Primary school insisting my child takes water not squash to school, despite there being a medical reason for it

[TheOriginalNutcracker]

My ds is 10 and suffers from frequent migraines. He takes daily preventative meds for them, and we try hard to manage them by eliminating triggers.

Obviously, dehydration is a major trigger, and so I need to make sure he drink enough during the day. I send him to school with weak squash in his water bottle, as he is not overly keen on water, and so will not drink enough of it. I know this to be the case from seeing him drink at home.

School are kicking up an almighty fuss about it. I have spoken to them countless times explaining why he needs the squash, and have also written a letter insisting he be alowed it, abd again explained why.
Today he was pulled into the heads office because of the squash.

I went in after school and asked to see the head. I was told she could only speak to me for 2 minutes. She came out and right away knew why I was there. She just went on and on about many people not liking water and getting headaches, but that other kids would think it was ok for their child to bring in squash also.
She then said that my ds had promised earlier that day, to try and drink only water next week. So basically they got him to agree to this in a meeting with no parent present.

I explained again about his migraines, but she basically insisted and just said that ds had agreed now.

Is there anyting I can do about this ? I think their treatment of him and his condition is appaling. We have also had issues where they have made him wait for calpol when a headache starts.

[Tomorrowillbeachicken]

I’d assume this has been sorted in the last 62 months

[Maldives2006]

Water in school and squash at home he is old enough to learn that to stop the migraines he has to regularly drink.

The same as diabetic children have to learn to manage their diabetes and children with anaphylaxis have to avoid their allergens.

[ifIonlyknew]

does he drink water when it is ice cold? Might be worth trying that if you haven't already, if you got a bottle with a cold core bit and some ice cubes too then it would stay cold for a large part of the day.

[HarveySchlumpfenburger]

I think it’s 5 years now. Although I’d say it’s worth it just for the inclusion of the Health and Safety at Work Act.

[titchy]

This is a 3 year old thread folks.....

[Silverstar2]

At age 10 (many years ago now) I was injecting myself twice a day, as I was (am) a type 1 diabetic.

Did I want to do this? No. But my mum made me, as she said I had to take responsibility for my condition, and if I didn't I would die. Ok, your son won't die of course, but it IS old enough to take responsibility, and it soon becomes a habit. 35 years later I am now injecting 4 times a day, with frequent finger prick blood tests each day as well - and I couldn't imagine not doing it, it is just me, what I do.

He needs to step up, and you need to support him.

Good luck, it must be hard.

[Grasslands]

@Twinsandanother ....did you not realize the thread is at least 3 years old?? looks like it was started in 2013??

[Twinsandanother]

Under the Heath and saftey at work act 1974, section 8, a school or teacher has no right to interfere with snything put in place for health and saftey - That includes your childs drink.

They also have a duty of care to the child, which has to take into account individual circumstances.

By refusing, or otherwise discouraging an easily influenced child not to drink, they are not only breaking the law, but putting the health of your child at risk.

I would be asking for an appology from the school and a guarantee it would not happen again.

[Feenie]

Neat gin, usually, newmammy.

That what you wanted to hear?

Actually, I do hate squash. Quite what that has to do with a) upping a years old thread or b) what children may drink at school, I have no idea.

[PinkSquash]

Zombie thread ffS. This kid will be in seniors now.

[StrongAsAnOx]

Is the squash sugar free? The school may be worried about sugar rush type behaviour?

[Newmammy]

Omg I can't believe these comments! Many of you would rather your children go thirsty instead of giving them squash? It's not the work of the devil you know. Sometimes, and please don't get the noose out here ladies, I give my children fizzy drinks! Yes way! And they are happy and healthy and hydrated and migraine free! Your school is ridic by the way! I'd like to see what the teachers drink!!

[Corestrategy]

wtf is it with control freak teachers? If it's not uniforms it's drinks now? Seems like the teaching profession still attracts the same little hitlers that it did when I was at school. At least they can't actually legally beat the crap out of kids any more as they used to with us.

LMAO

[EvieT49]

I realise that this is an old topic, but just in case anyone is searching for advice on this subject........
Firstly let me say that I am a migraine sufferer and the mother of a child who suffers from migraine.
If you have a child who suffers from migraines - please be aware that ALL squash drinks contains chemical additives which trigger migraines. The migraines may not come on immediately, but the chemicals build up in the body causing all sorts of problems, but for a migraine sufferer - they will exacerbate any migraine symptoms and the more they have in their bodies - the harder a migraine is to shake off. These chemicals need to be flushed out with WATER.
These chemicals can also be pretty addictive, so children can become almost dependant on them. Hence the craving for squash rather than water.
Please, please, please - encourage children to drink more water! Put ice cubes in it, put a slice of citrus fruit in it, or a little natural fruit juice. But limit the amount of squash they have and reduce the amount of health problems they could be developing.
Thanks for reading....x

[InternationalPower]

Oh I was thinking about this yesterday too. Our school has just invested in 300 water bottles for children to keep in school so we can encourage them to drink more - amazing how many parents don't send one despite repeated requests.

OP, did you ever ask your GP for that letter? How did you get on?

[Inkspellme]

I have a ten year old who has to have a certain level of fluid a day - not because of migraines but bladder issues. He's not a baby. Water is not unpleasant. I'd tell my son - drink the water and you won't get a headache. Squash has unneeded extras in it. IMO you're babying him.

He has to have fluids for medical reasons. He doesn't have to have squash for medical reasons - thats just him being fussy and you pandering to it.

[clam]

[mrz]

I thought about this thread today as one of my new class handed me a bottle of J2O to open

[clam]

I have better things to do with my time than go around sniffing the water bottles of the children in my class. However, you can rest assured that the other children will sniff it out from 20 paces and dob their mates in. I was told by several kids by break on the first day that "Harry has got juice, Mrs Clam."
"Harry" looked terrified/appalled and said "Sorry, my dad put filled it up. I've only just seen. I'll make sure it's water tomorrow."
Me: "OK, that's great, don't worry. We're just trying to avoid ants and spills at the moment"
Problem solved.

[Tw1nkle]

This is a long thread, and TBH I haven't read all the way through!!

But seriously - the squash could very well be causing the migraines.
Most squashes, and all flavoured water contain sweeteners - and they cause the migraines - they should be banned in my opinion.

[Listentomum]

If I were the parent of 10 year old who refused to drink water at school. I would stay out of this TBH as far as chool is concerned and put my efforts into encouraging him to drink water in general. rules are rules and as a parent it is up to you to reinforce the schools rules. He is 10 he should be dealing with this by himself as far as school is concerned, send him in with water, if he suffers for this out of his own stubbornness he will have to learn to take responsibility for his own health needs.

[12345Floris]

Ignore them and send him in with squash anyway. Where is it written down it is compulsory to only have water? Rules. Pah.

[exoticfruits]

I would expect the GP to update her on additives in squash rather than say he must have it! Does OP know which additives you need to avoid if you are a migraine sufferer -and how carefully is she reading the labels?

[exoticfruits]

Having now read quite a few articles about children and migraines I certainly wouldn't have them drinking squash.