How suitable is this as a drink?

[willothewisp17]

Struggling to find something to give my 9 month old (but 7 month corrected, she was premature) will drink! I've tried just cooled boiled water but she won't take it, I've tried sugar free squash, she didn't like that either! She enjoys watermelon, so I've been sieving watermelon and catching the juice to dilute in cooled boiled water and she seems to enjoy this! Is this a suitable drink? What other fruits would be good to do this with?

Another here who dilutes juice, my daughter gets very constipated and is not a good eater so it's a necessary evil in our house to keep her hydrated.

You don't need to boil drinking water past 6 months :)

I don't see any problem with giving her the fruit infused water, if you're willing to do it. I wouldn't drink if my only option was plain tap water and I'm an adult who understands the problem of becoming dehydrated! IMO a small amount of flavouring in water is really no big deal.

Mine wouldn't drink more than a few sips of water. But as soon as you offer them sweet drinks/ food, they will always pick this. It's such a bad habit. I was giving mine diluted apple juice ( although 18 months+) just so she was drinking something and finally put a stop to it. Now she asks for milk and water and doesn't even ask for juice.

I didn't know I could just give her tap water now! so that'll make life a little easier! I'm also still sterilising everything under the sun (bottles obviously, but do I still need to sterilise her spoons, bowl and little purée tubs?!)
I didn't think the fruit juice was too much of a problem, because she only gets the juice from a watermelon, nothing else, and a watermelon isn't too sweet, is it? I've been reluctant to start with other fruits, as you've all said, I don't want her to get a sweet tooth. she's not keen on milk at all, and is eating three meals a day now, hence why I've been trying to get fluids into her!
thanks for all your replies!

You only need to sterilise bottles. I never sterilised any weaning stuff - though I might chuck the tubs in if you're going to make food and store it in them?

2 children in and I’ve never sterilised a spoon, bowl or weaning pot!

Persevere with water. Ordinary water. Keep offering it. I don't like the taste of cooled boiled water. Just ordinary water is best.

Have you tried baby with a straw OP? Sometimes the novelty gets them to drink