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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not allow DD to drink squash when I drink it myself?

85 replies

Tinkjon · 12/05/2008 13:56

I only let DD drink water or milk but she has been asking for squash/fizzy drinks lately, as she see lots of other kids have it and, more importantly, she sees me and DH drink it. I've been saying "no, it's only for grown-ups" but is that fair? Can I really expect her to be satisfied with "it isn't good for you" if she sees me drink it too? I have said that it isn't good for anybody but it's worse for little children but I don't know if she's buying that And please no nagging me about how I should be setting an example and not drinking it myself, as I already know I should

OP posts:
serenity · 12/05/2008 13:58

How old is your Dd?

donbean · 12/05/2008 13:58

i had this problem as i only let mine have water or milk so in the end i have stopped buying cordial.
i just get the fresh stuff now and stick to water myself.
fair is fair.

alicet · 12/05/2008 14:05

I felt exactly the same as you. And she's going to see other children drinking it too isn't she and while it's clear some things (coffee, wine etc) are just for adults it will be harder to stick to this when she sees other children her own age drinking it.

So we give ds squash but literally so it just covers the bottom of his cup (about 1-2mm) and then fill it up with water. I don't have an issue with this personally. Another thing I do is give him fresh juice diluted 50/50ish with water.

However if you don't want her to have even this small amount then I think you need to think about how you're going to explain other children having it.

MrsBadger · 12/05/2008 14:10

if you know you'll give in, buy Rock's Organic or similar which is just fruit juice and sugar, no sweeteners or crap.
Tastes nicer too so she is more likely to go 'oh yuk, water please' if offered Robinson's shite.

TheHedgeWitch · 12/05/2008 14:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

totalmisfit · 12/05/2008 14:13

can't you just give her juice?

agree half juice half water is good for most toddlers esp when it's hot.

AbbeyA · 12/05/2008 14:15

I don't believe in getting DCs to do something differently to you, you either have to let her have some or give up drinking it yourself.
I never know why there is all the fuss about squash, I used to give the slightest colouring and the rest was water-much healthier than lots of pure fruit juice (and better for the teeth).
It also means that if you are out they can hace the squash and you can water it down if you think it is too strong.
I don't buy cheap squash with lots of additives.

AbbeyA · 12/05/2008 14:16

sorry have not hace!

electra · 12/05/2008 14:19

I think if I were you I would just stop buying it.

LittlePeanut · 12/05/2008 14:20

Hi, please excuse my ignorance but can someone please explain what is wrong with pure fruit juice?

And also, is squash REALLY so bad? My brother and I have both drunk it all our lives and have great teeth and health. We never really had fizzy drinks at home though - in those days my mum considered them unhealthy and squash was the healthy alternative.

chunkychips · 12/05/2008 14:22

If you really don't want her to drink it, it is a bit mean you having it in front of her. She'll know it's not just for adults if she sees other kids having it. Can you drink it secretly?! Or just give her some really diluted.

Original poster
Tinkjon · 12/05/2008 14:23

Serenity, DD is 5.
She isn't drinking much water at all lately, which isn't good, especially in this heat!, so I bought some fresh juice and diluted that. but I dilute it a lot, so the carton is going to go off before she can finish it which is a waste - I'm investigating something to freeze small portions in to get over this problem. The other problem with proper fruit juice is that I loved the stuff and can't stop drinking it (not good on WeightWatchers!) I don't want her drinking juice all the time as it's too much sugar. Of course it's a natural sugar, but too much of it still isn't good (she potentially has a higher risk of diabetes so I'm keen to avoid too much juice).
AbbeyA, the fuss about squash is, I think, merely that they see other children drinking it so they assume they're missing out on something. I simply can't drink plain water myself, it makes me heave.

OP posts:
alicet · 12/05/2008 14:25

Freeze it in icecube trays, then tip the cubes into a resealable bag. Then could just add the cube to water and it will cool it down too. Lovely! Good idea actually - might do it myself!

AbbeyA · 12/05/2008 14:25

I really don't think you should drink it secretly! Either you drink it as a family or you don't-an intelligent DC will be quick to ask why it is OK for you and not for her. I still fail to see what is wrong with squash if you do it nearly all water.

Original poster
Tinkjon · 12/05/2008 14:25

Littlepeanut, nothing wrong with a glass or two of pure fruit juice, but it's not good to drink it in large quantities. It's better than squash of course, not denying that, but there are other issues with that too (see above).

OP posts:
chunkychips · 12/05/2008 14:27

little peanut - pure fruit juice is really acidic and sugary, better if you squeeze your own, but still full of natural sugars. Don't think squash is really so bad if you dilute it a lot, it just seems unnecessary if they will drink water, much better for them. We used to drink squash when little and our teeth are fine, but only started to drink water late in life because all the squash gave me a sweet tooth.

cardy · 12/05/2008 14:28

I think squash in Ok in small quantities and is better than drinking nothing.

My dds tend to have once glass a day when they home from school/nursery as they are so thirsty I just want them to drink.

try the high-jiuce variety, it's usually about 50% fresh juice.

AbbeyA · 12/05/2008 14:28

I think you only want pure fruit juice once a day. The weight would pile on if I drank it in huge quantities.

mollymawk · 12/05/2008 14:30

Setting aside the practicalities of persuading her that she should give up asking () and of getting her to drink enough in the hot weather, I thnk that htere is nothing wrong in principle with saying something is suitable/OK for you but not her. Doesn't the same apply to going to bed at 11pm, watching scary films, and all sorts of other stuff?

chunkychips · 12/05/2008 14:32

Alright, perhaps not drink it behind the door or anything, but not right in front of her. If she won't drink much (I have this problem with ds sometimes), perhaps a straw or filling a water bottle will encourage her a bit or perhaps some fizzy water (expensive though).

grievousangel · 12/05/2008 14:33

No added sugar squash?

LittlePeanut · 12/05/2008 14:35

Thank you TJ ad CC for responding to me (I was expecting to be ignored!!)

My DD (2 and a half) usually has a cup of apple juice with her lunch. The rest of the time she has weak squash. She won't drink water on its own, but I can't blame her, I find it boring too.

Gobbledigook · 12/05/2008 14:43

I think you are fair - I'm drinking coke in this hot weather (never do normally) but my children aren't allowed it. I just say it's for grown ups. I don't really care what other children are allowed - it's up to me what mine eat and drink.

MrsBadger · 12/05/2008 14:43

grievousangel have you read the ingredients on a bottle on sugar free squash?

I'd prefer dd to have sugar to that!

Gobbledigook · 12/05/2008 14:44

What's all this stuff about not drinking it yourself then? So I have to give up wine now do I?! I don't think so!