How Often Should an Infant’s Nappy Become Wet?

The fluid ouput of any child will vary, but at a minimum all infants should develop a wet nappy every 4 hours. If, after 4 hours an infant’s nappy is still dry then the infant is severely dehydrated or has a renal problem.

A neonate and infant will pass approximately 1ml of urine per kg per hour. In general, a healthy infant will pass some urine every hour.

As a paramedic, it is important to incorporate the parents in our history taking process. Determining when the nappies were last changed, how often, and if they were wet or dry or if the infant passed a very loose diarrhoea like stool. Also, asking the parents if the infant is feeding and drinking normally and what exactly the infant is being fed is important.