Why is my toddler waking every hour for water

[MommaSmith1606]

So, my toddler has NEVER slept well. There’s always been one thing or another. But now I feel he’s at his worst.

For a while now he has been waking pretty much every hour for water and he drinks a lot. Not just a sip, he appears to be actually thirsty.

He doesn’t go off to sleep with a milk. And when he stirs for a drink he’s pretty much asleep, he will not settle, he won’t have his dummy or a cuddle etc, he wants that water. I have to change his nappy 2/3 times a night.

We are literally exhausted. Even though at the same time we feel fully used to having broken sleep and definitely expect it.

I’m at a loss what to do. We have to co-sleep else we are up and down to his cot bed every hour at least. He no longer will settle in his cot he screams blue murder.

I swapped him from having milk at night to water thinking he would stop drinking (that’s what my eldest did) but instead it’s just got worse. If I don’t give it to him he whines that much he then wakes up and takes ages to go back off to sleep.

Will we ever sleep 😂💁🏻‍♀️

He has suffered with constipation since we started weaning so is on laxido every few days. So sometimes he sits on the potty to pass his bowels but his urine looks normal.

If you rule out a medical cause you might want to try him sleeping with a humidifier on, particularly if he sleeps with his mouth open. He could be getting a really dry mouth.

Strangely enough we do have a humidifier, he has a glowdreams baby sleep machine.

Strange one OP.

Does he ever have the pear drops breath?

Once all potential medical issues have been ruled out if he's still waking up needing a drink I have one of these bottles for evenings for my 2 year old, it's completely non spill and easily drank out of whilst half asleep. Mine likes water through the night and it saved numerous wake up calls. Not ideal as I know he should use open top cups but he does all day, has never had a dummy and it's his only comfort so for us all having less disturbed nights I couldn't care less! www.amazon.co.uk/Tommee-Tippee-Active-Sports-Bottle/dp/B07VRQDZF7/ref=mp_s_a_1_20?dchild=1&keywords=tommee+tippee+bottle&sprefix=tom&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1619299386&sr=8-20

My son went through a phase of this. He is autistic so a slightly different situation. He was worked up for both types of diabetes abs cane back normal.

It was behavioural and we were able to slowly reduce the amount of water he was drinking. Distraction and less in a smaller bottle.

OP I’ve just had a look at Laxido and it says stop giving and seek medical advice immediately if various side effects happen - one of which is increased thirst - as this may indicate his potassium levels have gone imbalanced. This can be quite serious. Link to what i read is below.

In any case it does seem like he’s been on the Laxido a long time and it apparently isn’t meant to be used in under 2s (based on what I just read anyway) so in your shoes I definitely would be stopping that and going back to the dr to seek a different solution for the constipation and trying to see why he is so constipated.

www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.6837.pdf

You need to go to the go either the Allison or potential diabetes. Does he have any water in the day?

Laxido

I’d get him checked at the doctors, excessive thirst can be diabetes

Having just realised it’s the weekend - I’d be ringing 111

He hasn’t been on Laxido since six months. He’s only been on it a few months. He regularly see’s the GP and has seen the bowel specialist (who prescribed the laxido)

He has been drinking a lot before the laxido so I don’t believe it’s that.

I’m sure it can wait until Monday for him to see his GP as it’s been going on so long now one more day isn’t going to make much difference.

The problem with type 1 diabetes is that they can suddenly collapse into a coma. I'd call 111. A urine sample will show if there is need for further tests and this can be done at an out of hours clinic.

Has he lost weight at all?

While it may well not be, it is probably worth ruling out sooner rather than later. I wouldn't wait until Monday.

Aside from ruling out physiological reasons, do you think he is using water as a crutch in the same way he used to use milk? Milk gets guzzled too. If he is doing it every sleep cycle it seems it might be he can't fall asleep with out the drink to sleep reflex, which is why he is waking to drink so frequently. The only way to break that is to stop the night water. Hellish 3 nights, then he'll be through it.

Try a humidifier, the air may be too dry for him and he's getting a dry and sore throat.

Have you had any news @MommaSmith1606

Hi @MommaSmith1606 i know this was a long time ago now but I wonder what the outcome was ? I am having the same with my 3 year old

@Cl8re Regardless of their outcome. Go the the GP. They will do a urine sample and check for UTI, type 1 diabetes etc. It needs checking urgently.

@whataboutthecat yes I have actually contacted my GP but they were unable to see us today and after explaining my own circumstances they didn’t seem to think it was “urgent” I will try tomorrow.!

@Cl8re I’m surprised by that. The only noticeable symptom my son had with type 1 diabetes was this (looking back he’d also lost weight but I hadn’t realised). I went to the GP because I was worried he had a UTI and I know leaving that can cause kidney problems. They gave him an on the day appointment and then we were sent straight to hospital for a blood test. If they think it’s not urgent then I guess that’s ok. If you’re still worried you could check with 111.

@whataboutthecat he hasn’t lost weight, and prior to the water drinking in the night it was milk so I’m unsure if it’s the bottle association but obviously I’m aware it’s better to be overly cautious. - he is non verbal and potentially Autistic so he can’t tell me . Today I am keeping a clear measurement of how much water he drinks to give them clear information when I do get to speak to them. Although with it being so hot it’s hard to gauge. Are you in the uk? If so was it a urine test or blood (I know you said urine - not sure if it can be on or the other ? ) thank you

@whataboutthecat he hasn’t lost weight, and prior to the water drinking in the night it was milk so I’m unsure if it’s the bottle association but obviously I’m aware it’s better to be overly cautious. - he is non verbal and potentially Autistic so he can’t tell me . Today I am keeping a clear measurement of how much water he drinks to give them clear information when I do get to speak to them. Although with it being so hot it’s hard to gauge. Are you in the uk? If so was it a urine test or blood (I know you said urine - not sure if it can be on or the other ? ) thank you

@Cl8re yes in the UK. The urine sample that the GP did showed glucose in the urine. He was then sent to hospital for a blood test to confirm (and then admitted to paediatric ward). It could well be the hot weather, but worth keeping an eye on it just in case.