Is lots of juice better than not very much water?

[AliceTheCamelHasGotTheHump]

If the only thing on offer is water dd (2.8) won't drink much.

If she's allowed juice (usually dilute apple juice or cartons with straws) she drinks gallons of the stuff.

We live in a warm country and I like her to be hydrated, but I also worry about her teeth with juice.

Which is the least bad option?
Lots of juice or not much water?

Have you tried enforcing rules to find a happy medium, say, only juice at lunch and dinner times? I would try it for a couple of days, she will drink water if she is thirsty enough, also does she see you drink water
? this could help too.

Give her the juice with a straw so it goes to the back of her mouth without touching her teeth. Got that advice off my dentist friend.

She's quite happy with only water on offer - she just doesn't drink it. I mean, she doesn't myther for juice or complain that she's thirsty. If I say only juice at mealtimes she will only have a drink at mealtimes unless we're out and then she'll drink from her water bottle.

I drink water through the day and she rarely sees me drink anything else.

I had heard that Picante - she LOVES straws so everything she has is through a straw. I suppose that's a plus point.

My son is very similar only he WILL not drink just water. Our dentist told us that flavoured water is better than juice so we now dilute the flavoured water which he does drink.

If it's very diluted it is better than nothing. But isn't strong juice a diaretic?

Also depends on the juice - any 'drink' stuff is normally pretty shoody.

I let mine drink lots of diluted juice as they will both elect to go thirsty if only water is on offer, my DS is 2.10. My DD at 10m will just not take any/spit it out if it is just water. I tried to take a hard line and when I started weaning at 6m, I offered her water every day for a month. She refused the entire month and then I offered diluted juice which she never refuses.

I have this, too. DD drinks water, just not enough of it. I try and give her a squeezed orange every day (diluted with as much water as possible), then that way I know the juice is doing something useful.

My DD2 has SN and won't drink plain water. At all.

Her dentist said it was better to be hydrated and give hugely diluted juice, or milk and make sure teeth are well brushed. So she gets basically coloured water, which is a cup of water with a dribble of juice or squash in it! That way she will drink loads.