Help with getting a weaning baby to drink more fluids please?

[bloodywhitecat]

Weaning has been a battle with our little one but this last week he's really taken off but since he has increased his solids he has greatly reduced his milk intake, all good. Except I cannot get any other fluids into him, he will not take a cup, he pushes away a bottle. Today and yesterday he has had a dry nappy from 11am (ish) until his bedtime change at 6pm. That seems an incredibly long time for a 10.5 month old to not wee, any ideas?

I have tried a doidy, a spouted cup, a 360 cup and a bottle. He has a neurological injury, is visually impaired and has some sensory issues with foods/things near his mouth (wet foods are out of the question with him at the moment). I cannot put anything in his mouth except for his bottle (of milk), he won't allow a spoon anywhere near him but he is only accepting milk at 7am and then again before bed at around 6pm and that is a long time to go without fluids. He is taking 15oz of milk a day.

You're right, that does sound like a really long time without a wee. I'd speak to your Dietician or Paediatrician if you can.

Don't know about a longer term solution but if you need to get fluids in, could you use a calpol syringe?

I think you’re right to be concerned about that, and I’d definitely get some advice from his doctor, but in the meantime have you tried diluted squash or fruit juice? Or the kids cartons with the straw? It’s obviously not something you ideally want going on long term but the flavour might just encourage him to try drinking another way while you’re seeking advice.

Will he eat finger food with lots of liquid in? Like the inner bit of cucumber sticks or watermelon, raspberries, strawberries. All quite ‘liquidy’

@PraiseBee

Don't know about a longer term solution but if you need to get fluids in, could you use a calpol syringe?

Syringes are a no go, he had to have a nasty tasting medication via syringe for months and I think he associates syringes with nasty tastes. He has found a liking for melon which is good and I tried jelly today but that was a no go too today. I will give his HV a call and his SaLT.

It’s a long time to go without a wee BUT 15oz is quite a decent amount of liquid over the day. My LO has similar sensory issues. Could you try giving him very diluted orange juice? Like ten parts water to one part juice. Not ideal for teeth but better than dehydration.

Alternatively could you split his bottles across the day? If he was having 4 x 4oz cups of liquid each day then I don’t think anyone would be that concerned and having it more spaced out may mean he absorbs more rather than having a big huge drink which will then presumably pass through his system quite quickly.

Definitely get advice from the professionals that know him but couple of things that helped us, choosing one type of cup and persevering it took a good 10 weeks before he properly used it, milk and water mix in bottle making sure he still has same amount of milk during day but gradually adding more water and offering it more often if he would take this. You could offer jelly very frequently as sensory play and some of it may end up in mouth! Really worrying I’ve been there it does get better as they get bigger I have to admit adding small amount of squash which I was adamant I wouldn’t do was a game changer I didn’t till after he was 18/12 - maybe should have done sooner but who knows! Also found the babycup first cups useful - don’t think he drank much from them but got used to the sensation while he was in control. Thinking of you it is stressful but hopefully you’ll get some useful advice from SALT & hv good luck oh and I used to do home made ice cubes with tiny bit of fruit purée and water - again not sure how much went in but good sensory play too!!

What about pouches of fruit purée or yogurt? Can he suck from them yet? I have baby same age who can’t yet, but maybe worth trying. Or it might be possible soon