How much should a 3 year old be drinking?

[mum2seb]

I'm having huge problems with my 3 year old son drinking anything! I've tried water, juices, squash, those fruit shoot drinks - he won't even contemplate milk. Thing is, it's a bit of a concern for us, because we have to catheterise him twice a day, so urine infections are a constant source of worry for us. He's up at the moment, complaining of stomach ache, he's likely to be constipated because he's dehydrated and we know that he hasn't drunk enough today. He has Spina Bifida, so constipation is always a bit of a problem too. I'm desperate, really. Can anyone help? Just how much should he be drinking?

[hairymclary]

not sure exactly how much, my 2 year old probably drinks 2 of the little tommee tippee beakers of water a day on average. sometimes it's much less, sometimes it's much more.

have you tried just leaving various drinks around the house so he can help himself? If ds is watching tv I often give him a drink and he just slurps away at it without even thinking.
also, try not to make him drink because if you make it into an issue he may be more inclined to fight against it

[mum2seb]

Thanks, I'll try that. We don't really badger him about it, but we do tell him how important it is for him to drink with regards to his catheterising, whether that's the right thing to do or not, I don't know, but it's too late now!

[FrannyandZooey]

Would smoothies be a useful source of hydration or are they too thick IYSWIM? I don't like milk myself as a drink but I will happily drink a milkshake sweetened with, say, banana and strawberries, or a fruit juice smoothie (things like mango etc are very sweet and popular).

Sympathy to you all - very worrying situation I think I would tell him as well and explain why he needs to do it - a 3 year old can start to take some responsibility for their health

[FrannyandZooey]

Just a thought - is he refusing to drink because he associates needing a wee with needing to be catheterised? If so not sure what you can do, but this could help understand why he is resisting drinking