What should my 3 year old drink ?

[mummyloveslucy]

My 3.5 year old daughter is intollerent to artificial sweetners, every time she eats or drinks anything that say's no added sugar and contains sweetner she gets the runs. She drinks a lot of pure apple juce/ pinapple and orange juce at the moment. I'm just a bit concerned that she is having far too much sugar.(even though it's natural sugars, it's still sugar). According to her BMI she is not overweight but is at risk of becoming overweight.
I just wondered if anyone knows of an alternative to the fruit juces. She will drink milk but isn't keen on plain water.
Thanks.

The thought that springs to my mind is to water it down gradually so she doesn't notice but eventually will be drinking v v weak juice that is practically just water.

You could also try something like organic squash - it will have sugar in it but no artificial sweeteners. (Rock's for example)as an occasional treat. Also what nooname said is a good plan. You will probably have to persevere and go gradually, my 4 yr old dd often sends juice back to the kitchen (!) if it is too weak.

I always dilute my dds' fruit juice with water, minimum of 50/50. As long as it has a little bit of colour in it, they're happy (though dd1, 4-yos, is starting to ask for just water, which I am very happy with!).

Yes that's a good idea. I'd have to put the water in to the carton as she likes to pour it herself. It would also save me a fortune.

water or milk?

Sugar is a much better thing than artifical sweeteners anyway. Just dilute

Where would I get that organic squash from? If you don't make it too strong it might have less sugar than the juces.

You're right, I've never liked the idea of artificial sweetners for children. They seem to be in everything now.

Rock's organic squash is available from most main supermarkets and health food type shops. It is about £1.50-£2 a bottle. I think you can get lemon, orange or blackcurrant. Will be near the "normal" squashes.

Not sure about sugar content but it will be labelled.

water or soda water with a bit fresh fruit juice in. milkshakes, smoothies. also fruit juice from contrate has more sugar in (was on the one show last night) than freshly squeezed.

what about fruit drinks with no artifical sweetners here

One of the other problems with using fresh juice is that not only does it have quite alot of sugar (all beit natural fruit sugar) but it also has lots of acid which can over time erode the enamel from the teeth. My dds love fresh juice but I always water it down at least 50:50.

What about making up some fruit tea and chilling it? my Ds loves it, though he does like it sweetened...you could sweeten it with a little honey before it cools or brown sugar.
I don't buy cordial's, no fizzy etc. He occasionally has cranberry juice 50/50 watered down(even though he's nearly 10). Dd has breast milk, occasional cow's milk and water. But she's young yet.

Wow !!! That is interesting. I always knew those fruit shoot things were bad news.
My DD had one at a party and was very poorly for days after.

That's a good idea about the fruit tea. She drinks normal tea but insists she puts her sugar in, because mummy dosn't make it big enough.

Gosh does sound like she has a major sweet tooth! I'd try to wean her off that much sugar gradually - otherwise it's a hard habit to break in life! I know as I had a v sweet tooth as a child and have only just cut back at the age of 33!

PS I have terrible teeth!

Yes, I have a very sweet tooth too. And bad teeth. I am due to have too fillings next week.[aaawww] I think it might help if I give up sugar in my tea. Lucy is always finnishing off my tea, and I take 2 BIG sugars. If she got the tast of it with out it might help.
I blame my Dad for her sweet tooth. Thanks to him, her very first taste of food was melted chocolate. I only left her with him for 2 mins.

I do think that little girls want to be like their mums. I gave up sugar in tea at age 8 because I wanted to be like my mum. I went cold turkey with that(brave).
Sooo, starting with you giving up, she might be more willing...especially if you gradually wean her off it.

Fruit tea's are caffeine free too, so much better for everyone. Just make up a large jug with one tea bag in it(add sugar/honey if you are going to)leave to steep and cool, then pour into a juice bottle and refrigerate! It should keep in the fridge for about 3-4 days IME. Strawberry, raspberry and blackcurrent are favourites here

He said that he really wanted her to enjoy her first taste of food.

Gotta love gps - I have had to (almost literally) fight my mum off from giving ds chocolate and sweets. (She now knows that me and dh will eat anything chocolate related she gives him!)

Her latest is - counting sweets helped your brother learn to count...

Well yes, but half his teeth have now fallen out!

Does sound like it needs to be a joint cut-down on sugar. She'll thank you when she's older!

Yes I think I'm going to have to do that. It will be good for both of us. I'll have to have a word to Grandma too about her sweetie tin, which is fully accessable to Lucy.

nooname perhaps your mum thought that his teeth falling out would help with his subtractions!

Dh and I both have a terrible sweet tooth - I don't have sugar in drinks but he has 2 heaped spoons in coffee.

I have to disagree with another posters comment about sugar being better for you than sweetners. Neither are any better in my opinion, you have to especially be careful with sugar as it will cause cavities so it is not safe. Like another poster said, watered down fruit juices and milk are the best options.

I'm paranoid about mine having sweet drinks after my ds had to have two fillings when he was 5yrs

They now are only allowed one drink of fruit juice a day (usually a carton with a straw - is that better for teeth?), then they can only have water.

I used to feel really smug that my ds hated fizzy drinks. Unfortunately, he has now developped at taste for coke

commendable desperatehousewifetoo!

I am obviously a perfect mother. Ha ha!