OT: Does anyone have a toddler that doesn't like to drink?

[Fall1]

I need help, and I know this is off topic! My DS (17 mos) hates to drink! I've tried milk, water, juice, many different types of sippy cups, straws. Nothing seems to make a difference.

Does anyone else have a kid that just doesn't like to drink and what do you do?

DS ended up in the ER on Sunday because he was getting dehydrated from a stomach bug and he makes me so nervous with his drinking habits.

Thanks!!

 

[tinkerlisa]

Holy cow I thought I was the only mom out there with this problem!
My DS(16 months) drinks but not a lot. I can give him a sippy full of juice, water or milk and it takes him all day to drink the one cup! I even tried giving him strawberry and chocolate milk. I am always scared that he will wind up dehydrated and in the hospital.
I asked his Doc about it and he says that as long as he has several wet diapers a day(which he does) then he is fine.
One of my house rules is milk with every meal. No ifs ands or buts.
At dinner, to get my son to drink, I say "ok everybody has to take a sip of their milk now!" He likes to copy his older brother with this and it seems like a game to him.
I also give him a sippy cup of water to bring to bed. I will fill it all the way and usually when I go get him in the morning, there is 3/4 of water left. These 2 things seem to help us a little bit.

Now if I can only get my 6 year old to eat more!!

 

[JasonDVC]

I need help, and I know this is off topic! My DS (17 mos) hates to drink! I've tried milk, water, juice, many different types of sippy cups, straws. Nothing seems to make a difference...

Maybe a glass of wine or a pint of Guinness is more up his alley

 

[trustknoone]

Well since Jason stole my idea Have you tried the little drink packets you add to water? Help him pour the powder in and have him shake it up and maybe the act of making it himself will help. There are also these cool straws Sip Ums is what I think they are called that have the flavor as part of straw so it flavors milk as you drink. Or maybe he just doesn't like fruity flavors, I don't really care for them myself. There are some teas in the little mix bags and Nestle makes a coffee flavor or just plan old unsweetened ice tea, decaf of course. Good luck.

 

[stsomewhere]

My DD-7 hates to drink. I am sure she eats popsicles, jello, icecream,, and soups.

She likes to eat cereal with milk.

 

[daleswife]

I had that problem. Then I started letting my 2 yr old DS help me mix his drinks. He will use the little crystal light packets and shake them in a bottle of water and he drinks strawberry or chocolate milk...(he dont like white milk). I let him squeeze the chocolate or strawberry in the milk and I put the lid on it and he shakes it. NOW HE REFUSES TO EAT!! Go figure......

 

[dislal]

I don't know what you are letting him drink out of, but could you try something else.

 

[RN01]

I've never heard of a kid dehydrating themselves. If they are thirsty they will drink...

 

[MSSANDRA]

Remember there is a lot of water in many foods. Give lots of fruits (melons are great), soups, puddings ,fruit pops etc.

We have the complet different proble. DGS ONLY wants to drink and them just milk. Picked him up from MIL today and she says he did not eat one bite today. Further questions revieled he had like 4 sippy cups full before his lunch time nap .

I refused him any milk this afternoon and he ate fine .

Toddlers... We have to love them.

 

[camlace]

I've never heard of a kid dehydrating themselves. If they are thirsty they will drink...

Any human no matter how young or old can become dehydrated. My 3 yo daughter ended up in the hospital twice this past summer due to dehydration. And she drinks A LOT....so yes it is possible for a toddler to get dehydrated especially when active as they tend to "forget" to drink because that would interrupt play time.

 

[quasar4legs]

A cup of ice maybe??

 

[Stephres]

My daughter pulled this when I took away the bottle. I thought I would go crazy or she would end up in the hospital. When I called the doctor's, they told me not to worry about it, but it's easy for them to say!

She would never drink from those sippy/straw cups so I bought a bunch of different kinds of things. What she liked was the spout tops from the little bottle of waters, which I found out after 4 days of not drinking! And water fountains, loved water fountains and I hurt my back lifting her up and down.

Advice? I guess not to beat yourself up about it and keep trying different things. Now she is six and drinks plenty, so don't give up hope. I am wishing you good luck!

 

[brockash]

Mine drinks, just doesn't eat. She's 20 months and has only gained about a pound and a half since she was 12 months old. She has to go to the Dr. more often now to monitor it. I don't know what it is, but she just hardly eats anything.

Did your toddler drink okay from a bottle? Just wondering if maybe it's the cup he doesn't like or if it's more of not liking to drink. If he drank okay from a bottle, maybe if it's getting so bad that he's getting dehydrated you could give him bottles time to time... I don't know it really seems like that would cause problems, but if he's getting dehydrated; I'm not sure what else would work. Have you talked to your Dr.?

Also, when I first took my DD off the bottle, she wouldn't drink much either (only wanted a bottle.) I had bought all thse cute Disney sippy cups, but she wouldn't touch them. I found a type of sippy cup that she would use though... I'm not sure of the name, but the sippy part (part they drink from) is soft as oppose to the hard plastic. I know the cups are sold at Target and walmart- they're are no characters on them... I think they have a design of a boat on some of them and the colors I have seen are pink, green and blue...I would try that- I think it says on the cup it's for 9 months and up, but those are still the only cups she'll use.