what does your toddler drink? Refusing to have water now...

[KathrynK]

She's going through a bit of a fussy phase and refusing to drink water- takes a sip and then hands the cup back to me, shaking her head and saying "no". It would be funny if the weather wasn't so hot and I need her to drink more, not less!
We tried some super- diluted squash which she loves, and her fluid intake tripled instantly, but she has now developed a head- to- toe all- over blotchy rash and after a trip to the dr we think it's the squash that's doing it. 
So what does your lo drink? Any ideas please!!!!

[Caroline-Charlies Mummy]

Ds drinks super-diluted apple juice. Proper juice not squash or concentrated, and not orange b/c it gives him a runny bum

[Tamara]

Squash can have not so nice ingredients added to it which possibly your DD reacted to?

How about a Hi-Juice - that's made with 50%  fruit juice but of course - check the rest of the ingredients.

What I would suggest is pure fruit juice diluted to at least 50/50 - very healthy and no nasty additives/sweetners/colourings etc.

Or if she likes, how about some milk?

[yaya]

mostly water here. DS went through the same phase, worsened when he realised I was worried so I stopped insisting. What he LOVED tho was the water bottles with the spout thing, you know the 'sports srink type ' ones . Evian, volivc etc. Over here there is bottle water for babies so we give him mineral water but if you're worried about the salt u can tip the ebvian out and put in boiled water.
Othwerwise I give fruit juice, 100% natural

[macsmum]

my ds also loves to drink his water from mummys bottles, he just loves the sports cap on those bottles although if he squeezes the bottles he gets wet

[Caroline-Charlies Mummy]

Oh yeah, we do that too! Only way we can get him to drink water

[KathrynK]

well she always wants some of mummy's when I have a bottle of water so that's a really good idea!
I will try juice- does it always have to be diluted? Or can she have some straight from the carton at this age (17mo)?

She has always been really particular about her milk and absolutely will not have it from a sippy so we are still on wake up and bedtime 9oz bottles each day. So I don't think I'll get anywhere with milk unfortunately. 

Am off to Sainsbury's in a minute so will check the ingredients on some squashes and the Hi-Juice. I think you are right, Awel, she has reacted to something in the squash. It's Robinson's fruit and barley so I thought that would be ok very diluted but I guess not. I am allergic to tons of stuff so I guess she is taking after me! thanks for the ideas everyone xxxx

[Caroline-Charlies Mummy]

If it's freshly squeezed, pure juice, (not from concentrate), then it should be safe for her. You can try it undiluted, ds has it sometimes, but it's a little harsh on his tummy - and diluting's a good way of getting water in, anyway

[nwmm]

I give my lo the amount of milk she needs, but I water it down with water.  Maybe sounds cruel, but she doesn't drink enough water and has a constipation problem when I don't.

Another idea is to have your lo drink small glasses of liquid out of tiny plastic or paper disposable cups.  In the US we may call them bathroom drinking cups.

My lo likes to drink out of shot glasses or small glass votive candle holders (they look like shot glasses).  They are perfect for their little hands.  We learned that trick from the Montessori schools.

Some lo like to drink from straws. 

Someone else mentioned the sports drinking spouts.  If you lo has trouble with them, they make ones for kids that can be put on all (adult) plastic water bottles.

Somedays my lo likes cold drinks with ice cubes and other times she wants her liquids warmed up.  Maybe try both.  I was ready to give up on a particular sippy cup just this week. Then, I decided to give in and warm up her milk again.

Praise sometimes works.  We say, "cheers" and then click our glasses together.

[* Paula *]

We use either diluted Robinsons Squash or we dilute fruit juice.  TT loves fresh orange juice, but we usually save that for when he is really constipated    otherwise we dilute it to mostly water.

If you do dilute apple juice, I would watch out, as apple juice can be very constipating.

[Mom to M&M]

DD has all liquids in straw cups or sometimes practices with open cups. She has about 16-18 ounces milk a day and usually a few ounces water in the morning. After her nap and up till dinner she has diluted juice - no more than 4 ounces juice mixed with 4-5 ounces water. As Stacy said, I dilute it so she has as much liquid as she needs without filling up on juice. I alternate between V8 Fusion juices (good way to get in fruits and veggies too), white grape juice and Naked Juices (blue machine and green machine)