Water vs other drinks

[Maddie05]

I'm a mum and an aunty. Both myself and my sisters were not allowed squash or anything other drinks growing up. It was only water and because we are Scottish it was from the tap (not bottled). It never occured to either of us to say that we didn't like it because it was the only thing on offer. Due to our upbringing we also don't allow our kids to have anything apart from water. Eventually of course they will get squash, fizzy drinks at party's etc in the same way that they get chocolate etc at parties but at the moment (all under 6) they do not get anything other than water. 2 of my nephews as babies refused water but my sister perservered and now they drink it.

From my experience, I have come to believe that all children like water but that they prefer the taste of other things and so they start to ask for it and they say that they don't like water. I don't know this to be fact and so I put it out into the internet. Are children born liking water and we change their minds? I'm curious.

If you’ve never had any different then you can’t form a preference. Just like if you’ve never had chocolate or sweets then you don’t know to miss them. If you’re thirsty and water is the only option you’ve ever had then you drink water. If you know there’s juice in the cupboard- which especially for a child is much nicer- then you’ll want juice.

Water tastes very different in different parts of the uk - I love it at home but not so much other places

Mine also just get water at home. Or plain kefir. I plan to keep it that way for as long as I can (whilst accepting that that won’t be forever).

I know when I was youn I didn't like the taste of water. But we lived in a hard water area and I think that makes a difference. It really wasn't that pleasant to drink.
I live in Scotland now and love the water from the tap.

Yeah, I used to think this until I tried tap water in different areas. Some of it tastes rank!

No if they naturally liked it they would take it as babies but many don't.

I do think it changes your taste buds. I was raised on squash and detest tap water, it always smells and tastes like chlorine to me. I like bottled water, but rarely drink it as the amount of bottles I'd need seems wasteful. Its noticeable how different everything tastes if I move from solely drinking squash to solely drinking water, so you could have a point. My children are being brought up drinking tap water, with squash for a treat at parties etc as its so much better for you and I wish I had been.

Mine have only had water or milk at home. I don’t buy juice or squash or fizzy drinks for home (they do get them when out, as a treat). Both DC brought up the same.

However - one drinks loads of water and one just doesn’t. The one who doesn’t like water also has more of a sweet tooth. I think there are inherent taste bud differences as well as different levels of thirstiness.

You can’t not like water if it’s the only thing you’ve got ver had. It’s a very inoffensive taste, and we’re made of majority water anyway 🤣

my children are 3 and 5, we do moderation at home. Milk or water in the morning/evening, water throughout the day. Juice/squash and the very very occasional fizzy during meals only, or while we’re out for a special day like the zoo, parties ect.

They very very rarely complain about water; they occasionally try their luck with a ‘can I have juice’ and when told no I get the usual “I don’t like water” but that’s followed up with a “if you don’t like water now then all you can drink is water until you like it again because that’s what keeps you healthy not juice and fizzy sugar” they then willingly accept their water back 🤣

so I agree OP, not liking water is a learnt behaviour of lazy parents, or parents who were brought up by lazy parents who couldn’t be bothered to cut out a bad habit. It’s a shame.

You can’t not like water if it’s the only thing you’ve got ver had

All babies will have had breastmilk and/or formula both of which are sweet, so I can imagine water might taste quite metallic and bitter by comparison.

Bitter? Have you ever drank water?🤣

My favourite drink is water. I wasn't really allowed fizzy drinks till I was a teen & the only one I will occasionally drink is full fat coke.

I have two who adore water, one who will drink without juice if eg at school/ offered it at a friend’s, or when stuck, or abroad. My youngest refused it abroad which was terrifying as we couldn’t find squash.

They mostly drink squash at home as our water has the most putrid taste ever, even filtered. They’ll drink it in my mum’s or from a bottle. I have very fit gym bunny friends with gorgeous skin who drink squash instead of water. No teeth issues either

My tap water at uni was rank so I bought bottled.

My daughter only drinks water, with very occasional smoothies/orange juice thrown in. I was quite firm about her only drinking water when very small and it seems to have stuck.

It doesn’t interest her at all that her step siblings all drink fizzy drinks, she has tried them, doesn’t like them so won’t drink them.

We’re Welsh so it probably does help that the tap water is great. I was in Portsmouth a few years ago and have to admit I did slow blink at the chalky looking water that came out of the tap! So I can see how water drinking can vary in its appeal depending on where you live.

I’m Scottish, grew up in Scotland, never liked water. Still don’t really drink it as an adult.
My kids were water refusers, I really wanted to persevere but both suffered/suffer from chronic constipation so I’d rather give them a bit of (weak) diluting juice than have them not drink! 5 year old will have bits of water here and there and hates fizzy juice so I have hope for her.

My sister and I always had water and our DCs often drink water or milk. It's an alternative drink that is isotonic with blood, contains nutrients and add a fresh banana you have a further option - milkshake.

This is akin to saying “I smoked 80 fags a day for 8 years and never got cancer” it’s just luck. For the majority, constant PH attacks on your teeth will and do cause cavities. If you do your research into children oral health and its serious decline over the last few years, you’d be a bit more conscious.

By comparison to something sweet, yes. Try having some vanilla ice cream (which is what breastmilk tastes like!) and then some water. Bitter perhaps isn’t the right word but metallic and minerally definitely.

I have a child who will only drink milk and water. He has never drunk anything else - no squash, fizzy drinks, fruit juice, smoothies. He behaves like his host is trying to poison him if offered squash at a party. He also only eats a very small range of food, and I suspect has ARFID, so be careful what you wish for.

Sulking
Sorry just reread what I said, it was muddled about because am in bed! They drink water from a bottle or from my mums, it sounded like I was saying cordial! But they do also drink cordial because of our disgusting water. They have good oral hygiene and brush a few times a day. And yes maybe luck on my friends part