Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

To think that DH is over fussy about drinks?

30 replies

twinklingfairy · 16/08/2010 14:50

Not sure that the thread title is quite right but couldn't think what else to say!
DH worries cos DD(4) and DS(nearly 2) mainly drink milk. He will get home at night and try to get them to drink water cos 'I bet they have had no water all day.'
Does it really matter if it is mainly milk that they drink.
He is right, they don't often get water. But they also don't get fruit squash or the likes.
Which DH did introduce them to instead of plain water.
They do go through a crazy amount of milk though, so it is not as if they are not getting fluids.

Is he right to think that they should get more water or is there nothing wrong with them drinking mainly milk?

OP posts:

EveWasFramed72 · 16/08/2010 14:53

I don't know. My two are pretty much the same age as yours (4 and nearly 3), and they drink crazy amounts of milk, too. They LOVE fruit juice, but I try and keep it in only for a treat, because they would drink loads all the time.

I guess as long as they aren't thirsty, then that's the whole point...I don't think they necessarily need water over milk...

tuggy · 16/08/2010 14:54

I would drop to semi skimmed or skimmed. There is actually more calcium per glass in those than full fat, and I'm sure they get enough fat elsewhere (unless either look underweight?)

that way they still feel they're drinking milk, and gunny is happy that the water content is higher.

tuggy · 16/08/2010 14:55

Gunny should be hubby. Damn predictive text on phone

Jamieandhismagictorch · 16/08/2010 14:55

Not an expert but IMO milk is fine - better than juice for their teeth ( acid plus sugar), and squash (sugar) and provides hydration. The only reason I'd ever worry is if the milk is affecting their appetite, and even then it's just a question of not having milk before a meal (one of my DSs have quite a fragile appetite).

OTOH, it might be helpful to get them used to drinking water because when they are older they may only be allowed water at school.

tuggy · 16/08/2010 14:56

Gunny should be hubby. Damn predictive text on phone

Tanga · 16/08/2010 15:06

Milk can cause constipation - I guess it depends on how much a 'crazy amount' of milk actually is...milk is a 'food' in itself, really, so how are their appetites?

grapesandmoregrapes · 16/08/2010 15:20

I only let my 2 year old have one glass of milk a day, mainly based on the fact that it is very filling, and she doesn't eat a huge amount anyway. Also if she has a runny nose or cough then milk makes it worse, so I don't let her have any if she is ill.

I give her and DD2 (9mo) well diluted pure apple juice. I brush her teeth twice a day, and really don't think it will have any effect on her teeth as I drink Ribena, and my teeth have lasted a lot longer than hers will need to!

I don't think there is a right or wrong drink to give your children, apart from things like coke, so just do what your happy with, your children will be just as hydrated drinking milk instead of water.

Original poster

twinklingfairy · 16/08/2010 15:28

bleurgh skimmed
Really, semi skimmed has more calcium?!
It is completely not affecting their appetite. My lord, do they like to eat

OP posts:

Original poster

twinklingfairy · 16/08/2010 15:30

They do drink water, they just prefer milk and I don't have an issue with them drinking lots of it.
But that is a good thought, re school and water.

OP posts:

BrightLightBrightLight · 16/08/2010 15:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ILoveDonaldDraper · 16/08/2010 15:54

they should be getting plenty of fluid - if it comes from milk then so be it. There is quite a lot of sugar in milk, but way less than in squash or fruit juice so it is arguably better for them, although some proper fresh (not from concentrate) fruit juice is good for vitamins (in small quantities). There are a lot of calories in milk - so if they start to gain weight you should cut back, but otherwise I don't see what the problem is. The milk has calcium and protein both of which are good for them.

Jamieandhismagictorch · 16/08/2010 16:04

Yes - didn't mean to sound too judgey about juice - at one time, it was the only fruit my very fussy toddler DS1 would have, so I had to get some vit C in somewhere. It's just that my mum's a dental nurse and she was always warning that it has a lot of acidity in it as well as the sugar so you have to be careful about tooth brushing.

tuggy · 16/08/2010 16:07

Yes a class of full fat has fractionally less calcium then skimmed (or semi skimmed). When they take the fat out of the milk they don't take the calcium out. Contrary to what I suspect is popular belief probably.

Jamieandhismagictorch · 16/08/2010 16:09

That's interesting, tuggy Sainsbo's sells this 1% fat milk, which is not as watery as skimmed, which I can't bring myself to drink

snoozathon · 16/08/2010 16:11

Water is much more hydrating than milk obviously. I think your DH has a point, especially if your kids are drinking crazy amounts of milk. Squash is not the spawn of the devil anyway, if it's weak. I'd far rather kids drank glassfuls of squash than milk, much healthier imo.

Water is so important in both children's and adult diets. Most adults I know complain of headaches and exhaustion and wonder if it's because they haven't eaten enough - most people get nothing like the amount of water they need. As has been pointed out, milk is a food and should be limited as such after weaning.

NarkyPuffin · 16/08/2010 16:35

Semi-skimmed milk is better for children over 2. Apart from that, don't worry. Dental advice tends to be water or milk is the best thing to drink between meals.

Children need fat to grow and unless weight is a big concern I wouldn't limit milk and would try not to introduce squash which is shitty for teeth or health- artificial sweeteners. Once they're into squash it is murder to get them onto plain water and you're getting them use to artificial sweet flavours.

Keep trying with water but don't panic.

NarkyPuffin · 16/08/2010 16:41

Oh, milk is about 87% water BTW

sapphireblue · 16/08/2010 17:14

I don't see a problem with it either, as long as they still eat well.

I don't see how milk would be less hydrating than water snoozathon........surely anything you drink will hydrate you (except alcohol and caffeine obviously)

AT1137 · 16/08/2010 17:51

Milk is fine. Stop worrying.

lal123 · 16/08/2010 18:03

even alcohol and caffeine containing drinks are hydrating (not that I'm advocating those for your kids!)

In terms of hydration, unless they are top athletes or something, milk is as effective as water.

hmc · 16/08/2010 18:10

Milk is fine - but does it take the edge off their appetite for other foodstuffs? If not, the no worries

pointydog · 16/08/2010 18:19

I cannot imagine there's any problem with drinking mainly milk.

Get your dh to google to back up his claims.

grapesandmoregrapes · 16/08/2010 19:11

snoozathon - what nutritional benefits does a glass of squash have over a glass of milk? And milk is not a diuretic, therefore is as hydrating as water or juice.

TastesLikePanda · 16/08/2010 20:25

Now I want a glass of milk...

tokyonambu · 16/08/2010 23:18

"urely anything you drink will hydrate you (except alcohol and caffeine obviously)"

Why not? Don't they contain water?

Flip

1 2