Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Children's health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Toddler doesn't drink much

18 replies

KnittingRocks · 27/04/2011 08:38

DS1 (3 in June) is recently potty trained and it's only since we've done this that I've really noticed how little he drinks. We offer him water all day but he usually takes one sip and then says he's had enough. Yesterday he only went to the loo twice! Shock

Should we be worried or is he drinking to thirst? I can't force him to drink and the only option I have is to offer him juice rather than water which I'm reluctant to do as I suspect he'll refuse water altogether then!

My MIL has helpfully suggested I give him tea! Shock Hmm

So, do I need to worry or is this another stage he will just grow out of (he used to drink loads!)? Smile

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
mousymouse · 27/04/2011 08:43

With ds it was similar, he would only drink very little. We have given up and started giving him watered down juice or fruit-infusions. Now he drinks a healthy amount.

Original poster
KnittingRocks · 27/04/2011 08:57

Thank you for your reply mousy. How old is your DS? What kind of fruit juices do you give him?

OP posts:
BecauseImWorthIt · 27/04/2011 08:59

Does he eat things like cucumber? Lots of water/fluid in that. Can make a really useful snack.

What about milk? Nutritious as well.

If you really want to encourage him to drink, the odd glass of chocolate milk might help?

mousymouse · 27/04/2011 09:03

He is now 4, he drinks any fruit juice really, we just make sure that we don't buy anything with sweeteners. Only a tiny amount and then fill up the cup with water.

Sirzy · 27/04/2011 09:14

Ds won't drink more than a few sips of water but some very diluted juice and he drinks loads

Original poster
KnittingRocks · 27/04/2011 09:54

He hates milk - takes after his mum!! Grin He does eat cucumber and other veg/fruit etc which I know adds to his water intake but now he's potty trained I can see his urine is quite dark and he doesn't need to go often so I'm assuming he's not getting enough fluid.

Maybe we could try the tiniest amount of juice - such a shame after he's been such a good water drinker for so long Sad.

OP posts:
kreecherlivesupstairs · 27/04/2011 10:01

How about some ice cubes and frozen lemon slices? Make it more interesting for him.

Original poster
KnittingRocks · 27/04/2011 10:10

Ice cubes would be a good idea - he had some on holiday and found them fascinating! Thanks kreecher!

OP posts:
BecauseImWorthIt · 27/04/2011 10:59

A bit of juice won't harm him though - and it's surely better than him being dehydrated.

Original poster
KnittingRocks · 27/04/2011 12:36

I was just worried about his teeth! Blush

But agree, the dehydration is more of a worry in this heat.

OP posts:
BecauseImWorthIt · 27/04/2011 13:55

Dehydration is a concern whatever the weather. It's why children are now encouraged to drink water at school - it helps us all to function much better.

Original poster
KnittingRocks · 27/04/2011 14:29

That's very true - and we have said to him it will help his brain, help him feel less tired, etc, but he is stubbornly resistant!

Maybe we should push on with the water for a couple more days and then switch to juice at the weekend if no success.

OP posts:
BecauseImWorthIt · 27/04/2011 14:53

You don't have to switch to juice, just do a half and half.

narmada · 28/04/2011 15:10

watching with interest as my DD is the same. Like you have only noticed that her urine is probably darker than it should be since potty training. Left to her own devices she would never ask for a drink. She won't even drink much fruit juice!

mossi · 28/04/2011 20:21

My dd age 5 now was the same. My answer is ice pops. Make your own out of fresh orange juice. Or squash sometimes. Mine now has 3 drinks a day. There's not a lot you can do. Give lots of watery fruit - melon, strawberries, oranges, apples. And leave a big glass/bottle of water by their bed. Mine often drinks a whole glass of water in the night.

KeepCalmAndCarryOnMNing · 04/05/2011 16:06

Hi Knitting - we also noticed recently that DS hadn't been drinking much so have been encouraging him to drink more often as he wouldn't ask for a drink otherwise. He normally drinks out of an ordinary plastic cup, so we've reintroduced those drink bottles with a straw to have on the go throughout the day. If he's drinking with a straw he certainly drinks a lot more than out of a cup. We've also made a big fuss of drinking water ourselves.

It's definitely made a difference (especially to his poo which was why realised he wasn't drinking enough Blush).

berri · 04/05/2011 16:09

I've started using straws for DS, I let him choose a colour in the morning and he uses it with his cup all day - he's definitely drinking much more.

For the time being at least....

smsm · 04/05/2011 19:17

one of my kids didn't drink much at all from being weaned off breast feeding (aged about 1) to being about 3. he'd have maybe 100ml a day, plus lots of sloppy food (yoghurt, porridge etc) He did get better over time, and never seemed to come to any harm from his poor drinking.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread