Q:
My 5-month-old daughter has been sleeping through the night for the past month. Although this is great, I worry that she will become dehydrated not having formula for 12 or 13 hours. She has five 8-ounce bottles during the day and some water.
A:
At 5 months, your baby is way past the point where we worry about rapid dehydration. She's getting 40 ounces of milk or formula a day, which is appropriate for her age. That's also why she's sleeping throughout the night: her hunger is sated before bedtime. I can promise you that many other moms reading this are very envious of you!
When you start to introduce solids after 6 months, you will notice that she will also decrease the amount of formula she is drinking. This is normal and nothing to worry about. As long as she's taking at least 32 ounces of formula a day in addition to her solids, she will continue to thrive.
Please remember that her formula is her main source of nutrition until she is a year old, so don't overload her with food. It won't help her grow any faster or better.
Susan M. Leisner RD, IBCLC, RLC Nutritionist & Lactation Consultant
Our parenting advice is given as suggestions only. We recommend you also consult your healthcare provider, and urge you to contact them immediately if your question is urgent or about a medical condition.
