8 month old - Won't drink

[Gemm83]

She has just dropped down to 3 bottles of formula a day. Today she has had 7oz in morning, 5oz at lunch and 5oz before bed.

She eats well and has 3 decent meals a day, but she just won't drink!!!

I've tried every fluid going, and used every drinking receptical going. She just won't drink!!!!!!!

I'm worried shes going to start getting dehydrated. Shes also had some VERY solid poos recently. Managed to get some water mixed with demerara sugar into her on Monday night which has softened her up, but that can't be her drink!!!!!

Please help!!!

Is she finishing the formula? That's plenty of fluid isn't it?
Other than that, offer her water only at meal times or throughout the day. Eventually she'll start to want it.
Other than that - lots of cucumber and clementine etc perhaps?

I meant water only... rather than other drinks (not only at meal times) I realised it was a bit confusing!

If you're concerned she's not drinking enough give more formula. And offer her a cup of water throughout the day but don't stress if she doesn't drink much. They really don't need a lot of water.

Seconding the suggestion of fluid rich foods too.

I was told proper brown sugar for constipation, not demerara.
I'm a childminder and I find a lot of babies at that age do the same OP, I wouldn't worry too much. 3 bottles of milk a day should be keeping her hydrated enough.

@Iminaglasscaseofemotion

Shit!! Won't be doing that again then! 🤦‍♀️

Thankyou for all your responses. Will keep on with her sippy cup and not stress about it 😊

Ahhhh don’t worry OP. Babies are funny creatures but they will drink when thirsty so keep offering and doing what you’re doing!

I don't think there's anything wrong with demerara, sorry didn't mean to panic you, just doesn't work as well.

My baby is 8 months in a few days. Before weaning he was taking 9oz 4 or 5 times a day. He now barely finishes 5oz 4 times a day. He only has a few sips of water with his meals. I think it's normal!

My daughter was exactly the same at that age. She would only drink formula but ate lots of cucumber so was getting fluid from that. She didn't start drinking anything other than milk until she was over a year old.

Try a flask with a flip up straw. My lad was 9months and pinched my mums apple juice carton and was happily using a straw and took to the flasks lovely

Water rich foods too help so things like melon & cucumber.

My DS only drank out of a cheap plastic open cup in the early months. Now at 2 he prefers an actual glass to anything else.

Ds would only touch free flow cups at that age.. the cheap ones that flip up and pour everywhere. Or a sports bottle type thing. He wouldn’t really take a lot in at a time but he’d give it a bash, more playing than drinking, best time we found was straight after a nap to offer him something to drink.. he’s too food focused even still to take a cup with his food at 11 months.

Loads of fruit/cucumber/wet foods help them keep their intake up too. It’ll all come in time, it’s just a whole new habit for them to get into.

Kids drink when they are thirsty so just make sure there is water available. Your dc is drinking plenty of milk in any case.

My DD did the same she dropped down to three bottles at that age so long as she's eating plenty and having sips of water with meals I think it's so long as they are having 500ml or more of formula you are good if they drop below that you need to consider multi vits but speak to your HV op they will be much better at advising