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Parenting

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Original poster

1 year old refuses liquid

12 replies

Cakeandcardio · 05/09/2021 12:10

Hi all,
Our 13 month old refuses any liquid from a cup (have tried different kinds). About a month ago, he was OK at taking some fairly regular sips - albeit small ones - but then he got a cold and since then he has pushed all cups away. We have tried free flow with lid, open cups and a free flow bottle type. I had planned to wean him from his morning and evening bottle and move to cups about this time but as he refuses all cups he would actually have no drink all day.
Over the past week he has only had a couple of 'heavy wet' nappies a day and the other 4 are light. HV said to contact GP but his advice was that his morning and evening bottle would be enough liquid (14-16oz). This was only a phone consultation. But there's two concerns I have: 1. He looks thirsty - dark circles under eyes, fontanelle is slightly down almost all day and 2. How can I wean him from the bottles if it's all he's taking?
This morning we tried not giving his morning bottle in the hopes it would encourage him to drink. I've offered water in two types of cups and milk in a cup too. He's taken some very very small sips throughout the morning but I would say this is only about 20ml. We are really worried and struggling. Any advice appreciated!!
PS HV said to give diluted fruit juice which I have done and he wasn't any more interested.

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CelloYouveGotABass · 05/09/2021 12:42

My one year old quite likes the drinks bottles with the straws, would that be any good?
Will be have juice from a carton? Cawston Press do a 50% juice one that is nice.

Or have you tried the old fashioned tommee tippee cups with a spout?

Original poster

Cakeandcardio · 05/09/2021 14:01

Thanks for your reply. We've got the Tommy Tippee one and he pushes that away. I've also tried him with a straw and he didn't seem to know how to work it. I appreciate your response though.

OP posts:

jusdepamplemousse · 05/09/2021 14:04

Mine have all been terrible for taking liquids. And you can take a horse to water etc…

We offered lots of high liquid food. Yoghurt, watermelon, strawberries, jelly, ice pops etc.

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JassyRadlett · 05/09/2021 14:05

Honestly, he’s 13 months and at this point you don’t want him to develop a total aversion to cups. I’d put them away for a fortnight and let him have bottles, try cups again in a few weeks when he may have forgotten that he hates them.

Pandemicpregnancy · 05/09/2021 14:06

My 11 month old also refused all cups until recently and I was at my wit's end. A free flow weighted straw cup was the answer for us. Started by giving her some of the Ellas kitchen smoothie/fruit puree pouches to suck. When she could do that well we then put the fruit puree in the straw cup with some water to thin it out. Also put some puree on the end of the straw to encourage her to put it in her mouth. She immediately knew what to do. I then filled the cup with water instead and she's been drinking plain water from it ever since. Good luck!

ISpyCobraKai · 05/09/2021 14:07

I took Dd to a v hot country for 10 weeks when she'd just turned one.
Although she'd drink a bit from a spouted cup, she much preffered bottles so I just let her have them until we came home as it was so important to keep her drinking.
Can you possibly leave it a few weeks then try again?

GoodnightGrandma · 05/09/2021 14:08

Try a straw in a cafe, or somewhere different.
Box drinks, Ice lollies, Capri sun’s but squeeze out some juice and dilute.
Does he go to any childcare, if so how is he there ?

ml01omm · 05/09/2021 14:19

Following as I have the same problem for the same aged baby.

SheldonandAmy · 05/09/2021 16:06

To be honest I'd take the pressure off and go back to bottles for another couple of months. Try again when he is a bit older.

PepsiHoover · 05/09/2021 16:12

Keep giving him bottles.

If your DC was breast fed, everyone would be telling you its acceptable to carry that on until their 2. So I don't understand why the bottles have to vanish overnight once they turn 1.

Original poster

Cakeandcardio · 05/09/2021 16:15

Thank you so so much for all of your replies! Lots of good suggestions which we will try. And it is also such a relief to know we are not alone! There's such pressure from everywhere to have the baby off the bottle, off the dummy etc. We are just both a bit knackered with everything too. Really do appreciate these replies!
He has only just started settling in days at nursery and apparently OK for drinking there but he hasn't really been for very long yet.

OP posts:

poppet131 · 12/10/2023 13:47

@Cakeandcardio I’m in the same boat - feeling quite stressed and anxious about lack of liquids as he’s very quickly dropping breastfeeds and refuses water - did you do anything that helped eventually? Any tips you could share? X

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