Help me make my kid drink liquids

[minismama]

DD (3.5) has never been a big liquid drinker.  Since about 1, I feel like the most liquid she would ever drink a day was 2 sippy cups worth of milk.  And that was on a rare, good day.  Normally it will take her the entire day to finish a sippy cup.

Lately, she doesn't really want milk.  Or water.  Or anything.  She will ask me for a juice box (I buy the water/fruit ones), but I tell her those are for school lunch only. 

I tried flavored water even though I don't want to be adding that stuff to her water but I don't know what else to do. 

She doesn't pee often (she was super easy to potty train).  I would say she pees maybe 3/4 times a day, and sleeps 12 hours without going to the bathroom once.  Her pee is never clear because she doesn't drink enough water.

I have asked the doctor but they say as long as she is peeing, she is drinking enough. 

But I don't think 8 oz of fluid is enough a day.

Do I just let her drink juice boxes all day when she asks?  She will literally ask for one and I will give it for lunch, and then put it in the fridge and she will finish it for dinner.

Any ideas? 

[quesyrah]

What about flavoring water with fruit? DS like strawberries or blackberries in his water

[Kcthepouchh8r]

I was just going to say fruit flavored water. What about ice cubes made with juice to make water more fun? Homemade Popsicles?

[gastro]

Mar 16, 2015 9:47:44 GMT -5 Kcthepouchh8r said:

I was just going to say fruit flavored water. What about ice cubes made with juice to make water more fun? Homemade Popsicles?

This. Also, since she's 3.5 could you explain to her the importance of drinking water for her body?
If she likes watermelon - that's a good fruit for water content.

[lala]

My kids love drinking water with fruit in it and even mint leaves. Would a water bottle help? Or a reusable straw cup like the ones adults use for iced coffee? My kids also love Drinking out of mason jars with cuppow lids. (Turns it into a grown up sippy cup.

[nowa]

FWIW my daughter only pees 3-4 times a day and I'm not generally concerned about her liquid intake.

[lala]

I have no idea how often my 3.5 year old pees.

[minismama]

Mar 16, 2015 10:10:06 GMT -5 nowa said:

FWIW my daughter only pees 3-4 times a day and I'm not generally concerned about her liquid intake.

I'm only concerned because her pee (TMI I'm sure) is like bright bright yellow and often smells like really strong pee, instead of being clear like it should be.  That's why I pay attention to how often she goes. 

[nowa]

Mar 16, 2015 10:14:28 GMT -5 minismama said:

Mar 16, 2015 10:10:06 GMT -5 nowa said:

FWIW my daughter only pees 3-4 times a day and I'm not generally concerned about her liquid intake.

I'm only concerned because her pee (TMI I'm sure) is like bright bright yellow and often smells like really strong pee, instead of being clear like it should be.  That's why I pay attention to how often she goes. 

Gotcha. That would worry me too. What if you got her a water bottle with some character she's really into? We just got thermos straw bottles with Doc McStuffins and Frozen.

[gennyu]

DS will often go without drinking unless he is prompted because he is so busy/distracted. Then at bedtime he realizes he's thirsty and wants to drink a ton of water, which doesn't work too well as you can imagine.

The solution we have arrived at is offering him a full drink to have when he is watching a show (twice per day). It took a little urging at first ("you need to have your drink while you are watching, if you don't have your drink the TV is going off") but now he knows the drill and almost always drink most if not all of it.

Of course he can always have a drink at other times throughout the day and I also prompt him after physical activity, etc. but the TV thing seems to work best for us.  It guarantees he is at least getting 16 oz per day.

[Kcthepouchh8r]

Have you tried fruit infused coconut water with her? If the other stuff didn't work I'd be comfortable giving those multiple times a day vs juice boxes. Honestly though if nothing worked I think appropriate kidney function trumps the sugar of juice (assuming you brush teeth afterwards) so I'd give juice boxes over dehydration.

[minismama]

Mar 16, 2015 10:44:05 GMT -5 Kcthepouchh8r said:

Have you tried fruit infused coconut water with her? If the other stuff didn't work I'd be comfortable giving those multiple times a day vs juice boxes. Honestly though if nothing worked I think appropriate kidney function trumps the sugar of juice (assuming you brush teeth afterwards) so I'd give juice boxes over dehydration.

Yes!  These are what I give her.  They are a coconut water mix thing, but they are in juice boxes. 

[minismama]

Mar 16, 2015 10:19:47 GMT -5 nowa said:

Mar 16, 2015 10:14:28 GMT -5 minismama said:

I'm only concerned because her pee (TMI I'm sure) is like bright bright yellow and often smells like really strong pee, instead of being clear like it should be.  That's why I pay attention to how often she goes. 

