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Parenting

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Original poster

Ds won't drink at school.

16 replies

VicWillia · 23/09/2015 13:01

Hi everyone, thankyou for reading, its quite boring I'm afraid but I am worried.

I have a ds, he is 5 in October. He just started school.

He has always been a sod for his food and drink, we've been under a health visitor since he was 3 for it but he recently got a lot better with food and gained some weight so she said we didn't need to be seen anymore.

He is still ok with food. He's not happy with the school dinners right now as he is used to a sandwich for lunch but we are sticking with it as I like that he is getting hot food and more variety.

Its drinking that is the problem. He is terrible, he doesn't drink nearly enough. He's been this way since he was 2 or thereabouts. I sneak fluids into him as much as I can, ice lollies etc, but obviously you can't do this at school.

Yesterday when he came out of school his lips were dry and he didn't look good, I asked if he'd had water and he said that yes he'd had a bottle of water but he doesn't like water so he didn't drink it.

He had some milk before bed, but woke up after an hour desperate for water, he gulped down nearly a whole glass. He was then up every 3 hours through the night to wee, and was tired and miserable this morning.

What should I do? I'm conscious that he can't be the only child in the class with squash instead of water but I'm worried about him. Should I speak to his teacher? I can't discuss this with ds's dad as we are divorced and speak very little, I can't trust that he wouldn't find some way to turn it into a blame game on me.

Any advice very welcome :)

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scatterthenuns · 23/09/2015 13:09

Would flavoured water be ok? Obviously with the teacher's permission. That way he'd be drinking something he 'liked' but the other kids wouldn't need to know.

scatterthenuns · 23/09/2015 13:10

But yes, talk to the teacher.

antimatter · 23/09/2015 13:12

really difficult if he doesn't like water
could he take milk instead?

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Wolfiefan · 23/09/2015 13:12

Does ice in the water make a difference? Different drinks bottle?
Are school strict about nothing other than water? Our school used to say just water but I've seen several kids go in with squash. A coloured bottle would mean nobody knew what was in it!

duckyneedsaclean · 23/09/2015 13:19

My DS (4) is the same. I actually sneakily sent him in with orange squash in a green bottle yesterday. Still didn't drink any.

Sigh.

antimatter · 23/09/2015 14:16

in my kids school they had for them small cartons of long life milk, same shape as most juice, 200 ml

Spikeinhiscoat · 23/09/2015 14:25

DS (8) is similar, and I found it easier to keep an eye on when he had packed lunches. At his school, nothing in a packed lunch could be thrown away, it all had to be returned home, I suppose so you could see what they had eaten. DS would have a bottle of very dilute squash and would often come home with three-quarters of it. We started going back to rewards, e.g. saying he had to drink at least half of it, and if he did that every day for a week then he got a small treat. However he's now gone over to school cooked lunches so I can't monitor it. They have a water bottle kept in the classroom and his bottle stayed in his school bag for the first week back. It's now gone in and I've asked the teacher if maybe there could be more reminders for them.

Tigerblue · 23/09/2015 14:33

If he drank water when thirsty at night, then obviously he will drink water. Can you order milk from the school for him to drink at break time? I don't know if all school offer this, but at least he's getting fluid then. Would he drink the water if it was in a different bottle, ie one he's chosen?

My 12 year old doesn't drink much at school - I think there's so much else going on. If might be a good idea if you concentrate on getting a drink down him in the morning and then on return from school with a snack. Having said that, you could always take a fresh bottle of water with you for school pick up, telling him it's nice and fresh - if he is thirsty then he might drink a little.

I totally understand why you want him to have a hot dinners at the moment. Do ask for weekly feedback on how much he is eating, so you know. If you think he isn't eating much, then it might be better to send him with sandwiches and whatever else - that way if he doesn't eat it, he'll bring it home and you'll know what he's had.

memememum · 24/09/2015 00:34

Could he be worried about needing to wee at school? If so, would he understand if you explain that drinking plenty actually helps your weeing work better. Plus could the teacher be encouraged to reassure him that he's allowed to go when he likes/only has to ask/whatever your school's rules are?

Charis2 · 24/09/2015 00:37

he doesn't need to drink at school. It isn't an issue at all.

ffffffedup · 24/09/2015 09:39

Does his school not offer milk at break time? My dcs school do they also offer milk water and juice at lunch time. Each child has a water bottle that they can have access to at anytime.

InimitableJeeves · 24/09/2015 12:27

Charis, of course he needs to drink. If he gets dehydrated he won't learn effectively and ultimately it will harm his health.

bilbodog · 24/09/2015 12:34

I've known of a number of kids who hate using school loos as they are often disgusting and perhaps a place where bullying can take place. I wonder if this puts kids off drinking so they don't Ned to 'go'?

Original poster

VicWillia · 24/09/2015 12:38

Thankyou for your input all,

I think it is important for him to drink in the day. They are very active and he was definitely slightly dehydrated when I picked him up the other day.

I had a chat with his teacher, she seems a lovely girl. She said she'll keep an eye on him and remind him often to drink. She said she will let me know if he continues to refuse water and then we'll look at other options, maybe a clear fruit drink as others have suggested.

Thanks again, this place is great :)

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Artandco · 24/09/2015 12:41

Doesn't he get milk with fruit mid morning? I thought all under 7s did now with the new government thing?

I actually think he will be fine without. He's only at school 6 hours. If you get him to have two drinks before school ( a glass of milk, plus water or diluted juice), he has presumably milk at school snack or lunchtime, and you collect him around 3pm when he can drink anything.

Remember he doesn't need that much liquids compared to an adult. Also he will get it from his food also like fruits and veg and school

Charis2 · 24/09/2015 19:55

Charis, of course he needs to drink. If he gets dehydrated he won't learn effectively and ultimately it will harm his health.

he's not going to get dehydrated in a 7 hour day, is he, unless we have a sudden massive heat wave. Lots of children don't drink in the school day, and lots more only drink water, which doesn't prevent dehydration anyway.it just makes them pee more.

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