Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding Your Baby In Hot Weather

When the weather is hot your baby will want to feed more often as they will be thirsty. This is normal and your milk will adapt and change to be more refreshing but will still have all the same nutrients that your baby needs. Your breastmilk is your baby’s food and drink.

If your baby is only having breastmilk and is 0-6 months old you do not need to give cool boiled water on top of your breastmilk feeds – this has no calories and if you give this in place of breastmilk it may impact on your baby’s growth. More breastmilk is advised as it contains the fat and calories your baby needs to grow and develop.

If your baby is 6 months or older and is having solid foods alongside your breastmilk you can offer a drink of tap water at each meal they have and between in a cup. Keep amounts small as your baby’s kidneys are still developing.

So if you are currently experiencing hot weather and breastfeeding your baby, follow the steps below:

If your baby is only having breastmilk and is 0-6 months old they require no water top ups.
Over 6 months you can give water to sip from a cup with meals and in between. You can use tap water safely from this age.
Water is the only drink that should be offered to your baby and this should be in small amounts as they have immature kidneys. Drinks such as baby juices or herbal teas are not necessary and should not be offered. These can affect your baby’s kidneys or damage teeth before they emerge from the gum.

Very Important

In hot weather keep an eye on how much your baby is weeing and the colour of the wee. If they are producing less wee than usual and it is darker in colour (it should be straw coloured or clear) you should offer breast/expressed breastmilk feeds more often.

Who can Help?

If your baby is less than 28 days old you can contact your local midwifery team or you can contact the Healthy Child Programme at any time following your baby's birth by calling Just One Number on 0300 300 0123 or texting Parentline on 07520 631590.

Our opening hours are 8am-6pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays) and 9am-1pm on Saturdays.

Norfolk Healthy Child Programme has a team of infant feeding champions who can contact you by video call/telephone initially to discuss your questions and refer you to further help if required. All of our staff are trained to Unicef standards to provide you with the best possible breastfeeding support and advice.

It may help in the first instance to look again at our page on Positioning and Attachment or read the Essential Guide to Feeding & Caring for your Baby.

Norfolk’s Early Childhood and Family Service (ECFS) offers support for all parents and carers with children aged 0 to 5 years.

To speak to other Norfolk parents and carers, you can join our online community forum below.