Gotcha. That would worry me too. What if you got her a water bottle with some character she's really into? We just got thermos straw bottles with Doc McStuffins and Frozen.

I'm going to let her pick a "big girl" one maybe.  Since she will show interest in what I'm drinking.   I have tried characters (but she doesn't really like any tv shows and may be the only kid who didn't go nuts for frozen) and even personalized.  Maybe if I do one more like mine...with a normal straw it will work. 

[minismama]

Mar 16, 2015 10:38:40 GMT -5 gennyu said:

DS will often go without drinking unless he is prompted because he is so busy/distracted. Then at bedtime he realizes he's thirsty and wants to drink a ton of water, which doesn't work too well as you can imagine.

The solution we have arrived at is offering him a full drink to have when he is watching a show (twice per day). It took a little urging at first ("you need to have your drink while you are watching, if you don't have your drink the TV is going off") but now he knows the drill and almost always drink most if not all of it.

Of course he can always have a drink at other times throughout the day and I also prompt him after physical activity, etc. but the TV thing seems to work best for us.  It guarantees he is at least getting 16 oz per day.

I like this idea.  Thanks!

[toastie]

What about freezing water with a bit of juice in it till its a slushie? Then she can eat it with a spoon.  Maybe the novelty will entice her to eat it?

or giving her herbal tea in a teacup and having tea parties while you have coffee or tea yourself.

[Deleted]

How about smoothies made with coconut water? DS loves those. Also she could Prob help pick ingredients and it might be fun for her.

Also try foods high in water content too.

GL!

[minismama]

Mar 16, 2015 13:23:21 GMT -5 @itsbritt said:

How about smoothies made with coconut water? DS loves those. Also she could Prob help pick ingredients and it might be fun for her.

Also try foods high in water content too.

GL!

We do smoothies often and she loves them.  I going to get those big liters of coconut water to add to them.  Thanks!

[Deleted]

Mar 16, 2015 13:57:18 GMT -5 minismama said:

Mar 16, 2015 13:23:21 GMT -5 @itsbritt said:

How about smoothies made with coconut water? DS loves those. Also she could Prob help pick ingredients and it might be fun for her.

Also try foods high in water content too.

GL!

We do smoothies often and she loves them.  I going to get those big liters of coconut water to add to them.  Thanks!

If you have a Costco, they have good deals on 6 packs of coconut water and I have heard good things about the trader Joe's brand too!

[NandaB]

I bribe Gregory. We have a book called Potter the Otter, or something like that about the importance of drinking water, and we talk about that,but I totally bribe him too. I tell him if he finishes his water bottle (kid sized thermos with a flip up straw) he can have juice. Juice is still a novelty here, so it usually works.

[gastro]

Mar 16, 2015 16:15:08 GMT -5 NandaB said:

I bribe Gregory. We have a book called Potter the Otter, or something like that about the importance of drinking water, and we talk about that,but I totally bribe him too. I tell him if he finishes his water bottle (kid sized thermos with a flip up straw) he can have juice. Juice is still a novelty here, so it usually works.

DS just got this the other day from school. Everyone got a free copy. DS has a body book that talks about the body and it mentions all the things water does for the body. He gets how important it is to stay hydrated.

[minismama]

Mar 16, 2015 16:15:08 GMT -5 NandaB said:

I bribe Gregory. We have a book called Potter the Otter, or something like that about the importance of drinking water, and we talk about that,but I totally bribe him too. I tell him if he finishes his water bottle (kid sized thermos with a flip up straw) he can have juice. Juice is still a novelty here, so it usually works.

Love this, thanks!!

[gwapes]

Try go go juice?

[dizzycooks]

My dd has warm milk while I have my coffee. It's her "coffee" and she loves it. Sometimes I add a few chocolate chips for fun.

[minismama]

Mar 16, 2015 18:58:38 GMT -5 gwapes said:

Try go go juice?

Am I so un-hip that I don't know what this is?

[gwapes]

Mar 16, 2015 21:31:21 GMT -5 minismama said:

Mar 16, 2015 18:58:38 GMT -5 gwapes said:

Try go go juice?

Am I so un-hip that I don't know what this is?

Lol. Honey boo boo?

[mamaalysson]

DD LOVES "fancy water" (I keep a pitcher of water in the fridge with sliced cucumber and sometimes some mint leaves), and will often request that. I also keep the kids' water bottles on the table where they can get them easily. And in the fridge, next to her snack bin, I keep a water bottle, a little straw cup of milk, and another straw cup with some kind of "fancy water". She gets herself a snack multiple times throughout the day, and will often grab something to drink as well. As with all things, being able to do it herself seems to be a huge motivator ti actually doing the thing I want her to do, you know?