Drink dilemma - 16 month old

[AutumnalChicken]

My 16 month old only drinks 3 or 4oz water per day, no matter how hard I try and how many times I offer. She has about 16oz milk too. Is this way too little water?

Yesterday she had a sip of orange juice and she couldn't get enough of it, so I thought maybe if I add a drop of squash to her water then she would drink more? I was really keen not to do this, as I have a terribly sweet tooth and hate water, and don't want her to end up like me. But obviously it's more important that she drinks enough of something. I'm sure that once I give her squash there will be no going back! Do any more experienced parents have advice please?

I wouldn't personally. It rots their teeth. A cube of cucumber could work?

She’s drinking loads of milk, so that’s fine.

She only needs 10 floz of milk at this age. I'd try cutting back on the milk and she will probably start drinking more water.

When it's hot like this you can try offering some water rich foods like strawberries, melon, homemade lollies, broccoli, cauliflower, soup and jelly.

Oh and don't bother with the squash, milk or water is fine at this age

She’s drinking a decent amount of liquid there between milk and water and remember food, especially fruit and vegetables, also contain water. If she’s weeing/poking fine I wouldn’t worry. Just offer her water at every snack and meal time and also have it available for her when she’s playing. I’d say hold off introducing juice until she is 2 or older but completely your choice.

I wouldn’t do squash.
She’s having a good amount of liquid over all.
I give my LO very watered down squash if he’s poorly and not drinking to get fluid down him otherwise it’s just water.

I would avoid squash too at this age - still so young and like you say she could develop a taste for juice and then refuse the water completely. Also - awful for their teeth!

@BunnyRuddington

She only needs 10 floz of milk at this age. I'd try cutting back on the milk and she will probably start drinking more water.

When it's hot like this you can try offering some water rich foods like strawberries, melon, homemade lollies, broccoli, cauliflower, soup and jelly.

Why would you want to swap milk for water though? Liquid intake doesn’t need to be pure water, as you’ve said yourself.

I give very diluted squash, its not great but its really important mine drinks enough fluid through the day...

Thanks everyone, this is really helpful. I will keep avoiding the squash for now!

Avoid squash. It's either sugar or artificial sweeteners, neither of which are great! She won't be allowed it at nursery/school either so best to just get her used to water. If you're worried you could dilute her milk.

mine had squash for the exact same reason when they were little.

in their sippy cups, shock & horror!😱🤣
once they didn't use sippy cups I stopped giving them squash - so by the age of starting reception at the very latest, because the school only allows them to have water so that was a handy excuse.

my youngest is just about to finish y2 and I can't remember the last time I bought squash as regular staple.
we buy Ribena in the winter for hot Ribenas (mainly for DH & I) so a seasonal thing.
the main drinks are: water, tea, hot chocolate, milk. fizzy drinks on special occasions.

not rotting teeth, we see dentist twice a year, he says all 7 kids have very healthy teeth.
DS5 is the only one who needed a temporary filling on a baby tooth (aged 9), we are not 100% sure what happened but dentist reckoned he bit onto something that weakened the enamel and that caused an abcess. nothing to do with drinking squash as a toddler

hope this helps