15 months & refusing to drink water!

[mama kare]

My 15 month old daughter refuses to drink water.

we have tried adding a tiny bit of brown sugar to the water, a bit of cordial (and although this worked i didnt continue it because it is so bad for her teeth) :no:

we offer her a bottle of water and she will drink 10-20 mls before throwing the bottle away in disgust!

the only way we are managing to get water into her is by giving her a bottle with watered down formula so it has the milk flavour..

she also refuses to drink from a cup (the kind toddlers hold with handles and a spout).. is there any way we can help her with this? as offering her the cup just isnt working - usually ends up in her throwing the cup over the other side of the room in a tantrum :(

kare.

[the pero clinic]

Dear Mama Kare,

Leaving the sugar and cordial out of your daughter’s water is a positive move for her teeth. A small amount of formula powder is a much healthier alternative. Continue, however, to offer plain water where possible – as the days become hotter she may be more motivated to take it.

It is possible that she is refusing the spout cup as they can be very difficult to drink from when they have a valve. Bubs and toddlers can find them quite frustrating. On the other hand, spout cups without valves can flow quite quickly – and when tipped right back when drinking, the liquid can take little ones by surprise and is difficult to swallow.

Perhaps try to offer a small regular (open) cup – like you would drink from. Little ones are usually very interested in what the grown-ups around them do. If need be, let her see you drink from a small plastic cup – the same type that you would offer to her.

Sit with your daughter while offering a cup and wait for her to move towards the cup, instead of tipping it straight into her mouth. Let the water gently move towards her lips so she doesn’t get a fright. Some biting / chewing / sucking the water is common when first learning.

Be patient and persistent. It is really good that you are encouraging cup drinking instead of bottle drinking at her age.

the pero clinic