How to get constipated 23mo to drink more?

[diyqueen]

Dd has always tended towards being constipated but it's got worse lately and she's on lactulose at the moment. The GP said to make sure she drinks plenty while on it... but she's not and is still constipated (and doing strong wees). She will drink breastmilk (5 or 6 feeds a day) but just a few sips of anything else, that's if she doesn't immediately say 'no!' and shove it away. I've tried -
Water, juices, squash, cows milk, warm, cold, room temperature, sippy cups, open cups, straws, sports cups, cartons, drinks lying around, drinks to hand while reading books, drinking lots in front of her myself...
Anyone else had experience of this, did it improve by itself? Any ideas I haven't tried?

Ice lollies?

Soup for lunch and loads of fruit (for water content) during the day. A friend of mine bribes her daughter to drink more with '2 big gulps and you get a sticker!' not sure if that's sensible but it works

Thanks. I've tried ice lollies too but she doesn't like them unfortunately. I'll think about different foods with more water in I can try - her favourite fruits are apples and bananas but she can be persuaded to eat grapes and tinned oranges sometimes.

Anyone else had experience of this? I can't understand how she can obviously need more liquid but not be more thirsty...

DD1 was like this too. I'm afraid I used to sit her in her high chair and spoon the drink in whilst she watched CBeebies! It worked and I used to do it a couple of times a day to get fluids in to her - 2 cups of 150 mls. It made a big difference. When they are older bribery works wonders but she didn't get the concept of a bribe at 23 months!

My ds is like this sometimes, although he's never been constipated. He's 19 months and will drink breast milk til the cows come home but little else. I've tried every cup going and every drink going. I now give him those innocent smoothie cartons and he will happily drink them from
The straw. In fact he's way better drinking anything from a carton / straw. Tbh I don't worry to much about it as he drinks plenty of breastmilk which will keep him hydrated. I don't actually think that he doesn't like other drinks, he just prefers milk. It's no different to me preferring tea to water. Once the breast milk is no longer an option, he will drink something else!

Try porridge for breakie, fruit pouches, watermelon chunks, and if all else fails a few dates.

Neither of mine drunk much else whilst being bf but the BM is a drink in itself and she's having plenty of feeds.

Things like broccoli and cauliflower are high in water and have you tried jelly too?