To offer water only?

[Buggeroffbingbunny]

Just turned 2 DD discovered juice a few months ago. Since then the amount he drinks has increased hugely to the point that this morning he had 3 300ml bottles of dilute squash all before lunch and a nappy was completely soaked through in 2 hours.

At the childminders 3 days a week he only ever has water. He drinks a normal amount and never asks for juice. At home he refuses to touch water and screams “orange” if not given it.

Do I need to just get tough and only offer water? The squash is only very weak but I am worried about the amount he is drinking and him drinking out of habit rather than thirst.

My issue isn’t the sugar- we only have sugar free squash and it is very weak. It’s the amount he is drinking purely out of habit rather than thirst.

Today he had drank around 1L before lunch, which resulted in a nappy leak after only an hours food shop. He isn’t thirsty, he likes the taste and I don’t want it suppressing appetite.

instead of squash try home made fruit jelly. This seems to have worked to wean dn off juice / squash.

I don’t understand why a 2 year old needs to drink squash in the first place

crispysausagerolls

He doesn’t “need” to drink squash- hence my post! He drinks it because I drink it and he likes the taste of it.

I can obviously stop giving it to him as he isn’t old enough yet to make his own- I was just looking for some moral support in doing this or to hear from anyone who has a similar stubborn toddler!

My apologies for misunderstanding about the sugar issue. I would still suggest gradually cutting down the amount of squash you use, until it is non-existant - I think that would be easier on you than just stopping cold turkey. Adding a slice of orange to water might help because it would be orange-y but not as enticing as the squash.

From what the OP has said, her issue with the squash is the amount her son drinks - far more than he drinks when he is at the childminder and just gets water - and the resultant nappy leakages.

Personally, I dislike the chemical sweeteners in sugar free drinks, and don’t think they are good for anyone, especially children - plus their sweet taste still triggers the brain’s and body’s response to sugar, and leads to wanting more sweet stuff.

I second making water interesting with ice cubes, or sprigs of mint, or a slice of fruit

Yea, that’s our issue too- when DS gets juice he just necks it and leaks straight through his nappy, hence why I refuse and give him water.

You both need to go cold turkey. There were a few things I had to give up to set an example for my three DC. Swearing, biscuits and squash to name but a few.

Perhaps buy an orange coloured drinking cup/bottle so he thinks hes getting juice?

@llangennith - I gave up swearing to set an example for my dses too - and then they got to be teenagers and learned more sweary words than I ever knew. Now they are in their 20s, I have happily taken up swearing again. And squash and biscuits, if I am honest!

Thanks everyone. It’s the taste he is after so he won’t be fooled by coloured beakers and cups.

I will get tough and implement water only at home. He has been suffering with constipation and I have wondered if it’s the artificial sweeteners causing it as that’s they only thing that has changed and he eats loads of fruit.

I grew up drinking sugar free squash, as my mum was never a fan of water. I now have the odd squash but weaned myself onto water (although probably drink far too much green tea).

My kids have always just had water or milk. They only ask for that at home, unless we have the rare orange juice in. When we go out we allow a fizzy drink, but they'll also have water as well.

My worry would be him flooding his body with water. Over hydrating can be more dangerous than mild dehydration through not offering the squash and only giving water.

Tough it out now and he will soon get used to it. If he doesn't have any sensory issues and happily drinks water at the childminders I think he is not going to be very difficult.

Ach, mine only drink squash. I only drink squash. If it makes you feel any better OP my eldest went through the same "drinking for fun" stage around the same age; soaking through nappies, pyjamas and bed sheets, it was tedious as hell!

I've been wracking my brain trying to remember but there's an informal name for it on account of how many toddlers get taken to their GPs for "excessive thirst" when in fact they've just discovered that drinking is FUN. I'd hazard a bet that 99.9% grow out of it. Mine did. He regulates his drinking just fine with squash now, aged 3.

Just in case you fail with "project water".

The only reason he's drank so much squash is because you were foolish enough to give it to him... and were foolish enough to introduce it in the first place

Why even would you?!

Get your big girl parenting pants on for gods sake!

Sugar free squash is still acidic, it can erode their teeth. Drinking gallons of it is not good, especially from a bottle as that beautifully bathes his front teeth in acid. Better than nothing of courde but always best to try and wean children off squash to water. Definitely should only be water in a sports bottle.

I would pretend it was empty. He drinks water at childminders so doesn't need the fluids from squash because he will drink water. It might be a tough few days but I think might have to be a cold turkey situation

What about taking him to the shops to get a fancy new straw cup with his favourite character on as a sort of distraction from what's in it.
My dentist actually advises a small amount of sugar juice rather than the additives in sugar free however she advises drinking through the straw to be better for teeth.

One tip is to make sure he sees you drinking water - too many parents complain their kids want juice or fizzy drinks, but drink them all the time themselves, kids learn by example. "Juice" with meals and water in between makes sense

My 3 year old is allowed one cup of squash a day, otherwise it’s water only. I find that’s a good compromise. When she was first allowed it she was asking for it first thing in the morning then being sad and grumpy all day when she realised she wasn’t allowed me. Now she asks for it only with her lunchtime meal.

At nursery she doesn’t have it at all except when they have a party so Christmas, Easter and Halloween if she’s in on the day they have it.

If your son is suffering from constipation I would think possibly he is dehydrated. Maybe he doesn't like water, therefore isn't drinking enough thus causing the constipation.

A friends child was terribly impacted and it turned out to be caused by dehydration. this child was too busy to think about drinking though.

often we do really underestimate the amount our children drink. especially once they are away from measured bottles.

Ffs. Such vitriol towards a drink.
It's squash, not poison.

By some of the replies on here you'd think OP had been sticking a teat on a bottle of vodka for her toddler and sending him on his way!

If you aren't happy with the amount he is drinking then leave a bottle of water accessible to him and offer squash at mealtimes instead?
If he asks throughout the day, direct him to the water.
I don't think it's necessary to cut it out completely though; unless you want to.

I don’t buy any soft drinks. Mostly because DH gets greedy with them, and instead of having them as an occasional treat he starts drinking them with every meal, and sometimes between meals. The only solution is to not buy any at all. Drinking plain water is a good habit to teach kids.