Refusing water!

[HKateH]

My seven month old refuses any water I offer him, even after a meal when I imagine he *must* be thirsty! He's formula fed. My mum said I was the same - so bad in fact that she caved and gave me juice as I literally wouldn't drink anything. I still hate water and rarely get thirsty. My mum keeps suggesting a drop if juice in the water but I'd really like LO to get a taste for water, certainly whilst he's so young.

My thoughts are to persevere but I'm worried he doesn't drink enough (although he's still drinking at least six ounces of milk four times a day). Anyone else have this problem? Did it get better?

 

[MindUtopia]

My daughter didn't accept any water from a sippy cup until 8 months. Even now it's just a few sips after some meals and she doesn't always want it. As long as they're getting plenty of fluids from milk, it's fine. I wouldn't go trying to sweeten it. A thirsty baby will drink water if they want it.

You might try offering it in a different sort of cup though. We tried one kind of sippy cup (the kind you have to suck on to get any water out) and she didn't understand how it worked. Switched to free flow cup and it was much easier for her. Some babies also do better with a doidy cup style one, as they can see the water and understand what's going on.

 

[sillysapling]

Due to constipation, our pediatrician advised us to give our baby water and watered down apple juice as needed- which our baby would drink (the first few times were a little funny- he looked so betrayed and when we offered the real bottle, he'd give us a suspicious look). We haven't needed it in a while,a nd now he won't drink anything except formula.

I'm the same as you- but also agree that a thirsty baby will drink water. Water actually used to give me a stomach ache, but when I exercised or had a long play under the hot sun- I'd guzzle water down happily even as a child.

What temperature is the water? It may be too warm or too cold. If you're getting it out of hte fridge, it might be that your baby doesn't like such cold water, for example. See if temperature matters at all. That's the only thing I can think.

Good luck- I don't know what you can do to force it. My mom could never get me to drink more water, and I completely understand your desire to instill healtheir habits in your child.

 

[Darlin65]

If your child is formula fed they actually don't need the extra water. If you are trying to combat things like constipation just try watering down a bottle or two and then giving an extra small one to add back in the calories. Our son wouldn't drink anything really except for formula until after 1yr when we switched him to reg milk. He then would only take that. Just recently in the past couple of months did I get him weaned off all the milk and get him to eat more reg meals and take juice and water. I had to start watering down his milk. Then we stopped offering as much milk. Now he eats a ton (even steals my food ) drinks any sort of juice and water with a cup or two of milk a day

 

[HKateH]

So yesterday LO had a good drink of water after his dinner and I was so pleased. Then he promptly threw the whole lot up LOL (reflux baby). I guess I'll just keep offering!

I boil the water fresh and let it cool so he tends to drink it tepid. I offer it to him, not necessarily as hydration but because I think his mouth must get a little dry after he's eaten. I suppose if he refuses it, he mustn't be thirsty!

 

[sillysapling]

So yesterday LO had a good drink of water after his dinner and I was so pleased. Then he promptly threw the whole lot up LOL (reflux baby). I guess I'll just keep offering!

I boil the water fresh and let it cool so he tends to drink it tepid. I offer it to him, not necessarily as hydration but because I think his mouth must get a little dry after he's eaten. I suppose if he refuses it, he mustn't be thirsty!

What's he eating? For bread/toast, that sort of thing- I can understand the concern. For fruit/veg and cereal- there may be enough liquids in that water isn't necessary. You can also give the bottle after (or maybe half before half after) eating solids if you're worried about that.

If your child is formula fed they actually don't need the extra water. If you are trying to combat things like constipation just try watering down a bottle or two and then giving an extra small one to add back in the calories. Our son wouldn't drink anything really except for formula until after 1yr when we switched him to reg milk. He then would only take that. Just recently in the past couple of months did I get him weaned off all the milk and get him to eat more reg meals and take juice and water. I had to start watering down his milk. Then we stopped offering as much milk. Now he eats a ton (even steals my food ) drinks any sort of juice and water with a cup or two of milk a day

We now water down every bottle . We measure formula intake ignoring the additional water, and kiddo has always eaten the right amount. Gaining healthily, growing like a weed- the additional 1-2 oz of water per feed are not replacing any calories. It just helps ward off constipation, which kiddo is horribly prone to, and means I don't have to worry about dehydration, which I'm horribly prone to. This is probably why they won't drink anything else anymore- hasn't had to in a few months.

