Recommend a fruit juice instead of water?

[CheerfulSoul]

I'm trying to get my 6 1/2 month ds to take water with his food. He can drink a bit from a cup, with help, but generally doesn't like it. I wondered if I put something 'nicer' than water in, if it might encourage him to drink a bit. Can anyone recommend anything? Should I use pure fruit juice, diluted, if so, which one? I don't want to use a citrus one and he doesn't like apple.

How do you know he doesn't like it? Could he just not be very thirsty? My ds doesn't drink much water sometimes, but when he is thirsty he will drink more. I won't give him fruit juice as it is really bad for teeth. I don't think he can not like it as he doesn't know any different.

You could also try giving him some water from a bottle if you are really worried he's not getting enough, then also offer it from a cup at mealtimes so he learns how to use the cup.

diluted juice is fine when given during meals and in a training cup rather than a bottle. If he doesn't like apple, can you try grape juice? I can't think of too many alternatives. Anyway, they don't need to drink too much water, as long as they don't get constipated, it's better that they fill up with milk.

Juices we drink which aren't citrus or apple:
(Though I have no idea of sugar content or suitablility for babies - you'd have to check and dilute 10 parts water to 1 part juice I think. Sounds vile to us but apparently babies don't mind.)

These are from the longlife juice drinks section. (So the ones shaped like bricks rather than cardboard milk cartons)

White grape + pear/wg + peach (Welch's)
Apple + raspberry (Tescos - doesn't taste of apple)
Pineapple (Too acidy? There is a gorgeous one which is pineapple + coconut milk, most supermarkets do a variation.)

There is also high juice in the squash section, high juice has lots of fruit juice and no sweeteners. Again dilute heavily.

Avoid:
5 Alive (contains aspartame)
Other squashes especially "sugar free" ones.

I wouldn't give anything but water until at least 12 months, it's just not necessary. They don't have that much water that young anyway, as they are getting lots of liquid from milk still. juices can decay emerging teeth too.

IMO this is a 'rod for your own back' scenario. He'll get used to having 'something nicer' and will be reluctant to drink water. They don't need juice, it's a marketing thing. I would cut out all drinks except water (and whatever milk he has). Maybe he's just not very thirsty?

also you have mentioned using a 'cup' - perhaps use a different type, he might find another one easier? tommee tippee first sippy cups are generally hits as far as DS and his friends go.