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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think the 'baby WILL drink water' brigade are <ahem> incorrect *edited by MNHQ*

102 replies

StinkusMinkus · 22/05/2014 19:22

I keep reading a lot of threads where people post about babies being given squash/juice (as they won't drink water), and insist that baby WILL drink water if not given anything else...

Well, can I personally call bullshit on that one...?!

DS (10 months) has never been given anything to drink other than milk or water. However - he is a water refuser. His poo this morning was little hard pellets, constipated through not drinking enough in this hot weather. And it's not even summer proper yet. So what do I do when it gets actually, really, hot? Keep offering him nothing other than water, and watch him dehydrate as he keeps refusing it - or try him with something else?

For the record, I don't advocate given kids excess sugar/salt etc - DS isn't even given fromage frais and has plain natural yoghurt instead, but I think this one is bloody nutty. Dehydrate your kid rather than give them squash??!

AIBU?

OP posts:
ikeaismylocal · 22/05/2014 20:36

I wonder if it has to do with babies being programmed to want sweet breastmilk. I didn't give ds any water until 6 months, when we started weaning I offered him water but he wasn't very interested. I fed on demand until recently and it's only now when he is nearly 18 months old that he is starting to be interested in drinking water.

It didn't really occur to me to worry that he drank hardly anything ( it worried dp though) ds eats tons of fruit/veg and he isn't a fan of carbs so maybe he gets lots of fluid from his food.

I really believed that he'd drink if he was thirsty, I know he doesn't understand the logic of thirst and hydration but I thought it was an innate drive to find hydration.

HumphreyCobbler · 22/05/2014 20:38

I caved in with my water refusing ds and gave him juice or squash when he was a toddler, he was definitely better hydrated after that point. His intake before that point was so minimal it made him constipated, despite the amount of fruit he ate.

But it didn't continue for ever, I give him water and milk to drink most of the time now he is old enough to understand the need to keep himself hydrated.

BabyHaribo · 22/05/2014 20:42

Yadnbu!

Some children really do refuse water.

DS won't drink water leading to dry nappies and constipation.

I always think that the effect of sugar in squash (tiny amount) on teeth is preferable to bowel or kidney issues from dehydration.

storynanny2 · 22/05/2014 20:44

Back in the day, late 70's and 80's it was "allowed" to give babies and toddlers juice or even baby "squash" mine had it so diluted due to me being extremely poor that it was barely coloured. They all survived, even the middle one who drank gallons of the stuff. As teenagers and young adults all keen sportsmen they drank loads of water eventually, still like their weak squash though and beer of course.
They are fine, with good teeth.
I was told that as breast milk is sweet,they find plain water a bit of a shock. Don't know if that is true though.
I agree with those who have said,yes they will starve/dehydrate themselves. My youngest refused most food for 19 years, no wonder I was pleased he drank lots.

YoureBeingASillyBilly · 22/05/2014 20:45

Mental?

rootypig · 22/05/2014 20:45

For the parents of water refusers, have you tried offering it at the same temp as their milk? DD loves milk - I mean, LOVES milk - but won't drink it cold. First clue. She was never a great water drinker so I gave her it lukewarm. Much more success. When she has been ill and I've been concerned about hydration I've given her a dreamfeed of warm water - she was such a little milk chugger in the night, that she'll drink from a bottle when asleep Grin. Now she's used to water and drinks if from her sippy cup, though still not in great quantity, and she needs to be prompted.

BertieBotts · 22/05/2014 21:08

I'm a stupid adult and I don't drink if my only option is water. So, meh. I can't get that het up about it. I will drink cold water or bottled water or water with a slice of lemon in it but plain tap water (or sparkling) doesn't do it for me. I will get dehydrated instead. I've ended up in hospital with kidney infection caused by cystitis due to not drinking enough water Blush I just make sure I have squash in otherwise I know I won't drink.

DesperatelySeekingSedatives · 22/05/2014 21:11

DD refused to drink water and I gave her very weak squash just to get her to drink something. DS was much better until he twigged at around 1 and a half that his sister wasn't drinking plain water and decided he wanted exactly the same.

I know there are DC out there who will either drink gallons of water no problem or can be cajoled into doing so but mine aren't like that. I don't much care for plain water myself in fairness.

x2boys · 22/05/2014 21:17

Exexpat I hate milk too I always have done I put it down too the warm nasty smelling milk that had been in a warm classroom all day they used to make us drink at primary school but my mum says I was nt all that good with it before that can't say I am all that keen on tea and coffee either I much prefer juice or water!

PrincessBabyCat · 22/05/2014 21:27

Even the occasional glass of coke won't kill a child

Shock We do not say such blasphemous things here on mumsnet.

Every child's meal should be lovingly made with the utmost nutritional value. Why, my DD eats only salmon that I have caught myself and home garden grown organic beans and apples. She's only 7 weeks old, very advanced for her age. Because I love my daughter. What's your excuse?

