Summer is coming, the days are getting warmer and holidays are on the horizon!
So it's time you knew the importance of taking extra care in the heat.
You may find in hot weather that your baby either does not want to feed too much in the middle of day or that they are keen to feed more regularly but for shorter periods. Whilst the change can be unsettling, try not to worry too much and just go with what baby wants.
Milk is all you need. During the warmer months, you may find that your breast milk has a higher water content, this is to help keep baby hydrated. But if it is not noticeably more watery, don’t worry either! As long as you keep yourself hydrated, this will help keep the water content up of your breast milk and help you avoid dehydration.
For babies older than 6 months who are weaning and breastfeeding, you can offer cool boiled water with meals or be adventurous and make breastmilk lollies with some softened raspberries, strawberries as something different!
Mum, just make sure to drink plenty of fluids – remember alcohol can make you more dehydrated so be mindful if you are having a glass of wine!
If you are worried about your baby being dehydrating or overheating, the best thing you can do is keep them in the shade for as long as possible and keep feeding as and when they need it to keep them hydrated. Keeping an expressed supply in an insulated cooler with an ice pack for when you're out and about is always a good idea too.
Make sure you pop the date and time of when the milk was produced or when it expires, on your milkstrap!
Whether it's through a bottle or directly at the breast, cold or warm, it doesn't matter as long as your baby is getting the nutrients they need.
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