Toddler doesn’t drink enough and struggling to know what to give him drinks in

[Askwhyhedidit]

My son (nearly 3) can honestly go most of the day without having a drink. He only has water or milk, if out in a cafe he will have a fruit shoot but doesn’t even really drink these any more.

He used to have a bottle and he’d have a big drink of milk morning and night but stopped recently and I realise should probably have stopped it ages ago. I’ve bought water bottles with things he likes on them but he keeps breaking them, and I’m really unsure how to get more fluid into him. Help!

An open cup?

Firstly...look at it the other way...what is it that makes you think he's not getting enough fluids ?
Is he showing any signs of dehydration?
Is his urine dark coloured, ideally it should be light straw colour.
Is his lips or tongue dry ?
Are his overnight nappies dry?
Is he lethargic ?

If no to all above the likelihood is he is getting enough. We get approx 20% fluid requirements from food.
So increasing the amount of high fluid foods would help. Fruit and things like cucumber etc.

There is such an obsession with the feeling that children must carry water bottles, be drinking constantly etc. Creating anxiety in parents

I'd also say I'd try things you know he likes..if it's milk...give milk in lots of different vessels !
Make smoothie together, ice lollies are good too

Hard to tell with wees. I do think it’s a problem for potty training as he hardly wees. Sometimes his poos are very hard and smelly - I know no poo smells nice but these are particularly stinky!

If his poos are hard he's maybe not getting in enough fluid.

How about an ice lolly mould - make them together with some squash, pop in the freezer and would the excitement of having made them help? Basically he's then having a glass of squash

If his pops are hard and smelly, it could be an indication that he's not getting enough fluid but it could also be an indication of an allergy, like CMPA.

These are pretty good, they suck them like a baby bottle but move away from having a teat, they never spill.. and they seem to never break, plus you can have a particular colour for milk and another for water :) and mine liked putting a few stickers on to brighten them up

Foxberry 500ml Reusable Water Bottles - 4 Pack - Hands Free Lid - Spill Proof and Leak Proof Spout - BPA Free - Dishwasher Safe - Kids - School - Sports - Clubs amzn.eu/d/gol7MCI

*poos

You mentioned fruit shoot in your OP hence why I suggested it, if he doesn't like this start with something he does like and work from there.

I agree they all drink bath water.

If an open cup works but he spills it, you could do an open cup but take it away after he's drunk something. Also my kids have done well with 360 type cups. (Take the silicone thing completely off for cleaning so it doesn't go mouldy).

Lastly if he will drink out of a bottle, I don't think it's a problem to keep giving water in a bottle. Bottles are an issue if you're giving sugary drinks like squash (and to an extent milk).

You could also try a soft teat that feels similar to a bottle, you tend to find these on cheap beakers in supermarkets, Boots etc in the baby section. I even got one from Poundland though it was useless and leaked everywhere.

What does he use to drink the bath water?
Maybe replicate that

Always give him a cup of water with each meal.

I bought ice lolly moulds and froze milk and juice

Have you tried a competition with him every 45 mins or so or just meal times to start with to see who can drink their drink first between you and him make it a game? Winner gets a sticker etc start off with a small volume in his cup and then increase it.

Play with a toy kitchen, play cafe, play tea parties with the teddies etc but use water in the toy teapot

These are good. They can carry them around and drink more absentmindedly than with an open cup. https://uk.nuby.com/products/mighty-swig-water-bottle?variant=43956668039382&clickref=CjwKCAjwv-2pBhB-EiwAtsQZFIuldGtsuDDqHK_Bua5_ttH-QKI56k2La4h1nSqHsPIWw_N3MC9CLBoC3F4QAvD_BwE&wgu=299190_215791_16984030562537_f36352a44d&wgexpiry=1729939056&utm_source=webgains&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=Delupe%20A/S