What do people mean when they say they offer their toddler water?

[Fortgeloveofsleep]

I see loads of people saying that if their toddler wakes in the night, they offer them water (or milk). I don't understand... are they implying their child is awake enough to be able to sit up and drink out of a cup? My 16mo still doesn't STTN by a long shot, but no way could I offer her a drink, she's not awake enough for that.

I'd be slower to react if she's not awake and see if she starts to self settle. We all wake through the night but settle back to sleep without knowing it having someone jump in makes their actions part of what we need to go off again.

Well it’s nice that you can settle her without her fully waking surely? Other people are saying their children wake up completely and then are given a drink to sooth them back to sleep. I would say you are quite lucky.

mine woke for milk (bottle, not cup!!) 1-2 times until 2yrs to sooth him to sleep, until i started gradually diluting with water. it worked! then he finally started sleeping through with a few re-settles at night, and a bit less now at 4.
it sounds like yours sleeps through already, well done!
embrace the sleeplessness, a hallmark of parent-hood!

I pretty much got that from the first post. It was kind of a weird, goady boast that her massively advanced 1yo will only take water from a cup, and wanted to feel superior to the vast majority of normal people who have to admit that they throw a bottle of milk at the baby it wakes up at night.

She wants people to say that they give their baby a bottle, because she couldn’t POSSIBLY fathom a 1yo doing anything other than getting out of bed and drinking an actual glass of water

The water is just to replace the milk that would be given instead. It's to stop night feeds. If your child isn't waking for milk overnight then it's unlikely they will benefit from being offered water either as they aren't waking for food/drink. Not sure what the confusion is!
I've never had to with either of mine as they both night weaned quite early, but some babies have night feeds well past a year and offering water instead of milk is a way to cut it down.

By doing this does your toddler not spill the sink in their cot? Just curious. Thanks!

Waking in the night means being awake surely, and being awake means able to eat, drink, talk, cry, walk around.

Both my kids would often have been willing to start playing with toys when they woke in the night. Totally with it, not confused and definitely able to drink.

What exactly is your child doing whilst they're "not really awake" at night, op?
Are they crying or upset? I'm baffled by what your actual problem is, tbh.