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

[Tinkjon]

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

I think you may have to give in and let her drink it or she will just keep asking or refusing to drink water

BUT only let her have it at tea time/with meals - believe me the novalty will soon wear off and it will cease to be an issue

All my DC are allowed to drink what they like with their dinner fizzy/squash/fresh juice/milk or water they know this and only have water the rest of the time - I still drink what i feel like and if they ask for it i say yes you can have some of mine they have a sip and off they go back their water happy that they have had some!

btw i don't actually tell them they can only have water its just that thats all they ask for most of the time!! lucky i guess

It is squash! Not acid or bleach fgs! As long as it's no added sugar and they aren't drinking it from a teat which is hanging from their teeth 24/7 and they are brushing teeth twice a day - then what is the problem?
Can't honestly believe that all mumsnetters don't give their children good old fashioned squash!

I was denied quite a lot of foods as a child; my best friend was denied nothing. It just made me obsess about all the things I couldn't have. I'd say relax a little about it, let her have squash sometimes (it won't kill her) but decide in advance when she's going to be allowed it, then you will still feel in control, but she won't feel like she's missing out. It does seem unfair if you are allowed to drink it that she isn't, and she will be very aware of your double-standard.

i think a little bit of balance is called for, a little squash, a little juice, a little milk is not really going to your dcs, just make sure they clean their teeth well and all will be fine

anything 'prohibited' always takes on a 'must have' glow!

Of course doing the same doesn't apply to going to bed at 11pm or similar!! There are answers that you can give to that. I don't believe with diet (apart from alcohol and other purely adult things)that you can give a reasonable answer for not doing the same. If you don't want your DC to eat chocolate then you can't, if you don't want them to have squash then you can't-it should be a family thing. It is like people who cycle as a family and only the DCs wear helmets! You have to say 'do as I do' not 'do as I say' unless there is a valid reason as in the amount of sleep needed or suitable films etc.It is hypocritical to drink squash yourself and tell them it is bad for them and they have to have water.

please don't give no added sugar squash

YANBU.

You're allowed to drink tea, coffee and gin too. She can't. Children aren't allowed to do everything that mummy and daddy are. Nothing mean about that, it's part of your job as a parent to make decisions that you believe keep her healthy and safe. If her not drinking squash is one of your choices, so be it.

Agree with Effie - no added sugar drinks are full of utter crap.

No added sugar anything is far worse than the equivalent with sugar imo. All those sweeteners... they aren't good for you.

HOWEVER

I drink diet coke by the gallon as does dh who also drinks sugar free squash. DD otoh drinks water, milk, diluted juice and full sugar squash.

The way I see it - I am making an informed choice about the crap I put in my body, i know I shouldn't do it but hey, there's worse stuff out there than diet coke (I know some may disagree on that point!). DD however is 3 years old and doesn't give a monkey's arse about sweeteners and possible bad effects thereof - is is therefore my duty as her parent to make that choice for her.

A bit of sugar doesn't do a young child any harm as long as their teeth are brushed and they are active enough to burn off what goes in.

If you have decided that your DC is not drinking squash to keep her healthy and safe that is fine if you don't drink it either. If it is unhealthy for her it is unhealthy for you-it is not like the question of coffee etc as squash is marketed for children.

Yes it is unhealthy for me - but I know it is that that's the difference. As far as I'm concerned it's no different to alcohol or coffee - a little bit in moderation is fine.

However dd doesn't understand that sweeteners are horrible and that most things in moderation are OK, it is easier not to let her have it at all than to try and restrict something that isn't necessary anyway. I accept that at this stage it is easy to do that (she is 3.10) but as she gets older it will be harder as peer pressure will kick in.

I agree about marketing though. Sugar free stuff shouldn't be aimed at children. DH drinks sugar free stuff because he is diabetic and the benefits of sugar free drinks far outweigh the consequences of drinking them.

YABU if you drink it yourself.

I dont have squash in the house, my children drink mostly milk or water or juice. We all have fizzy drinks or squash type things together as an occasional treat.

In Germany there is a very cheap and FAB drink called Apfelschorle, which is 60% apple juice, 40% water, no added sugar, fizzed up. It satisfies most of my children's fizzy drinks cravings. I dont know why it isnt more widely available in other countries.

Squash is a child's drink (I don't know why anyone would want to drink it anyway!).If you are against it then you can give your reasons (when they are old enough to ask)and they will be valid ones.However I couldn't look a DC in the eye-give them the reasons and tell them that even though I am not going to let them have it, I intend to drink it myself. If you want your DCs to have a healthy diet then you have to embrace it as a family and a way of life. It is not the same as coffee etc because you can tell them that caffeine isn't suitable for children and they can decide for themselves when they are old enough.

I don't agree that squash is a child's drink. I know plenty of adults who drink it regularly, although I don't myself. IMO aspartame is no different to caffeine so I would use the same line as for the caffeine

DD drinks squash - just not dh's sugar free stuff. She doesn't drink diet coke either. It may well be "do as I say not as I do" but I wouldn't let her touch wine or coffee and I see no difference between those and diet coke or sugar free squash.

I wouldn't give them coke -but I wouldn't drink coke myself. I hate this double standard-unless it is an age related.
I think that I would have been annoyed as a dc if I had been restricted to water while my mother drank squash-I would have pushed her for reasons.

Are there really that many peopel that don't allow their children to drink squash?

We have a jug full on the side constantly that they can help themseleves too

*to

I have never been able to understand why fruit juice (fattening and bad for the teeth)is better than a drink that can be weakly flavoured water. I wouldn't want a toddler to have more than one drink of watered down fruit juice per day.

Tinkjon - thanks, just nice to know how little she was.

Ok, for me, as I don't have huge issues with Dcs drinking well diluted squash, yes, it seems unfair that you can chug it back and she's stuck with water or milk. However, if you really believe that it's in your DDs best interest not to drink it, then for you it's not unfair. You're doing what you think is in your Dds best interests