Seriously though, a little junk food is fine. It's best to teach them healthy eating habits though for long term health. :)

Original poster
StinkusMinkus · 22/05/2014 21:34

Just noticed the title edit. Sorry Mumsnet. I was a bit Blush, as soon as I posted.

OP posts:
BlackeyedSusan · 22/05/2014 21:38

my cows milk refuser stayed on bottles of formula as this was the ony way to get milk into her from 13 months to two. after that we figured she consumed enough milk on her cereals plus on e portion of yogurt or cheese.

she started drinking milk when the dentist told me that, that was what she should be drinking. I am going to take hime a note everytime we go and ask hime to tell her all sorts of useful things!

tshirtsuntan · 22/05/2014 21:41
Grin
YourMaNoBraBackOfMyCar · 22/05/2014 21:44

Ds ended up in hospital at 18 months old as he refused food. He just decided one day not to eat. I was so desperate that I bought complan ( which didn't work). I'd beg him to eat and even contemplated force feeding as I could see how weak and thin he was getting. He was put on a drip. After 2 days a nurse asked if she could offer him a chicken nugget. He nibbled it slowly but then asked for another one. After that he ate yoghurt, cheese and crackers exclusively. We were prescribed vitamins and told not to make an even bigger issue of it. It worked, eventually he was back to his old self. Took a while though. It really does annoy me when people say kids won't let themselves starve or go thirsty. They frigging do.

maddening · 22/05/2014 21:48

What about sparkling water - 20p for 2 litres in tesco - you could add a touch of elderflower which is refreshing.

Numb234 · 22/05/2014 21:52

Ha! I was thinking this exact thing when I read that comment on that thread earlier.

I have two DC that not only have never been offered anything but milk or water both positively love water.

Before or just after DC1 Id have been very much in the 'if they are only offered water, they'll have water' camp.

But then DC2 came along and its hit me like a tonne of bricks how utterly different children can be. The mutual like of water is one of the very few things they agree on.

I could guarantee if I had a thrid child he would be a water refuser.

maddening · 22/05/2014 21:52

Ps my ds drinks water and milk and bm but if sees others drinking juice that's all he'll want but is pacified with sparkly water and I pop in a drop of fresh juice or a naice cordial - I make a show but only taint the water - he is gullible :) or milk shakes sometimes.

rootypig · 22/05/2014 21:57

Another thought for kids and adults alike - a slice of orange in a jug of water gives it a nice mild sweet flavour.

VisualiseAHorse · 22/05/2014 22:06

A friends child was not a water refuser, but a cup refuser. She only wanted to use her bottle.

The HV suggested getting rid of the bottle cold turkey. She was about age 3 when they tried. She didn't drink ANYTHING for two weeks. So they gave up and gave her it back until she dropped it her self aged 5. Children know what they like, and certainly can starve themselves to get it.

Arky - I've known children who have never been offered juice, and still refuse to drink water.

JamJimJam · 22/05/2014 22:09

It might be down to luck but mine were only ever given milk or water, and now at 16 and 12 still drink one or the other as their drink of choice. When I breast fed, I was told they didn't need water.

They will now drink diet coke or sprite if we go out and the odd cup of tea. Many of my eldest's friends seem only to drink water.

We have never had squash or juice in the house so they have never got a taste for it.

LostMyPants · 22/05/2014 22:10

If one of my DC refused to drink water i wouldn't be offering squash. Milk or very diluted fruit juice would be much better options. I've been known to give (constipated) DD the water I cooked the carrots in Grin

Original poster
StinkusMinkus · 22/05/2014 22:12

Don't scare me with talk of the cup refuses visualise.

I'm starting to wean DS off the bottle, and it's not going well. He likes his cwtchy bottle feeds, he won't even hold the bottle himself as he likes to drink it curled into me with one hand around my back. He views any cup with suspicion, let alone one with a lid that might prevent him from 'liberating' the liquid. He will be that five year old. I know it.

OP posts:
snoggle · 22/05/2014 22:14

Well mine (2 and 4) now both like a nice warm cup of tea!

Very dilute, decaf so just warm water with a bit of milk in it. Neither will drink much water, they want what everyone else is having, which in our house is usually tea.

VisualiseAHorse · 22/05/2014 22:25

Stinkus - have no fear. That little girl is now 15, and she is clever, funny, kind and healthy (at least 5'11"!!).

VisualiseAHorse · 22/05/2014 22:28

My boy likes ice cold milk, fruit milkshakes, cold fruit tea (blackberry is his current favourite, and lovely for summer), and sparkling water. He will drink plain water, I usually give him a cup with his breakfast, but given the choice he will always pick sparkling water with cold fruit tea in it.

(I use one tea bag in a 2 litre jug, leave to cool, remove tea bag and stick in the fridge. Depending on the brand, I sometimes add a little honey to sweeten it)