To not understand why any child under school age (ish) is given anything other than milk/water on a regular basis?

[Sarah1611]

I see it a lot out and about- tiny dots with bottles and beakers full of juice, squash or fizzy drink. I know it's not the worst thing that a young child can be given but I don't understand why it's necessary. I'm an avid squash drinker and happily drink it in front of my charges but they never ask for it. I don't drink tea/coffee so squash keeps me going!

If we were at a party then I don't see a problem with having other things but not on a normal day at home or on a trip out.

It's not even just the teeth element, but the habit it creates (I should know!!) and also the dependency on sugar- there's enough sugar in most foods in a normal diet without the almost saturate of a soft drink.

[usualsuspect]

Quick frankly op, I don't give a toss what you think.

You worry about your DCs and I will worry about mine.

[YoniRanger]

Is the odd carton of fruit juice or watered down whole juice bad then?

I cannot for the life of me think how.

[KitCat26]

DD1 won't drink squash or milk, only water.
DD2 will drink squash or milk, no water.

So long as they drink something, I'm not too worried.

[WorrySighWorrySigh]

Quite honestly, when they hit teenage there are a lot better things to worry about than whether or not they had their first taste of squash/fizzy drinks/fruitshoots at the age of 2.

Not giving them this drink or that at the age of 2 will not mean that they turn down vodka at their first teenage party.

[HeadfirstForHalos]

Three of my dc will happily drink water, but my eldest hated it as a child, and detests it now. I tried so hard to get her to drink it but she would go without rather than drink it. I've now learned from my mistakes and pick my battles with the dc. With DC1 it isn't worth it.

I also think you are hugely hypocritical to be guzzling squash in front of them yet condemning it. When dc1 was younger and I was one of the "squash is evil" clan I drank nothing but water in front of her. Then I chilled out.

[Dackyduddles]

Oh yours drink plain milk and water?

Mine drink organic milk from a locally sourced farm and they love Evian! Pronounced the French way of course.

I'm such a lucky mummy!

(Ffs)

[HeadfirstForHalos]

*Hated it as a baby/toddler and does now. She's only 11 (nearly) :)

[Madamecastafiore]

I do hope when you actually grow up and have children they will only drink vodka!!!

[MatersMate]

Is 'confused' the new word for 'I think people who do XYZ are twats?'

Keep reading threads where the OP is smugly 'confused'

It's getting on my tits, and there aint a lot of room left today.

[HeadfirstForHalos]

"tea/coffee in front of a child but not giving it to them is no different than me with squash"

Yes it is. It's full of caffeine. If you drink caffeine free, there is no reason a child couldn't have that.

Sugar is a normal part of a diet, in moderation. Caffeine is not well it is in mine I live for coffee

[usualsuspect]

There are some fucking odd posters on MN just lately

[HeadfirstForHalos]

I know Maters, confused? Hardly. Different to what I do, so I smugly disapprove of it? That's more like it.

[IRCL]

My daughter drinks milk and juice. She is incredibly stubborn. I would rather her have fluids than for her to become dehydrated.

Plus it's juice not vodka.

Not sure why you're confused really...

[ShatnersBassoon]

Spot on, MatersMate. I liked the good old-fashioned confused, not the new passive aggressive sort

[hobnobsaremyfavourite]

my eldest ds has an occasional bottle of beer with his dad do I win the prize? :)

[hobnobsaremyfavourite]

oh and pretending you are confused when really you just want to judge is a bit obvious op.

[MonstersDontCry]

I agree with the poster who said 'cant miss what they've never had.'

Surely if you don't give squash in the first place they won't know that they like it? I genuinely don't understand.

[WorraLiberty]

Why does it have to be necessary in order for parents to give it to their children?

Humans can survive on a small amount of plain food and water

All other food and drink will be unnecessary, but we still enjoy it don't we?

[McNewPants2013]

It's not the first choice by many parents, but when your child has not drank in over 24 hours you will try any thing.

[HeadfirstForHalos]

Monsters, my daughter ended up with a bad kidney infection at 20 months because she wasn't drinking enough. She was very premature at birth so still drinking a lot of high fat formula until close to then but from about 18 months she was having less and less of it. She would not drink water, what is there to not understand? The paediatrician told me to just give her squash and obviously thought I was an idiot

Luckily I didn't have that problem with my other 3.

[WorraLiberty]

Surely if you don't give squash in the first place they won't know that they like it? I genuinely don't understand.

Unless they're blind, have never seen an advert, and never allowed out of the house to mix with other people, they're going to know of its existence and probably want to try it.

[magentastardust]

Ds1-very constipated as baby/toddler -hardly drink much water and hated taste and texture of cows milk. Health visitor/docs advised to do what I could to get him to drink more fluids. Therefore we ended up with heavily diluted squash and sadly even now he is older trying to get him to drink just water is difficult.

Dd1- Quite happily drink water and enjoys a glass of milk. Does sometimes ask for squash as her brother drinks it but will easily be encouraged to have water or milk instead .

Dd2- (toddler just now) unfortunately doesn't like the taste of milk and again the texture-just spits it out and I have tried on several occasions to get her to drink it. Will drink just plain water but reluctantly.

Someone asked what would happen if they didn't have a choice-both my DC who don't like Milk and won't really drink water have both gone to childminders and nursery/playgroup where they are only offered milk or water (understandably). Both will reluctantly have water but drink very little of it. Fine for a couple of hours at playgroup but have to make sure they have plenty before and after a day at the childminders as I know they will only have had a few sips through out the day.

[HeadfirstForHalos]

God, yes, squash over infection any bloody day. She dropped from 18 lbs to 15 lbs in a week (remember she was 20 months, so tiny anyway for her age!).

I wish I could go back and boot myself up the arse.

It's just bloody squash, and it's nice. So there.

[jacks365]

True if you never give squash they won't know they like it but that doesn't translate to they will drink water. Dd4 doesn't like water so refuses to drink it which is not good for her healthwise, how hungry would you have to be to eat something you really dislike.

[exoticfruits]

I can justify drinking tea, coffee, alcohol in front of a DC while they have milk or water- I can't justify drinking squash, fizzy or juice while they have water. If I did that all that it teaches them is that as soon as they are older they can and that it is more desirable- not a message I want to give. Much better to have all in moderation.