My 2 year old only drinks 400mls per day!!!!!

[Kirstinmazzy]

Hi there. I am very new to Mumsnet but really need some advice as I'm going out of my mind with worry. My Iz is 2yrs and 3mths and really is not the biggest drinker which to me is a worry. She's recently just come down with Tonsilitis and is only managing up to 400mls per day and thats had to be force fed through a sringe. She's been like this for 5 days now and I'm so scared. Docs just said keep force feeding her the water but its horrendous to do it and I feel so mean to her. I've offered her ice cubes to suck, ice pops, ice cream and just about everything else. I understand she wont want to eat as her throat is sore but I really need some advice. Please help a very upset and stressed mummy :(

That's nearly half a litre! How much are 2 year olds meant to drink?

Hi Kirstin, to me 400mls is quite a lot especially for a just 2 yr old regardless of being ill. My DD is 8 and only drinks that amount daily.

Keep offering the ice lollies, ice cream and ice cubes - maybe let her watch TV whilst giving her a drink so she doesn't realise. Try some bendy straws for novelty.

I hope she gets better soon and take care yourself, it's horrid when your DC is ill.

400mls a day is fine I wouldn't worry and unless she isn't drinking anything at all I wouldn't go for the syringing route either TBH just keep offering drink during the day.

Thanks for your quick reply. Its much appreciated :) Doctor told me she should be drinking 1050 mls per day which she doesn't normally drink when she's not sick anyway. We've spent 5 days constantly offering her all sorts of things from water to milkshakes, popsicles, ice cubes, juices and she flat out refuses.

I was struck by the exactness of your doctors figure! So I was googling 1050mls to see whether that was a conversion of a more rough and ready imperial measure and I found a table of liquid needs for kids. Does she weigh about 11kg or 24llbs?

Do you have a sports bottle handy? DD (2.4yo) usually has one of these on the go all day (750ml) - I fill it in the morning and then she decides how much she needs. Some days she'll barely touch it, other days she might get through two of them. Personally I wouldn't force feed her anything as it might be counter productive!

1050ml does seem a lot, even adults struggle to drink that much. DS is 22 months and has a daily sports bottle too, probably about 500ml. Sometimes he drinks it all and more, sometimes he barely touches it. But I also include all the water in his food e.g 150ml into porridge every morning. I think it's similar to food, when they're hungry/thirsty....they'll guzzle it down so try not to worry.

I doubt my 20 month old DD drinks more than 200ml per day. She has not died of dehydration so I guess she gets enough liquids from porridge and fruit though. But she is 10kg and nowhere near the 1050 per day figure. I think just try to get her to what is "normal" for her. I've done the syringe when she's been very sick (but on one occasion I think it kept her out of hospital). Its horrible but you just have to stick with it!

I always worry about this wrt DS, but he does seem to wee loads, so I guess it's OK....Does your DD produce lots of nice pale coloured wee OP?

Hi guys, yeah my Iz is 11kg so she's quite a slight little girl. We've turned a corner and she's began to drink and eat a little more which is such a relief. Yeah, I know what you mean 1050ml seems like such alot doesn't it? Doc came back to me explaining that the tonsilitis has been very bad poor baby. She's more herself today and temp has stayed down too :) We've stoped with the sringes now but only did that to get her over the sickly period so she was hydrated. She's fine taking her calpol but its near to impossible trying to get antibiotics down her! Phew! thanks so much for your support and advice guys x

Glad to hear that things are getting back to normal.

I just wanted to say that the table I found was hedged with all sorts of disclaimers as to whether the figures were still relied on, and also pointed out that the 1050 would be total liquid requirement from diet, so if she is eating once she's better then you wouldn't expect her to drink a litre of water too.

That's great news