2 year old DD doesn't drink! - Really worried!

[Liviam]

Once again I'm in desperate need for some help ladies. DD is 2 1/2 years old and she doesn't drink. She has never been a big drinker but since starting TT I've noticed how little she drinks/wees.
She has juice, water, cordial, milk all available to her and in different cups but she doesn't drink. I make sure that all her drinks are on her little table so she has no trouble access them. I continuousy offer her drinks but she refuses. So far today she has had a few mouthfuls of juice for breakfast and a few mouthfuls of water now. This is prettty standard for her. I'm really starting to worry, especially with the days getting hotter and hotter. Each night at bed time she has 150ml bottle of milk.
How much does a 2 year old need to drink? But more importantly HOW DO I GET MY 2 YEAR OLD TO DRINK?!?!?!?!

Thanks in advance from a very stressed out mum.

[em...]

sorry can't help you on how much a 2yr old is supposed to drink. but maybe you can try giving her home made frozen icy poles especially since it's getting warmer- you could even do them with plain water to see if she has it that way.

Hopefully someone else may be able to give you some more advice/help.

[KatieRabbit]

My nearly 2 year old needs a cup put to her mouth to get her to drink! One of my strategies is to let her play outside with water and straws and different bottles and she will drink that water either thru straws or from bottles, plastic measuring cups etc. It is not a long term solution nor does she drink heaps but any amount helps. I put a fresh bowl (Large plastic mixing bowl) on her little table outside and she plays with it and drinks it for ages.
You have obviously tried diff drinks. Milkshakes- milk and flavoring that you make at home? Try lots of juicy fruits? Fancy straws like the hoopy ones in the Reject Shop? Drinking from a glass like mum? Just some ideas....

[ss_storm]

Will she drink if you make it 'fun'...i.e. get some silly straws or something she can play around with while she is drinking, or you can both 'share' a drink (mum pretends to have some, then it's time for her to have a little drink, you could also try doing this if she has a favourite teddy/doll..pretend to offer teddy a drink then say it's time for your drink). Maybe she's just not a huge drinker? I know I struggle to drink as much water as I should, in which case maybe iceblocks are the best way to go as she's eating it rather than drinking but still having fluids.

[feeb]

I struggle to get my 16 month old to drink also.

He prefers to play with water and shake cup all over place instead, What I do is make sure he has a yougurt at lunch and at dinner to know he has some fluids. He will not drink milk from bottle or cup (i have most cups on market LOL).

I like idea of offering ice blocks, you can water, milk, juice ones.

[Rivlas]

Watermelon is great as it contains alot of liquid. If you put liquid in her bottle during the day will she drink that? Juice in the form of tetra packs are a good (bribe) as they are different. At the start of each meal offer a drink before food as sometimes they are too full after a meal to drink. Also at meal time a special drink like you have, juice, can sometimes do the trick.
The icypole idea is worth a try, just freeze juice, yoghurt etc.

[sconeonamission]

My ds is the same. Poppers seem to be the favoirite here ATM but I buy the pop top ones so I can fill it with water ( and maybe the tiniest bit of cordial for flavouring). He'll drink tea (of all things) til it comes out of his eyeballs if he had his way, but it's dehydrating (I thought), so that's only a treat. Getting ready for bed, he'd drink up to almost 500ml of milk. But we've ditched the bottle now so I don't know how much he drinks.

He drinks HEAPS of bath water lol

[Mezzz]

My 2 yr old is exactly the same! I just offer him watermelon and grapes during the day he will have a sip her or there but if I give him a sippy cup etc he will take big sips and dribble it on the floor for fun... He also happily drinks bath water!

[Ozziehoffy]

I found that Oskar wasn't drinking a lot either. I can certainly notice in his poos how much he has or hasn't drunk the day before. So, I've explained to him that he needs to drink water so he doesn't get hard poos and it seems to help a little bit and he's drinking a bit more now. He's 2 1/2 so they do "get it". I also don't say have a drink usually, I just get his cup and put it in front of his face and he'll either take a sip or a big drink. I think they don't like to know they're doing it sometimes lol. That's the only thing I can offer, it's hard to make them drink though isn't it.

[Nelle]

You've had some great ideas here. Can you try making it together, like making a smoothie together in the blender that she can pop the ingredients in? My ds likes putting the banana in and turning the blender on, and then we drink it together. Can you turn it into a fun social thing? Have a hot chocolate together at the table?

All the best, and let us know what ends up working for you! xo

[Liviam]

Thank you so much for the ideas ladies. I've brought some icy-poles which she is a MASSIVE fan of. I'm shoving heaps of grapes and watermelon into her and we are having milkshakes/smoothies. I'm a fan of milkshakes but my waistline isn't but hey whatever I have to do to make my DD drink (wink, wink, LOL!!).

I would never have come up with these ideas myself so a massive thankyou ladies. You've saved my sanity once again.

[Nettie]

These ideas have helped me too as my DS doesn't drink a lot either - so thanks!

One thing I've come up with is breaking up an ice block (the 99% fruit ones) into his sippy cup with water in it. It flavours the water and he shakes it around to see the ice melt. I think he also likes it colder (like I do!). My big craving when pregnant with him was ice and cold things - so I figure he'll like cold drinks!

So maybe the temperature is something to play around with too? Some kids would prefer cold, some room temp...