Squash to drink?

[April45]

DS is 23 months, eats well etc. He drinks water, milk, sometimes I give very weak squash if I feel he's not drunk enough as he drinks more of it.

I'm starting to think about the sweetener content and wondered what else would be better to give a more flavoured drink. What do you think?

What is wrong with water? I wouldn’t give all those sweeteners at any age (have you read the recent research?) let alone a baby.

Honestly just give water or milk.

Very dilute apple juice is fine at 23 months.

I don't see the point of squash and have never bought it in my life - oldest kid is a teen now. They drink water or milk or occasionally fruit juice, nothing else at home, obviously they are free to choose a fizzy drink at the cinema or in a cafe once school age but not at preschool age!

Squash is one of those odd inventions people grow up with thinking is an essential, but it's complete and utterly pointless. If you ever introduce it he'll never miss it.

*never not ever - if you never introduce it he'll never miss it

I never bothered with this - but you could try making fruity herbal teas then cooling them down.

Both my DCs made it right the way through til nursery age without ever trying squash, simply because we have never had it in the house. Even at 10 and 12,they still only have it at parties or friends houses.
I'd try and avoid it altogether if you can. If they're thirsty, they'll drink water.

It's a slippery slope, o know kids at 4/5/6 who wouldn't drink water because they were so used to squash. The parents think it's ok because it's no added sugar/sugar free etc.

Agree it's totally unnecessary.

Growing up we were only allowed Rose's lime juice as there are no nasties in it. As an adult I can taste the sweeteners in everything and lime juice is still the only thing I drink (only thing I can find that isn't no added sugar)
DS is 1 and only has water though.
My DS just has water though

I just want to add to the ‘if they’re thirsty...’ posts. Not always the case, as my dc have proven to me (SN, but they started with the no drinking water before any were diagnosed) - my eldest suddenly stopped drinking water at 13 months old (a period of 6 weeks) and then again st 2 years old (continued for many months). Dc refused water to the point of dehydration. It can happen.

That said, I wouldn’t (and haven’t/didn’t) introduce squash, especially not one with sweeteners.

My dc drink water (those that can), or very diluted fruit juice - literally the same amount of fruit juice as you would use with squash, then filled up with water.

Thanks, yes like I said usual drinks are milk and water but sometimes squash to get him drinking more fluids.

I wasn't asking for views of how children don't need squash.. just alternatives to sweeten when needed.

I'll try the diluted juices, they sound much more natural.