Anyone's child drunk nothing but water at 5?

[SleepingStandingUp]

DS doesn't have a great relationship with food. NG fed from birth, took bottles briefly but fully tube fed by 4 month. Weaned on solids at 6 months but had series of big ops at 10 months that utterly ruined his interest and tolerance for food.
At 5 he still needs tube top ups and his diet is limited but of we go to the pub say we can now feed him - pizza, sausages, beans, peas, chips, buns etc. So if he's like this as an adult he'd not have a great diet but could probably pass for just a bit picky"

However since 4 months he's not drank anything but water bar 1 sit of my iced latte when he was about 3 and a sip of DHs coke at 4. One sip, funny face, back to water. I worry that this will make his stand out more as he gets older.

So the teenagers all go to Macdonald's or when they go to parties and at best are drinking coke, or older when they're at the pub etc. I just can't see it ever changing and I worry he'll get picked on and ostracized.

So has anyone's liquid diet been that extreme and got over it? How?

My 19 yr old son can't touch tea, coffee, most fizzy drinks, or anything that has caffeine. It triggers his hemiplegic migraines which have landed him in hospital. He sticks to water generally and has had no qualms asking for water when out with his mates. Although he has now discovered beer but will only have one or a shandy.

My 17 yr old prefers water and that's all he'll drink. It doesn't bother him and will quite happily ask for a glass of water when we're out for a meal. This is possibly the most difficult part as waiters usually question that he only wants water and not a coke or other fizzy drink. He just repeats himself and gives the death stare.

A happy result of this is that neither of them have ever had any dental work.

Dc is 16 and has topped up tube feeds. At times has been totally reliant on tube feed alone.
Very limited diet when young.
As dc has got older have been able to add more foods in with help of dietitian and encourage trying new foods albeit very slow process - was one food a month from a list which he chose so he had control then I gave the food/drink 3 times a week for the month and praised if he tried it or ignored if he didn't. This has meant his overnight feed is now only half his calorie intake which is a massive achievement. He is very restricted when he goes anywhere because he also has intolerances but he has never had an issue with his friends and often taken food /drink with him. He has set phrases which he will state if he's asked so as to politely explain limited menu/bringing own food without having to explain the full story.
I wouldn't unduly worry - many children have diets that are limited/medical/religious or ethical beliefs it is much more normal now than even when dc was 5.

My dc drink water, juice or milk. No fizzy drinks...I never let them have them when little and consequently they don't like them. I remember my ds pretending to drink a can of fizzy drink at a party trying to look cool. I could see by his face, he hated it...bless him.

DS2 20 has only ever drunk water, never anything fizzy or flavoured.

Excellent stealth boast OP.

@THisbackwithavengeance

Excellent stealth boast OP.

Which bit?

DS doesn't have a great relationship with food?
NG fed from birth, took bottles briefly but fully tube fed by 4 month. Weaned on solids at 6 months but had series of big ops at 10 months that utterly ruined his interest and tolerance for food?
At 5 he still needs tube top ups and his diet is limited?
I worry that this will make his stand out more as he gets older?
I worry he'll get picked on and ostracized?

Or did you really read all the above points and just interpret it to mean he ha my kids doesn't drink juice and coke?

@Itmaybeus

Dc is 16 and has topped up tube feeds. At times has been totally reliant on tube feed alone. Very limited diet when young. As dc has got older have been able to add more foods in with help of dietitian and encourage trying new foods albeit very slow process - was one food a month from a list which he chose so he had control then I gave the food/drink 3 times a week for the month and praised if he tried it or ignored if he didn't. This has meant his overnight feed is now only half his calorie intake which is a massive achievement. He is very restricted when he goes anywhere because he also has intolerances but he has never had an issue with his friends and often taken food /drink with him. He has set phrases which he will state if he's asked so as to politely explain limited menu/bringing own food without having to explain the full story. I wouldn't unduly worry - many children have diets that are limited/medical/religious or ethical beliefs it is much more normal now than even when dc was 5.

Thank you Itmaybeus. Sounds like you and he are doing a great job together

My DD is 19 and still chooses water over anything else. She sometimes gets Coke Zero or 7up zero when out with friends. She drinks mainly water and coffee.

She never drank fruit juice (fatty liver juice!), cows milk or fizzy drinks, she always asked for water. No special interventions on my behalf, she just prefers it.

DS20 only drinks water.

@sundaysupperclub

Is this a stealth boast? All the trendy twenty olds olds I work with only drink water....makes the tea round a lot quicker! Most parents would love their children only to drink water! Great for their teeth, your dentist will be very happy and so would Jamie Oliver!

