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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

233 replies

Clemmythyme · 12/02/2017 23:15

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?

OP posts:
BarbaraofSeville · 13/02/2017 06:40

The only people brainwashed are those who are ruining their health because they 'don't like water' and spend a fortune on unhealthy squash and fizzy pop that is totally unnecessary.

We are incredibly lucky to have clean safe water on tap in just about every property in the country that is affordable to almost everyone. Rejecting this in favour of sweetened drinks for the main source of hydration is madness. Fizz and squash should be considered as an occasional treat not an everyday drink.

Happinessisthis · 13/02/2017 06:45

I did this when my DD had a water infection. She downed it. A week later I switched it back to water and now, I feel, she drinks enough. 2-3 small cups a day (she's 3)

Happinessisthis · 13/02/2017 06:48

Oh but she also has milk twice a day.
Before her infection, she was only drinking about 1 cup and I could see the difference in her wee.

I have a water bottle readily available that she swigs in throughout the day?

user1484226561 · 13/02/2017 06:58

Water is best Don't believe all the dehydration marketing tosh

don't believe any marketing tosh! but its a good idea to look into and understand the science!

you don't have to buy anything at all marketed as isotonic, just make up isotonic squash!

I have a water bottle readily available that she swigs in throughout the day?

really, that's awful. bottle water is a total con, lethal for the environment and bad for children.

Nquartz · 13/02/2017 07:02

I would suggest orange, lemon or lime slices first too, DD likes using one of those bottles with a cage thing through the middle for fruit.
It's really tough to go back once you introduce squash, i know so many kids who only drink squash (always looks really strong too).

InTheDessert · 13/02/2017 07:03

My youngest will happily not drink. We live somewhere hot, so it's not really optional (mid winter max of 23 today). I will happily only drink 1l a day unless I think hard about it. I just don't feel thirsty.

I make him finish a kids cup of water at breakfast (he won't drink milk). I send a carton of fruit juice in his packed lunch, which normally gets finished, and a water bottle, which normally comes home untouched.
A cup of water or juice when he gets back from school, and a cup of water with dinner.
All drinks with me need to be finished. Neither child gets down til the cups are empty. His brother drinks milk with breakfast, then the same as above, except he also finishes a 500 ml bottle of water at school.
I think you need to work on finishing the drinks they have.

Idefix · 13/02/2017 07:03

Op dark smelly urine is a sign of not drinking enough fluids, from what you describe they are not drinking enough fluids. The human body often confuses thirst for hunger so one strategy is to provide a drink when they ask for a snack. Will add link in a bit. i would try sugar free squash and did when my dc were younger because after stopping bf they consumed very little fluids. My dc are now 16 and 18 and rarely drink squash and do drink straight water and unsweetened teas.

bittorrent123 · 13/02/2017 07:04

If they will take water maybe try and work on them just taking more.

I grew up on squash - no issues with teeth or weight.
My DD has sugar free squash due to frequent urine infections making her sick and her needing to drink more. I wish she did drink water so I didn't feel I was such a bad parent as per mumsnetters but the GP has said it is better than her getting sick.

It doesn't sound like you are there yet though. I'd keep an eye on the dehydration though but try other methods with squash as last resort and maybe only with meals or something.

InTheDessert · 13/02/2017 07:10

And just as an aside, how are people proposing isotonic drinks with sugar free squash? Surely the point of isotonic drinks is they contain sugar and sodium?

JassyRadlett · 13/02/2017 07:12

don't believe any marketing tosh! but its a good idea to look into and understand the science!

Yes please. Can you link to some that supports your claims, and sets out why the bodies I mentioned are incorrect?

really, that's awful. bottle water is a total con, lethal for the environment and bad for children.

I assume she means a drinking bottle she fills with tap water.

Happinessisthis · 13/02/2017 07:13

User- how ridiculous. Now you're actually judging because someone is giving their child water. Also- it's a water bottle that she takes to nursery. So it's tap water.... not that it should matter to you what I feed my child. It was a helpful suggestion to OP in order to get her kids to drink more. What a ridiculous thing to pick up on and not related to the question in any way

Wheredidallthejaffacakesgo · 13/02/2017 07:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

user1484226561 · 13/02/2017 07:22

User- how ridiculous. Now you're actually judging because someone is giving their child water. Also- it's a water bottle that she takes to nursery. So it's tap water..

good, I m glad its tp water, but this fad for having bottle of water available at ll times is very very silly in my opinion, totally unnecessary , unhygienic, and whilst she is using tap water many are not, and the damage to the environment from all these one-use only plastic bottles is incalculable.

