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Original poster

How do I get dd to drink more?

26 replies

Lilliput · 24/01/2006 22:35

I know my dd doesn't drink enough and she probably only does 3 or 4 pees in a 24 hour period. She didn't do a pee until nearly 5pm today (nappie was wet on getting up at 8am) and she is conplaining of being tired quite a lot lately. I'm worried she is dehydrated which is making her lack energy and she also said she did a hurting pee in the bath last night. She a just turned 3 btw. How do I get her to drink more? She likes pink milk a lot but I'm sure that supresses her appetite (a whole other thread is needed for that) and she also drinks very diluted fresh oj. She gets to choose her cup etc but that doesn't incentivise drinking more.

OP posts:
starlover · 24/01/2006 22:39

leave a cup of water/juice where she can reach it all day.
cut out the pink milk.
if she's thirsty she'll drink

QE2 · 24/01/2006 22:40

A straw works wonders, I find.

Original poster
Lilliput · 24/01/2006 22:43

Surely not doing a pee until 5pm cannot be good news or good for her urinary tract and surely she must be more thirsty than she is, I just don't understand it!

OP posts:
Miaou · 24/01/2006 22:49

We had a similar issue with my dds when they were little - we started to insist that they finished a glass of water with each meal, and they also had a mid-morning and a mid-afternoon drink too. IIRC they had to drink two-thirds of a half-pint glass each time. It is now a house rule! We still insist now (they are 8 and 7) as they would drink far less if we didn't make them. IME children often will choose not to drink enough if you don't supervise it.

cod · 24/01/2006 22:50

Message withdrawn

GDG · 24/01/2006 22:50

ditto cod - i's have no idea!

starlover · 24/01/2006 22:52

it can be a problem, when i was little i used to refuse to drink. no idea why.
anyway i had to go to hospital a couple of times because i was so dehydrated, and kept getting kidney infections and the like

starlover · 24/01/2006 22:52

fwiw i still only do one or two wee's a day max!

GDG · 24/01/2006 22:53

Thanks for that SL

Miaou · 24/01/2006 22:53

We started to worry about it when dd2 had a suspected urinary infection (due to not drinking enough!)

She also has a very small bladder - when she started school her teacher said she had never known a child go to the loo so often

Original poster
Lilliput · 24/01/2006 22:54

I know it sounds really weird counting how many pees she has done in a day but when I potty trained her 6 months ago I realised she need to drink more to pee more to get the hang on doing it on her potty and to recognise the sensation of peeing IYSWIM!!And since then her lack of drinking and peeing has become a bit of an issue and I am worried about her getting urinary tract infections etc.

OP posts:
starlover · 24/01/2006 22:55

was that tmi gdg? lol
just meant that i don';t think the amount of wees is necessarily an indication that something is wrong! lol

GDG · 24/01/2006 22:55

just made me laugh but am pmsl at the 'grazia shoes recommendation thread' so in high spirits!

Original poster
Lilliput · 24/01/2006 22:55

What are the symtoms of a urinary infection?

OP posts:
cod · 24/01/2006 22:58

Message withdrawn

Miaou · 24/01/2006 22:59

Hope that wasn't directed at me lilliput - I can't remember

Original poster
Lilliput · 24/01/2006 23:00

Don't laugh at me for counting how many times my dd has a pee, I am worried about her because she is lacking energy and didn't pee ALL DAY today!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Lilliput · 24/01/2006 23:21

I guess everyone goes to bed at 11

OP posts:
Miaou · 24/01/2006 23:26

What about getting her to drink a specific amount of liquid at regular intervals? Use a sticker chart to encourage her?

Surfermum · 24/01/2006 23:36

My dd (2.8) is exactly the same. I sent off a urine sample at the docs yesterday as she said it hurt when she wee'd. I normally just leave a cup around for her, figuring that she'll drink when she's thirsty, but the last couple of days I've been standing over her with a cup and straw saying "drink a bit more, and a bit more, and another bit". But it gets to the point where she just point blank refuses and I can't force it down her.

I was going to try making a game up when she cleans her teeth. She normally spits out but I might get her to drink one, spit one, drink one, spit one or something like that. I was also going to try getting her to make tea with her tea set and drink it with her. I like the suggestion of a sticker chart. Will try that too.

bobbybobbobbingalong · 25/01/2006 07:39

Ds drinks loads in the car, because his chair has a cup holder and there is nothing else to do.

He also drinks far more from a straw cup.

spub · 25/01/2006 09:53

Packet of ready salted crisps?? (runs awy in case she gets shouted at....)

kreamkrackers · 25/01/2006 10:20

the hospital told me to try dd with food which are more liquid based such as yoghurts and fruits (which i was doing already). they said not to give dry things to encourage them to drink as it defeats the object of getting them hydrated. i think the sticker chart is a great idea. try straws as well. maybe go to the shops with her and get her to choose a cup with you. a child should have at least four good wee's a day i was told. talk to your hv or gp and see what advice they come up with.

kreamkrackers · 25/01/2006 10:21

does your dd have a problem with constipation?

Heartmum2Jamie · 25/01/2006 12:34

I definately agree with the food that has a higher liquid content. I still struggle to get my 4 1/2 yr old ds to drink as much as he should be. We started a reward system that if he drank enough, he could have an ice lolly after his tea. It seems to work, but he is older.