I do wish kiddo would drink other things, see if a bit of chamomile tea will help sometimes or a bit of apple juice for when the solids cause constipation.

 

[HKateH]

Today he ate: toasted teacake, apple and banana for breakfast, two mini rice crackers for a snack and pasta with tomato, garlic, spinach and a bit of cheese for dinner. He had a kiwi fruit for dessert. I guess he isn't thirsty after his meals as he eats a lot of fruit! The only thing is, I do worry about the salt content when he has toast or crumpets (although I do but the ones with a lower content) and I would feel better if he'd drink something!

 

[sillysapling]

While he's so young, you should just add more water to the formula if you're worried about dehydration. Continue offering water (who knows, one day he may go for it) because you want him to get used to the taste, but if he's not drinking it, it's better to make sure he's getting enough water even in formula just for your peace of mind than to risk him not getting enough to drink. People (including adults) can be dehydrated to the point of having mild health effects without realizing, many people misinterpret thirst for hunger sometimes. Your baby probably isn't doing too badly, so doesn't think he needs the water, but DOES still need a little bit more.

When he's a little older and understands things more, you can make more of a point of making sure he drinks water, but it's difficult to force an infant to do anything. Again, offer water regularly so that he'll still be used to the taste and if he decides to start drinking it, all the better- but right now I think it's better to ensure your baby is getting enough fluids even if it means adding water to formula than to try and push drinking water.

 

[nevernormal]

Try giving it to him another way. My son LOVES to have sips of water from my water bottle, with a sports cap on it! Obviously he can't drink it buy himself and we only give him a few drops here & there, but since having it from there he also likes trying to drink a sip from his doidy cup or even from our cups (we help obviously). I don't have a sippy cup for him.

 

[Rachel_C]

At 7 months I wouldn't worry at all. Just make sure it's there if he does want it and leave him to it, unless there is a problem like constipation. If he's fine, he's just taking what he needs.

You could try some fun ways to drink if you do want/need to encourage it. Straws have always gone down well with my kids, as have ice cubes to swirl around or suck (or ice lollies when it's warm enough). Different cups are worth trying - my oldest was really fussy but my youngest doesn't care. Let him play with cups in the bath too - drinking bath water won't hurt him (maybe leave out any chemically bath stuff!) and it'll help him enjoy drinking from a cup as well as practice without worrying about mess. Sometimes I could swear my kids get half their daily fluid intake in the bath .

As a side note, do you need to boil water? I wouldn't bother unless you have something nasty in your water that needs killing. You need to boil water for formula to kill anything lurking in the milk, the water itself should be fine if it's drinking water.

 

[HKateH]

At 7 months I wouldn't worry at all. Just make sure it's there if he does want it and leave him to it, unless there is a problem like constipation. If he's fine, he's just taking what he needs.

You could try some fun ways to drink if you do want/need to encourage it. Straws have always gone down well with my kids, as have ice cubes to swirl around or suck (or ice lollies when it's warm enough). Different cups are worth trying - my oldest was really fussy but my youngest doesn't care. Let him play with cups in the bath too - drinking bath water won't hurt him (maybe leave out any chemically bath stuff!) and it'll help him enjoy drinking from a cup as well as practice without worrying about mess. Sometimes I could swear my kids get half their daily fluid intake in the bath .

As a side note, do you need to boil water? I wouldn't bother unless you have something nasty in your water that needs killing. You need to boil water for formula to kill anything lurking in the milk, the water itself should be fine if it's drinking water.

HA at the bath water! And I'm not sure about boiling water - I always just assumed it was necessary!

 

[sillysapling]

It's a good idea to boil and/or filter any water you give them- especially if you dont' know what's in your tap water. A good filter is a good idea even if you boil it as well, it can get things out that boiling alone won't. Bacteria aren't the only thing you have to worry about it water. I would NOT give our baby straight tap water here- I don't drink it myself, either.