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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Drinks in nursery

133 replies

Alicetherabbit · 02/10/2017 09:53

My dd has just turned 2 and moved to 2-3 year room last week, she's been coming home dehydrated, so I raised it today (amongst other issues) and was told that the children in that room get their own drinks.
Am I being unreasonable to think ajust turned two year old is too young to remember to drink water?
Also shouldn't I have been told this so I can help with transition at home?
Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
Alicetherabbit · 03/10/2017 11:23

Haha she's two, and doesn't play with anything for an hour so disturbing her isn't an issue. Plus she plays with dolls most of time so at home I give her a drink and pass her dolls bottle at same time.

OP posts:
SnorkellingCat · 03/10/2017 14:55

It might be that your DD needs more water than a normal 2 year old, some children need more than others. Hopefully the Nursery sort the issue and see stops being so thirsty at hometime.

NikiBabe · 03/10/2017 19:20

At home I ensure her water bottle is filled and near her when playing

Why? In case she suddenly develops severe dehydration when it is October in the UK and 15 Celsius outside? When I was a child we drank with meals. There was a water fountain in the bathrooms at school and we drank from that. None of us were admitted to hospital with dehydration.

It is a new phenomenon to think we have to drink constantly

Original poster
Alicetherabbit · 04/10/2017 06:22

Niki she's not in school, and school age would expect her to follow rules of school. But she's two, she's been in the room a week, she had no transition to new rule as far as I'm aware and she's inside where it is a lot warmer than 15 Celsius. I'm not on about drinking constantly. I'm saying I don't think she is drinking in the day as the drinking lots at pick up is a new thing.
However since I raised it with nursery two days ago she is coming home ok, so they are either reminding her or she's using water bottle.

OP posts:
Erica891 · 04/10/2017 08:43

Part of the answer would be to remind your dd to drink water in school and to ask for help if ever she needs it. It would would help to give her a drink bottle.

NikiBabe · 04/10/2017 10:45

I still think it is a new phenomenon. None of us died as toddlers / children through not having constant access to a water bottle in doors in a temperate country.

The last time I genuinely needed a water bottle for constant use I was trekking in the Sinai Desert and it was 38 Celsius in the shade. Without a water bottle dehydration very quickly would have been inevitable and dangerous.

So she isnt drinking all day from a water bottle, she drinks when she gets home. She isnt collapsing and needing an IV fluid drip? She is getting enough fluid during the day.

It is a new thing this water constantly. My sister is the same she doesnt get off her DCs backs. Water water water, juice, do you want another drink, have a drink, every 5 minutes. Fucking hell. They dont even ask for it.

Talkietalk · 04/10/2017 11:05

What do they mean by 'get their own drinks'? I always make sure my 1 YO has access to a fresh cup of water and he drinks it himself. I always offer it during feeding and snacks times too. My nursery offers water all day

MrsOverTheRoad · 05/10/2017 07:02

NikiBabe I'm with you! I've never understood this obession either. One woman at my DD's reception class used to literally go red with anger when she'd check her DD"s water bottle at home time. She'd then loudly quiz her poor child about how much she'd drunk.

BertrandRussell · 05/10/2017 08:35

The need for constant water thing is new. It is partly due to an amazing advertising campaign by the bottled water industry. And partly due to the misunderstanding of some research, also (I think) funded by the bottled water industry, that said that an adult needs the equivalent of 8 glasses of water a day. The misunderstanding arose because the 8 glasses included everything you drink and the fluid in the food you eat. There is a lot of liquid in food. But it was misread to mean 8 glasses of water as well as your normal day to day intake.

Lm9004 · 05/10/2017 08:42

I do think they need a reminder at that age to drink, however I don't think they need constant water water water. I teach year 5 I know it is different but they are allowed one drink from their bottle that is kept near the sinks per lesson ie one before break, after break, and after lunch. They are also allowed to drink at playtime and lunchtime obviously. They are not allowed to refill during lessons if empty or go to the toilet during lessons.

EvilDoctorBallerinaVampireDuck · 05/10/2017 10:25

I think it's good for independence for DC to have water available at all times *Bertrand^, and my DC at least need to be reminded to drink during the day so that they're not so thirsty from 3pm that they drinks pints and pints, and then night wet. I drink constantly, but that's because I'm always thirsty.

hazeyjane · 05/10/2017 10:54

Bertrand - nutritional advice for small children is to have approx. 800 - 1200 ml of water a day on top of the liquid found in foods. (this is the equivalent of 6-8 glasses at 120-150 ml) older children need more (1200 -1800 ml a day). This is information provided by the British Nutrition Foundation, NHS and continence services. www.nutrition.org.uk/healthyliving/hydration/hydration-for-children.html

brasty · 05/10/2017 10:56

Sorry that is rubbish. Any Dr will tell you that there is no set amount of water a child should be drinking. It depends on so many things. Drs look at the colour of urine and amount to assess hydration.

hazeyjane · 05/10/2017 10:59

Sorry, Brasty, was that to me? Those figures have been similar to the amounts recommended to us by every single dr, consultant and continence nurse we have seen with ds.

brasty · 05/10/2017 11:03

That shocks me.
By the way hazeyjane assume you are a fan of Nick Drake?

BakerCandlestickmaker · 05/10/2017 11:03

I never subscribed to the 8 glasses a day thing. However I have had kids who never seem bothered about eating or drinking until it becomes a big issue. I therefore did provide drinks and food at regular intervals. Total self regulation led to unhappy chaos.
As parents we work with the children we have a they don't all behave in the same way.

BertrandRussell · 05/10/2017 11:13

And I thought it was general advice that restricting fluids in the late afternoon/evening can make bed wetting worse not better?

hazeyjane · 05/10/2017 11:15

The 6-8 glasses thing is part of the NHS Eatwell advice, NHS continence service advice, GOSH hydration and continence advice and Bristol Children's Hospital gastroenterologist services advice....

Yes! I was listening to Bryter Layter when I joined Mumsnet!

brasty · 05/10/2017 11:19

I love Nick Drake

Pretty sure the 6-8 glasses has no scientific evidence behind it. Ben Goldacre debunks it.

BertrandRussell · 05/10/2017 11:20

As I said. Always a good idea to check who funded the research.

Original poster
Alicetherabbit · 05/10/2017 11:26

Thanks for sending that Hazey.
Whether or not there is a set amount to drink the point remains that my dd is 2, and was expected to change routine to getting own drinks, in less than a week. I have taken on board mixture of comments and I still feel at age two she isn't mature enough to do this herself so I will continue to send in with her own water bottle which seems to be working.

OP posts:
hazeyjane · 05/10/2017 11:35

It is also part of the EYFS and good practice within early years settings that teaching children of this age about healthy eating and self care, should include having water readily available and encouraging and reminding children to drink.

www.childrensfoodtrust.org.uk/childrens-food-trust/early-years/
Water is easily accessible for all children, and they are encouraged to drink water

hazeyjane · 05/10/2017 11:37

I will ask the continence service and gastroenterologist who ds is under where they got their recommendations from!

brasty · 05/10/2017 11:38

It may be that they think it is evidenced based when it is not.

sirfredfredgeorge · 05/10/2017 11:56

Water is easily accessible for all children, and they are encouraged to drink water

As opposed to coke and wine...