Ideas welcome on how to get a 2.11 yo to drink...

[JackBauer]

We have all had this bad head cold going round with a fever. DD2 is fine, she is just BFing liek it is going out of fashion. DD1 will not drink, she hasn't pooed in 2 days and only weed once this morning and again in the bath.
I had to bribe her with chocolate to drink about an inch of water earlier so I really need to be able to get her to drink.
I have tried putting it in mugs, baby bottles, sippy cups, proper glasses, open cups, straws.
I have offered tap water, sparkling water, orange juice, dilute juice/squash, froot shoot type things, juice cartons, milk (plain, choc and pink, hot and cold)
She will take a few sips and then say that she is full. She won't eat satsumas, melon, grapes etc...

Please share any ideas that I can try on her tomorrow, last time she wasn't well adn stopped drinking she ended up in hospital on a drip!

[AnotherFineMess]

Hot chocolate?

If all else fails you could try one of the medicine syringes - you know exactly how much she's getting then, and the novelty, esp if she can do it herself, sometimes helps. The fluid she actually needs is suprisingly low though, I don't know exactly but I seem to recall 10ml every 10mins or something - I'll look it up and get back to you - so it could be that she is getting enough from the few sips she's having every now and again?

[AliceTheCamelHasGotTheHump]

Oh it's difficult when you're turning cartwheels trying to get them to drink something and they won't. Have you tried ice lollies or ice cubes?

Or give her a drink while she's zoned out watching a dvd? She might drink it without thinking.

Reverse psychology? "I'd prefer you not to have a juice dd."

Other than that, try not to let her know you're getting stressed. They're such contrary little things that just knowing you want them to do something is enough to set their minds against it sometimes.

[IAmTheNewQueenOfMN]

ice lollies
ice cubes

plastic wine glass with crushed ice and a bright coloured drink and then sit down and drink yours aswell

[nigglewiggle]

I'm sure you've probably done this, but have you explained (in simple terms) why she needs to drink? My DD is the same age and seems to respond to explanations about eating and drinking things to make her better.

Good luck, i can see why you would be worried, but was she much younger when she ended up in hospital?

[JackBauer]

Thanks.
Tried hot choc and (for teh first time ever) she didn't finish it.
Crushed ice/Ice lollies are a great idea, I have some in teh freezer so can get them out without having to get to shops.
She does know I am getting stressed about it so will trya dn calm down (!)
I did try and explain it but she insists she isn't ill (as that would mean medicine, that she doesn't want) She was in hospital about a year ago after food poisoning so I know it isn't quite the same situation but she looks awful.
I can hear her coughing over the monitor too, because she wouldnt take cough medicine.

Damn those strong wills!

kepp em coming though....

[Umlellala]

curly straws
cartons of drink
drinking with her (saying cheers!)
um... drinking out of tea-set cups
drinking straight out of taps in bath, or pouring into cups (not so eurgh as we dont have a tank )

think you'll be fine as long as she keeps having sips

[LonelystRessedandBlue]

How old is dd1?

Ice-cream or soup (especially clear soup)? If she is eating a bit she may fall for this. Better than nothing. Ice cubes and ice lollies also get my vote

Does she like honey? Because warm juice with a bit of honey in is soothing when you have a sore throat, and tastes nice as well (my favourite is apple and blackcurrant with honey)

On the reverse psychology bit, try putting a drink down next to dd1 and saying something like
"That's my drink, I'm going to drink my drink, don't you (dd) drink my drink because I'm going to drink it" and walk out of the room or turn your back. This often works with ds when nothing else will

[JackBauer]

Lonely, at your reverse psychology, that sounds familiar! I had 'open' sandwiches ar lunch as all she wanted to eat was the slice of bread from my plate!

She is nearly 3, won't do soup either but have just found some mini milks left from summer so shall use them too

[mrsgrimwig]

Totally sympathise, my DS (21 months) never seems to drink much apart from his evening milk and has strong smelling urine/dry nappies as a result. Anyway, after trying everything, the only thing that got him drinking (or did do, until novelty wore off) was drinking very weak decaffinated tea so he could be like mummy and daddy. Apparently this is fine for toddlers so long as it's not drunk with meals as it will affect the absorption of iron.

Hope you have some success soon - I know just how worrying it can be. Good luck!

[expatinscotland]

welcome to my world!

is she the type that wants a bite or a sip of everything YOU are eating or drinking?

if so, sit yourself down with ice lollies, a cup of juice and water, or what have you. you get a sip or a bite, then she gets a sip or a bite.

[ByThePowerOfGreyskull]

I would go with ice lollies,
do you have the things and she can help you make them?
You could make them with really weak ribena so she is getting lots of water and a little sugar
or half and half orange juice and water or apple juice and water.

Good luck - it is so hard to stay calm.

[expatinscotland]

how about wiggly jellies?

or jellies in cutie molds.

[JackBauer]

yes, expat, she wants whatever I have, today that involved ehr sticking her fingers in my sandwich, licking them, sticking them back in adn then decalring it was yuck.
Nice.

She has had a mini milk, a mug of babycino and half my orange juice.
I normally just put things where she cant reach them but today I made big point of putting it near her and said
'This is my juice, that is yours, I want to drink mine all myself. That is yours and this is mine'
Turned my back to sort DD2 out and when I turned back she had nicked it and drunk half of it. Told you it would work lonely!