Toddler drinking loads - is this diabeties?

[riab]

My 17mo DS is drinkign more and more - up o 2 pints of liquid a day including trying to steal my drinks, drinking his bath water, drinking from pudles and crying if I don't giv ehim fluids every 2-3 hrs.

He wakes up each night thirsty as well - refuses milk often and drains a 7-8oz bottle of water.

Could it be diabeties? or is this a warning sing for anything else?

A symptom or diabetes certainly is excessive thirst. I would make an appointment with your GP. If nothing else it would put your mind at rest if it's not and if it is diabetes the earlier it's diagnosed the better.

So what would be considered a normal amount for a 17 month old (weight 22lb) to be drinking?

My DS certainly drinks more often than every 2-3 hours. TBH he's always got a cup of water/juice available to him and he will get through 4-5 a day. We live in Cyprus though so fluid intake is higher than in the UK as it is still hot here. How much do you think your son is drinking altogether?

my dd3 who is 18months and weighs around 22lb, drinks well over 2pints a day. she has a cup of water+breastfeed in the morning. (and food as well), cup of milk after school run, cup of water with lunch, cup mid afternoon to pick up the older 2, one ater school run, one with dinner. one before bed.

actually thats a heck of a lot lol.

Does he eat a fair amount each day?

My DD used to drink over 3 litres a day and hardly ate anything at all when she was 12 months. I soon realised she was replacing food with water so slowly weaned her off drinking so much. It was difficult at first as she would constantly scream for a drink but she's fine now(15 months). She drinks about 1 to 1.5 litres a day and eats alot better, she still doesn't have a great appetite but she has 3 meals a day now.

I would take him the docs just to make sure but my doctor said some children do drink alot and have nothing wrong with them, I think he said about 1 to 1.5 litres is about avergae.

my friend's dd has always drunk loads, I can't say exact quantities as not my child, but I do remember my friend remarking on it loads of times, it's always been something her dd does. Some kids just seem to do this...however if I were in your position I would run this past my HV and/or gp, just to set my mind at rest; when it's a child you're dealing with I think this ought to be at least checked.

No doubt all will be fine but I'd do it anyway!

Azaezl, how did you mange the weaning process? DS will just scream and refuse to eat if I try and giv ehim his lunch without a drink.

I'm keeping a log for the next few days of how much he drinks, if its more than 40oz I'll pop him up to the GP to get checked.

I just put less in her drinking cup, instead of filling it to the top I filled it half way, then a quater of the way. Obviously she would scream for more but I just gave her snacks instead. Or if she screamed for water I'd initally offer her a banana or a yoghurt usually she would take it but on the odd occasion she wouldn't, so I'd let her have a tiny amount of water.

I'd get it checked with your GP first just to make sure he's not diabetic,we had to check because my father in law was severely diabetic(I say was because he's dead).

Hope you get it sorted, I'm sure he's probably doing the same as my DD and substituting food for water so try not to worry too much.