, whether the baby needs examination or fluids, and which symptoms should trigger an immediate return.