to start giving my DC squash even though they're happy with just water?

[Clemmythyme]

I have two DDs aged 4 and 2. Both happily drink water and don't ask for anything different to drink. DD4 has tried squash at GPs and parties and likes it but has never asked for it at home. DD2 hasn't tried it but obviously would probably like it as it's sweeter than water.

I'm thinking of beginning to buy and offer squash because I'm concerned they're not drinking enough. Neither drank anything with breakfast today, they had probably a quarter of a small cup of water with lunch, half a small cup after swimming and hardly anything with dinner. AIBU to think this isn't enough and to introduce squash to try and encourage them to drink more?

4 year old only goes to the toilet 3-4 times per day. 2 year old is in nappies and her wee is yellow and smells. They do have the occasional smoothie. 2 year old breastfeeds at night but neither drink milk. They only watch TV while I'm cooking dinner so it's tricky to try getting them to drink then because then they won't eat!

If they're thirsty, they'll drink. Don't give them squash if they are happy drinking water, it's either sugar or sweeteners for no reason. Don't forget there's fluid in normal food, unless you only feed them dry biscuits!

I disagree with they won't dehydrate themselves. It doesn't sound like they are drinking a lot.

A cousin of mine was hospitalised because her mum didn't want her drinking anything but water, so she didn't drink. Doctor very explicitly said it's easier to clean teeth than it is to repair kidneys.

I would. So long as you're making sure their teeth are cleaned regularly I don't see a problem.

Just make sure they always have plenty of water. They will drink when they are thirsty.

If they had to spend hours without access to water, forgetting to drink in the mornings might be a problem, but they're not even school age, so that's not likely to be a problem.

I like to have a bottle of water next to my bed, perhaps try that?

There being any kind of scientific advice on how much one should drink is a relatively new phenomenon, people used to make do with feeling thirsty. If both children are drinking so little, then it is probably just your perception (you expecting them to drink as much as adults although they are smaller) not any kind of unusual behaviour.

We had similar. Both my boys at around 2 to 3 didn't drink enough. Just weren't interested and had dark pee. I add a little fruit juice to their water now. Either apple, orange or cranberry but very weak. They drink 4-5 times as much as they do if I just give water. Totally worth it.

water is not great for kids. its not terrible either, but it isn't great. (And drinking water is not natural )- low sugar squash is better, imo,

I buy about two bottles of squash a year mostly to make slushies in the summer. The kids drink milk, water and fruit juice.

user1484226561 drinking water is not natural

Isn't it

water is not great for kids. its not terrible either, but it isn't great. (And drinking water is not natural )- low sugar squash is better,

WTAF?

I don't understand the obsession with 'squash' in the UK.

Coincidentally, the only adults I've ever met who 'hate the taste of water' are also British.

It's bloody daft to do this to children. You're just training their palates to want sweetness.

I know
Odd

Isn't it grin

no mimsyfluff, it isn't that is just propaganda from the bottled water industry. it isn't going to do much to stop a child getting dehydrated. Squash is better for that.

Bullshit! Squash has no nutritional or hydratory benefit.

Water isn't going to do much to stop you getting dehydrated?

Oh, get real.

Squash has no nutritional or hydratory benefit. well of course it does, it is far more isotonic than water.

Water isn't going to do much to stop you getting dehydrated?Oh, get real.

well, its better than nothing, but a glass of squash or a cup of tea will do more.

OP, don't worry about giving your DC squash, it is fine

The bottles water industry appears to have succeeded in brain washing a generation........

I don't understand the big hoo ha about squash, but maybe I'm missing something?

One of mine hates water and drinks loads of sugar free squash. What am I doing to her?

My cousin is 35 and she was hospitalised as a toddler so it's not ridiculous to say that sometimes they won't drink it if they don't like/want it!

I think trying special cups or straws might be a good idea first OP. If they like milk could you try giving that more regularly, or larger amounts? I don't think squash is terrible, but I personally wouldn't introduce it if they were happy with just water. Not for any health benefits (I don't think drinking sugar free squash is a big factor in any health problems) but because it's easier, and cheaper for you, that they drink water. That said, I dislike water with a passion, will drink it if really desperate but tastes horrible to me - I much prefer flavoured water. If the fancy cups/straws etc don't work then I see nothing wrong with putting a drop of squash in their water. Thing is, very few of us drink enough. If I only drank when I was thirsty I'd drink very little a day and that isn't good for me. The children I think, need to drink more, and if a drop of juice or squash in their water helps then so be it. You could also try homemaking lollies- just make out of fruit juice or similar and freexe. Smoothies are also a good way. Not those prepackaged smoothies but make it yourself. A smoothie of milk, some strawberries and a banana in gets them a) drinking more fluid b) having their 5 a day. A lot more fun, and interesting than plain water, but also good for them. I personally just put milk and fruit in my smoothies and they're sweet enough for me. I do know people who put jam/syrup/sugar in but I think that's unneccessary.

Also when I was in school the school tried making me only drink water all day. I was unwell and ended up in hospital, because I really wouldn't drink water and it was a scorching day. A drop of squash in it and I was fine. Even now as an adult, I only drink water when I have no other option, and I hate the taste. Am fine with bottled water though. Has something to do with hard and soft water I'm sure, I just genuinely don't like the taste

Are you completely insane? Or do you need a ?

I doubt anyone is going to be taking medical advice from someone who lacks a basic grasp of spelling and grammar.

Our bodies are mainly water. We would literally die without water. Tea and squash are acceptable purely because they contain water.

The only situation where water is not best is if you are suffering from severe dehydration, and that is due to the loss of salts. Under those circumstances, the best thing is water with a very small amount of salt and sugar added (or a rehydration sachet which is the same thing). So squash would be better than water, but only if it was not sugar-free.

Oh and google isotonic, you obviously have no idea what it means.

That's interesting User - have you got any sources for that? We have a parent at my preschool who insists that water is inferior to squash but has never shown us why they think that, so would be interesting to get some intel so we can ascertain whether we need to change our policy.

I would probably try something else first, kids like those big water containers you get with a tap on the end so they can pour water out themselves. You could add some of their favourite fruit to the water to make it taste nice.

Our bodies are mainly water not fresh water

Oh and google isotonic, you obviously have no idea what it means hmm, well I've taught it at university level, so clearly i do

Sugar-free squash is not isotonic. Some drinks are isotonic (and some are hypertonic and some are hypotonic; three different things) but they are specially marketed as sports drinks, and are of no special value unless you are medically dehydrated or a high performance athlete.