how to get kids drink water

[leeanne6385]

hi all i wondering how you all get kids to drink water iv tried giving my kids water telling them it that or nothing but they refuse they only drink dilute juice and they refuse to drink water even when thirsty i myself am not keen on water and was givin dilute juice as child but i know it bad for teeth etc the temper tantrums are hard to deal with

Just don't have juice in the house and then it really is water or nothing!

but they dont drink water they throw it away and will scream and cry for hours ...

I just give it to them but DH and Me drink loads of water and they see us drinking it a lot and we have the 8 glass challenge where we have a noteboard In the kitchen and we all try to note 8 full glasses by bedtime

2 drinks at a time, tell them they have to drink the water first, then they can have the squash etc

and yes, lead by example

DD2 is 12 she absolutely refuses to drink water.
Never has, except tiny sips in Disney or Majorca when utterly unspeakably hot.

She would have nothing all day at school if she forgot her drink.

Unfortunately, DH doesn't drink tea, or milk so there have always been alternatives available.

She also BF way past starting school and breast milk is sweet (cows milk and water aren't).

She honestly hates water, and is a totally stubborn control freak to boot. So I have no answer to this problem.

I have 4 DCs and I still don't know. I've tried to lead by example but I can't drink water only as it makes me thirsty and I made myself ill from drinking too much.

DS2 is 9.5 months and is the only one that will happily drink water, the others have dilute juice or milk. I've tried everything and I think it's down to personal taste.

I know dilute juice isn't great for their teeth but there's much more sugar in fruit and fruit juice. Just make sure they brush their teeth properly twice a day.

Fizzy water might be interesting as a novelty although I know some children get gas from it.
Or a new special water cup they get to pick themselves.
Or maybe the juice fairy should come to the house for all of you. -You'll get used to water.

Tiny bit of food colouring in it?

Love the idea of putting food colouring in water. I wonder whether they would even notice.

Other than that can only suggest leading by example and drinking only water yourself. Did you introduce water before juice when they were babies?

Whats wrong with a bit of weak squash I don't find water very refreshing at all. Why make everything a battle.

Don't forget you can get a lot of liquid from food too

Nothing wrong with no added sugar squash if it's heavily diluted.

If you insist on them having water then buy the little 500ml bottles from Lidl (or similar) 12 for £2 roughly and pop them in the fridge. Tell them they're for you initially as if it's new and seems 'adult/fancy' chances are they'll drink it.

I gave my children juice that was so much diluted they ended up begging for water.

Gradually, reduce the juice/water ratio.

To this day, my son prefers water and refers to my 'filthy juice'.

the temper tantrums are hard to deal with
This is going to sound harsh, but you're the adult, you make them brush their teeth and if they tantrumed over not being allowed to play in the traffic you wouldn't let them, would you?
But... if it's warm from the tap in a mug as it always was at my grandparents it is unpalatable. Depending on their age can you buy or let them chose straws, plastic glasses and ice cube trays, put slices of oranges lemons or strawberries in a jug and explain that they need water and lead by example?

None if which helps with an 12y who can walk to the village shop and buy a bottle of squash.

I don't mind the not liking water as a main drink.

I just mind the I won't even fill up my drink bottle with water after I've had my squash on a very hot school trip.

Ie. it's the risking at least feeling really uncomfortable, if not doing herself harm, not drinking water that bothers me.

12 is more than old enough to reason with.

Choose your battles and forget the water.
I'm not keen on water and there's very few adults out there who drink solely water all day long, mainly because its boring and if its not chilled its just plain horrible. I don't expect my ds to eat or drink anything I wouldn't myself so I don't force the issue.
I grew up with squash, so did most of us. My teeth aren't falling out. This is mainly because I had a responsible mother who made sure it was very dilute, sugar free and that I cleaned my teeth properly twice a day. I do the same.
If the child likes water and will drink it, great. If not dont sweat it. There are far worse patenting decisions out there than letting your kids have a drink of squash.

my two both stopped drinking water at around 12mo
their first UTIs followed shortly afterwards (you'd think I'd have learnt by the second child ), so we opted to keep them hydrated by any means

they have unlimited squash
neither has died, or indeed got any fillings.

Could they be fooled into thinking it was cool. Dad has started the gym and bought my 2 the same bottle he takes there. They now drink water as they think it's an energy drink.