Fear of the bottle can lead to dehydrated babies, say experts

The campaign to encourage mothers to breast rather than bottle feed, combined with poor training and support for breastfeeding, is leading hundreds of babies to dehydrate every week. Experts claim that breastfeeding mothers who are warned not to use bottles 'at any stage' can in certain circumstances end up with their babies admitted to hospital suffering from dehydration.

'Breastfeeding is best, but it is dangerous to say, 'Don't use formula at any stage',' paediatriction Dr Ganesh Supramaniam told the Sunday Telegraph. 'Dehydration can cause renal failure and severe jaundice can lead to brain damage. What is not helpful is this militant attitude of breastfeeding or nothing.'

Dehydration can also occur when mothers haven't been given adequate help, training or support with breastfeeding. 'The problem is getting worse,' says breastfeeding councillor Clare Byam-Cook, as figures show that most hospitals see at least one baby a week admitted for dehydration when breastfeeding has gone wrong. 'The reality is midwives are all too often not teaching women the correct way to breastfeed.'

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