To let my 10 month old have squash?

[TinyMystery]

My 10 month old is OBSESSED with all things cup/bottle/drinking related. As a result of this, he has ended up having sips of our drinks when we have squash. He is now desperate to drink squash and will spend an entire mealtime shouting at us an pointing at our glasses, rather than actually eating his dinner.

This evening I poured a very small amount of squash into a (normal child size) cup and diluted it a bit more so it was very weak. He drank it all up and then cracked on with his dinner. Seems like a sensible enough solution to me but I don’t want him to start refusing water! Currently he will happily drink gallons of water if you let him so not really an issue.

DS (18m) has weak squash, water and milk. Maybe 1-2 squash a day but out of 10-12 drinks I don’t see the issue.
We brush his teeth 2x daily, he has a varied diet and he’s like a rake 🤷🏼‍♀️
It’s up to you, but I’d suggest not making it the norm & it being occasional. X

If he is so interested in your drink, drink water.

I wouldn't give a 10-month-old squash. No way.

I think it is wrong, it's a baby still in my eyes!

A lady I know who has pioneered work into beating childhood obesity, she said that the best thing to do is for adults and children to only drink water even when alternatives are given away for free.

OP I don't think it's an issue. DD is 21 months and has been having squash every now and then for about 6 months. Still drinks water, still drinks milk. It won't hurt them, go for it.

Those talking about the issue of giving the baby a sweet tooth because squash tastes sweet - breast milk is naturally sweet but people still do that without worrying about giving the baby a sweet tooth.

Squash every now and then is fine, OP.

Surely the best thing is if you all drink water?

I have a 10 month old and honestly I couldnt imagine giving him squash.
I just think you will be creating an issue for yourself later down the lone when he will only drink sweet drinks.

Unfortunately he's got to the age where he sees something he wants and goes mad for it. I think you should just drink water in front of him and drink squash in secret. My husband used to have to hide behind the kitchen worktop when eating bananas otherwise my kids would refuse to eat their savoury food and scream for bananas. It's one of the sacrifices you have to make as a parent if you want them to have a good diet.

I'd nip this one in the bud actually. I also know far far too many children who refuse to drink water or milk and will tantrum continually for squash. I do sympathise actually, because as an adult I don't find water particularly enjoyable to drink and would rather have just about anything else, but as an adult I know I have to limit sugary drinks and that water is the best option

Breast milk being compared to squash...

YABU.. I think it's a slippery slope. He'll get used to the sweeter taste and want it instead of water. May affect his tastebuds generally and end up with a sweeter tooth. My BIL and his girlfriend are terrible for giving his DC pretty much anything they want to eat and drink (I believe she may have even given one of them a KitKat finger to chew on whilst teething as a baby ) and yup.. can't stand water, it's squash all the way.

If he drinks water fine, why make it harder? Just drink water yourselves. Mine at 3 and 1 drink water by the gallon loads (and milk at bedtime). They've never asked for squash (even though DH and I do drink it sometimes) and I don't plan on giving it to them any time soon!

No, I would never give a 10 month old squash.

I don't see a problem with it so long as its sugar free, weak and only at some meal times. I would just make sure that its only a small portion though so that hes still thirsty enough at other times to want to drink water or milk. We all have treats sometimes and i think it's healthier to teach appropriate balancing of these things than to mystify them by witholding them entirely

*their DC not his

I'm sure it's fine. When my two were babies you used to be able to but special juice for babies (early 00's). They turned out ok.

My DS is 5 1/2 and has never had anything but water or milk. We have always drunk squash and juice around him but when he was small we never gave him 'a taste' of 'a sip' of our drinks and I think he just thought it was an adults drink like coffee or wine.
Because he's never known any different nowadays he doesn't want anything but water. He's offered fruit shoots etc at parties and iv offered juice and smoothies to try and he says no. If I were you I'd just drink water in front of him until his obsession with your drinks passes.
I'm so glad my DS likes water because I struggle with it but force myself as parents always gave me squash. I have a very sweet tooth and I think it's because I was always given sweetened things.

If I were you I would just drink water at meal times and give him water. Having said that I def don't feel as strongly about it as some PP on here, assuming it's very diluted and sugar free squash. My DD is 13 months and has had flavoured baby water/juice drink a couple of times and very watered down fruit juice a couple of times too, on hot days when she's been constipated. She does drink water but I don't think she drinks enough of it especially when it's hot, the constipation is partly evidence of that. I figure better for her to have some juice and stop her becoming too constipated or dehydrated as she could get very poorly with them. But I only do that on those rare occasions as I'm very aware she would probably stop drinking water completely if I gave her juice more and for the sake of her teeth and taste buds, I obviously don't want that to happen. I worry about this as it is because she's always been a fussy eater with a sweet tooth ever since we started weaning, and she also has a dummy and still has a bottle a day, so I'm permanently worried about her teeth.

When my son was 9 months old it was hot summer and he wouldn't drink water. Our health visitor told us to add some cordial as it was so hot. Obviously we made it really weak but it meant he was drinking. I don't think it's a problem.

YABU. I personally would not give my 10 month old squash. I am only now letting mine drink some and he is 2.

I gave mine squash when they were very little. They happily drink water now all day at school and sometimes the oldest asks for it. Pretty sure it hasn't set him up for a lifetime of bad choices. I never drank water growing up in the 90's, and I didn't set myself up for a lifetime of bad lifestyle choices. I think everyone needs to relax a little.

To be clear, I don't actually think it's a terrible, disastrous thing to be doing - I just think it's a) unnecessary and b) has no upside. You say your baby drinks water well, so there's absolutely no need to use squash to encourage him to drink, as other people have described.

I don't think anyone actually, honestly always gives their child an ideal diet (and if you do that's probably unhealthily obsessive in itself). But there's usually some upside - convenience, getting energy into a child who won't eat, etc. I just don't see what is to be gained here.

I don't recall ever giving my DD squash when she was a toddler, but my cousin's toddler would only drink fruit shoots which they diluted after my suggestion, he is now 17, very healthy and has perfect teeth. @NewAccount270219 I know lots of adults who drink squash. Should we just be sticking to alcohol, or is juice okay?

I have honestly never known an adult drink squash in real life!

Seriously?

There's nothing nicer than a refreshing glass of lime cordial with ice, especially in Summer.

When there is a better alternative (water) I think it is better to hold off. Sweets, i-pads, telly, mobile phones... Once they have something it's quite the battle to moderate it so it saves some hassle if you keep it in the bag.

I have honestly never known an adult drink squash

Really? Ever?

My nieces were allowed squash from about 8 months and will now only drink squash/fruit shoots and refuse water.

Not worth the risk in my eyes. Keep going with water