Yes I do judge those people who feel it necessary to carry a bottle around with them at all times, to suck on! And who encourage their children to do the same.

WutheringTights · 13/02/2017 07:26

There's are other ways to get liquids into a reluctantly child. Fruit for instance, eg watermelon, oranges. Soups, cereal with milk, yoghurt, stews with lots of (low salt) gravy or stock. Most foods have water in them so unless they're living off crackers and cheese they're probably getting water throughout their diet.

Artandco · 13/02/2017 07:33

User - can I ask wher eyou get your squash from if not in a bottle?

Water is not a new faddy thing, bottled water maybe, but water itself no. It's been the main thing most drank for millennium.

Famalam13 · 13/02/2017 07:35

Have come across user before. Until they can provide genuine evidence just ignore OP :)

I am one of these brainwashed adults who don't like water (although it is tolerable from a fridge water dispenser. I find cold water with a few drops of lemon juice in can be OK.

I grew up on squash and it is still the main thing I drink. I am a size 10 with no teeth problems so I'm not massively against it but I am trying to keep it to special occasions for DS.

Are you making up the lack of milk in yoghurt and cheese?

Zippidydoodah · 13/02/2017 07:37

I agree it sounds like they need to drink more.

My child didn't drink enough when I tried to "run out of" squash; her behaviour and her wees reflected it. She will drink water sometimes but not enough, just a sip here and there. I'd rather she was hydrated properly!

Anyway I am ignoring the gf above...I suggest others do the same! Grin

eurochick · 13/02/2017 07:43

But squash comes in plastic bottles....

(I'm not sure why I am even attempting this)

SarfEast1cated · 13/02/2017 07:45

Do your DD's have their water bottles to hand at all times or do you wait for them to ask? That might make a difference. I know when my DD was at nursery they were given loads of fruit so that would help with liquid intake.
In your position I would not give squash but would try diluted fruit juice, or cucumber water or similar, and rely on them getting the liquid they need from their food.

Tabymoomoo · 13/02/2017 07:47

Having had an (admittedly brief) look into the science there appears to be some argument to say that drinks like lucozade or squash (with sugar and added salt) are better for immediate hydration (usually whilst exercising or competing). The argument is that "plain water causes bloating, suppresses thirst and thus further drinking. It stimulates urine output and therefore is inefficiently retained. A poor choice where high fluid intake is required. Water contains no carbohydrate or electrolytes."

HOWEVER your child is not an athlete in a race and is much better off drinking small amounts of plain water throughout the day! My kids have always just been offered water or milk they don't drink lots but do eat fruit and have never been dehydrated. They get offered squash at friends' houses but prefer water (although if lemonade was on offer if would be a different story!)

Artandco · 13/02/2017 07:50

Firstly OP I would try increasing fluids into meals daily. Milky porridge, extra milk on cereal, yogurt or fruit purée at breakfast . Will they eat soup at lunch or casserole type food. Add watering veg as snacks or with meals like cucumber, carrot, peppers, tomatoes

Blackbird82 · 13/02/2017 07:52

Mine has squash, he's nearly two. He has a kids size sports/drinks bottle and I put about 1 part squash to 20 parts water. He drinks loads but isn't keen on plain water although I only offer water with meals.

To be honest I'd just rather he was well hydrated so I don't worry too much!

GangstaRat · 13/02/2017 07:57

Sugar free squash is not isotonic.

User obviously has no idea what the word isotonic means.

BertrandRussell · 13/02/2017 08:00

I find the use of the word "dehydrated" to describe healthy well fed children in the developed world who haven't had a drink for a couple of hours deeply distasteful.........

DizzyFizzyLizzy · 13/02/2017 08:02

I tried to stick to water for my two year old. Grandparents and nursery put paid to that. But she drinks far more squash than she ever did water. I don't think she doesn't like water, it's just too boring and tasteless I think.

I'm trying to phase squash back out by constantly reducing the amounts but if it's too watery she will literally hand me the cup back with a disgusted look 🙄