Does anyone else’s toddler not bothered about drinking water ?

[Embarrassedmumoftoddler]

My son is 2 and really isn’t bothered about drinking water or milk. Most days it’s lucky if he gets through a 380ml water bottle. Unfortunately he has also been on laxatives for a year now, doctor says it’s just a slow gut but I’m sure the lack of fluid isn’t helping either.

We’ve tried different bottles, offering the bottle all the time, leaving it accessible while he’s playing to take the pressure away. Occasionally drinking from ‘Daddy’s’ bottle will encourage him but his interest soon wears off and then he’s back to not really drinking much. I’ve also added fruit for flavoring or recently some diluted squash but he’ll still leave most of it.

Even as a baby wasn’t really bothered about drinking milk - barley cluster fed and never cried for milk which caused issues with weight gain.

Anyway I just wondered if anyone has been in the same boat or has any advice please ?

I’m trying really hard not to get too obsessive about it but I’m feeling quite frustrated today as he’s not even drank half his bottle so far and his nappies haven’t been very heavy. He’s been straining all day but only managing tiny bowel movements.

Btw I do try and get him to eat his water but he’s refusing all things like melon and cucumber at the moment.

Some days DS doesn’t drink much, usually we can convince him by giving water in an open cup. We then have some water in a glass and we cheers together and take a drink.

Stick some squash in it

If squash doesn't work because it didnt with one off mine we use to make it a game we either had a tea party and put water in the little toy teacup or we would (don't judge 🤣🤣) put water in a shot glass and do cheers and down it

Agree with the first poster that sometimes cheers-ing and drinking at the same time can help. It’s very stressful when they’re defiant with water intake - in that boat at the moment with mine.

Will he eat things like porridge or soup, where you can include plenty of fluids?

I agree with fluid dense foods like jelly, water melon, cucumber etc what's he like with those?

Mine would drink from a bottle with a teat.

Ice lollies, jelly, melon, flavoured water, milk, tea parties. I think it’s probably hugely contributing to constipation and irritability. Being dehydrated can impact all parts of wellbeing. I’d be doing everything I could to maximise hydration.

They only have little stomachs. Mine's a bit younger, but he won't drink more than an espresso cup of water or milk in one go, so maybe 60ml. He eats lots of yoghurt and salad. He was the same with milk as a baby when I pumped. I never understood where babies put the enormous 10oz bottles!

DD was always better with super cold water. Would a few ice cubes help?

Even at 7 she will just suck ice cubes sometimes.

Could you make your own diluted squash ice pops/ice lollies and see if liquid goes in better that way? It was always our go-to when it was super hot with DD (even now to be honest!).