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.

thanks for explaining salmo

Ah but joymachine what about alcohol??

It was a bit tiny hobnobs!

and no steam coming off it

I know.

I would like steam.

:)

JoyMachine, that's anecdotal evidence.

Just because that's how it worked for you, doesn't mean it's the same for everyone.

Three out of four of mine will happily drink water. One won't touch it. She's physically repulsed by it, and it took me a long time to adjust to that idea.

I guess that, by your logic, statistically 3 out of 4 children will drink water?

DS used to ask for water or milk at parties until he was older than about 7 yrs- nothing to do with me- he hated fizzy drinks.

When i say it took me a long time to adjust to the idea, I mean it's literally alien to me. I love water, drink loads of the stuff, it never occurred to me that someone would hate it so much.

It seems that this has never occurred to lot's of other people!

Exotic, my dc2 is like that. he will drink other stuff now he's older (9) but for years would drink Like 90% water, 10% milk (grudgingly).

How are you so easily confused op? Grip please take one!

DD2 is 15 months. I'm trying to give only water and milk and not give in to sweeter stuff. She drinks her milk from a bottle morning and night (whole other thread there!) and during the day she drinks nothing unless I give her another bottle of milk. She has had several incarnations of sippy cup and open cups under supervision. The water is either spilt on the floor or spat out. She gets constipated so I give her fruit purees. When I tried to reduce her milk she still drank nothing and also started to lose weight.

So OP, WWYD?

He didn't drink alcohol until he went to university, and not much then. He was about 20 before he drank coffee and even older before he managed tea.

LTEveDallas, my dd was born at 30 weeks, 2lb 6, and she has always refused water, even now at age 10, nearly 11! maybe something in it? (I don't mean in the water)

I'd love to know just how good tap water is for you. When I run my tap, the smell of chlorine actually makes me gag. I hide the taste with squash.

here if I was your nanny I'd probably suggest trying very slightly watered down milk in the day time, gradually building up the water percent and down the milk percent week by week and see how she gets on. Or try fruit juice watered down and gradually fade the juice out of that- whatever suits your family the best. You could also add water into the fruit purees. Hope that's helpful

Wales??? Oh. My. God. Why didn't you say??
We could have avoided all this if only you'd said.

Maybe Headfirst, maybe. DD will drink water now, but not by choice and only in the last year or so.

I have a dentist friend who says it doesn't really matter what they drink* so long as they use a straw, drink plenty of water alongside, brush their teeth twice a day, and try and finish each meal off with a piece of cheese and a glass of water (which my kids do).

• but I have a doctor friend who says don't drink sugar free stuff as it kids your body in to thinking it's had sugar, your body then releases insulin to deal with this sugar, eventually your body becomes used to that high level of insulin in your bloody so you have to eat more sugary things to "use" it up. Too much insulin is Not Good (though don't tell that to diabetics :o)

I wonder what it is in cheese which makes it a good thing to end a meal with?

My son has still never drunk anything but plain still water, London tap water being his favourite. People think it's me being fussy but it's not. He's 11.

My DD has never liked milk, once she was off breast milk and then formula. She has never liked cow's milk at all. FWIW neither have I.

DD did drink water and juice. She wasn't keen on a lot of plain water too much, but would drink it. I was happy with her having juice as well every so often. She didn't have fizzy pop til she was older but probably has squash on occasion.

She does have issues with her teeth but these have occurred since she first got teeth - no or very low enamel on a 5 or 6 of her teeth nearer the back. Have had several dentists, including those at the dental hospital, assure me nothing she would have had to drink has caused it. It would have occurred before she was even born. Her adult teeth do not appear to be affected.

DD is older at 11y now and is allowed all manner of drink (non alcohol obviously), hot or cold, and she is fine.

I would rather my dc drink very weak squash, its mostly water anyway, than refuse to drink anything at all.

you have been lucky with the dc you look after.

btw mine never have fizzy drinks coke or anything caffeinated.