DS doesn't have a great relationship with food. ...had series of big ops at 10 months that utterly ruined his interest and tolerance for food. At 5 he still needs tube top ups and his diet is limited... but could probably pass for just a bit picky....I worry that this will make his stand out more as he gets older... I worry he'll get picked on and ostracized.*

Yes clearly a stealth boast. Look at me with my tube fed kid. Aren't you all well jel

I have an ng tube as an adult. Due to a physical facial disability

If you ever want to chat. I’m here x

My husband only ever drinks water btw. Always has done. He does very occasionally drink something fizzy. But maybe twice a year?

We don’t drink alcohol either. So that’s it

My kids are tiny. Me and my husband are pretty small. So they’ve also only ever drink water really

I do understand the scary ness of not getting enough calories into them and after years of drs. Endocrine drs. All sorts. We finally just realise that they will be small. End of

DS 17 preferred drink is water if not beer!

My 7yo only really drinks water. I say that, but she will accept other drinks - apple juice is the favourite, or milk, hot choc, tea or fizzy pop BUT this has only been in the last couple of years and she doesn’t actually really drink them, she just likes to have the same as everyone else. Hot choc for the marshmallows/cream, tea to dunk biscuits in. Apple juice she will actually drink. She’s never drunk squash or more than a couple of mouthfuls of fizzy drink. It’s not a problem as she’s not fussy about it and will happily sit with any drink in front of her as long as there’s water too, so she doesn’t stand out. And I have come across several other kids who only like water. It’s not my amazing parenting either as her older brother would guzzle Coke, hot chocolate and Irn Bru all day if he was allowed! Even as a baby she liked water better than milk once I stopped breastfeeding.

Hi OP, there are quite a few poster on here who don't get it, e.g. 'my child will have a soft drink when they go to a friend's'. I wish....

DD(8) will now drink water, hot chocolate and some milkshakes, but the latter are a recent development. The time when this has been an issue has been at some parties, when only squash has been available. She absolutely won't drink that. I usually try to send her with a water bottle if it's hot so she has something she can drink. I'm not aware she's been teased at all.

You also have my sympathy with the limited diet (which sounds fairly similar), though DD does get enough calories.

Drinking coke and lattes is not something I'd aspire to for a under 5. DD has made it to 11 and still mostly drinks water, the odd fruit juice now and then but doesn't like fizzy drinks. I've encouraged but not enforced this as feel that makes them want it more. If she's ever a thirsty water is definitely all she wants and only ever has tiny amounts of anything else. No idea that it could be seen as a problem and usually gets approving comments at parties etc when she asks for just water. I think most parents would wish for this!

My DD16 only drinks water. Always been that way once weaned off breast feeding. It’s never been an issue. Even when she was very young and we’d buy the pre-set kids box lunches we’d ask the cafe could she swap the usual juice box for a bottle of water and they’d always be willing to do that. Same with children’s menus in restaurants- swap the coke or milk for a bottle water, no issue. She’s never been teased about it ever.

DS was fine with any food, not picky at all, but he only liked water to drink. No fruit juice and no fizzy drinks

I can't remember exactly when it stopped, but he did grow out of it. I once went to pick him up from a birthday party at Pizza Express when he was about 8 or 9 and the host mum couldn't believe there was a kid out there who didn't like Coca Cola!

Dd2 has never drunk enough (she has severe learning disabilities) so has tube top ups. She will only drink water otherwise, rejects juice and squash. Has great teeth! Does your son have a PEG?

@bathorshower

Hi OP, there are quite a few poster on here who don't get it, e.g. 'my child will have a soft drink when they go to a friend's'. I wish....

DD(8) will now drink water, hot chocolate and some milkshakes, but the latter are a recent development. The time when this has been an issue has been at some parties, when only squash has been available. She absolutely won't drink that. I usually try to send her with a water bottle if it's hot so she has something she can drink. I'm not aware she's been teased at all.

You also have my sympathy with the limited diet (which sounds fairly similar), though DD does get enough calories.

Thanks bath. Yes the "DD only drinks water except when she's drinking X, Y and Z" are well intention but missing the point. Better than the suggestion I'm Stealth bragging that DS has medical issues.

Yes good point re water bottles, he's not hugely keen on open cups either so Def worth remembering when he gets older and I can leave him (ha).

DS is 21, at uni, and still only drinks water. Once a year he will have a milkshake

Thanks bath. Yes the "DD only drinks water except when she's drinking X, Y and Z" are well intention but missing the point. Better than the suggestion I'm Stealth bragging that DS has medical issues.

Not sure if I explained my self well but dd only now drinks X and Y recently now she's 11. Well actually just X - no Y or Z. At 5 - 9 she definitely only drank water. Now she'll occasionally drink fresh orange juice or a lemon flavoured water

I was never allowed fizzy drinks as a child. I'm nearly 40 now and I still don't drink them...I think they're vile. I'm amazed anyone drinks them out of choice.