How can I get my daughter to drink water?

Elaine - posted on 11/08/2009

Hi. You don't say how old she is. I agree with the other moms who have said that small babies don't need additional water. I started giving my daughter water sometimes at around 7-8 months. I gave it to her in a sippy cup or just a regular plastic cup. She liked the novelty of holding it herself. Now she only takes water in a cup, I cannot give her milk in the same cups. She rejects it! LOL Be patient. Just stick with plain water. It's better than adding sugar or juice to it. Good luck.

Gwen - posted on 11/02/2009

formula is almost entirely water, so at this stage, she shouldn't need any extra. as long as she's drinking her bottles, i wouldn't even worry about it.

Eyta - posted on 11/02/2009

Hi all....its not easy for kids drink some water, but u can use a shrink to help her drink a water, maybe u can put a little bit a sugar but not too much...avoid from giving her a candy/sweets or carbonates drinking....how old your daugther acctually?...n dont give up......

Cristela - posted on 11/01/2009

put ice in her sippy cup or water bottle she will find it interesting...

Shameema - posted on 11/01/2009

get her colourful bottle/ if she is more than 9m get her to choose a eiter water bottle o sipping cup o a mug . that may help .

all the best

Rachel - posted on 10/31/2009

if she is still drinking from a bottle put the water in the bottle instead and offer it to her. you will have to keep offering it but my daughter did it and thats all she drinks (besides milk of course)

Karen - posted on 10/31/2009

Small babies really don't need water. When your daughter starts drinking juices, rather than give her all that sugar there is something from Minute Maid called Fruit Falls which is mostly water with just a tiny splash of juice in it to sweeten the water. Plus - she will only consume 5 calories rather than the 120+ that most juices contain due to all the sugar! My 5 year old doesn't drink juice hardly at all anymore - he LOVES those pouches of water and will even sometimes grab regular water! Hope this helps!

Carla - posted on 10/31/2009

Hey, i hardly ever write on here but thought i would for this post because i had months of frustration!!! The thing that worked for my daughter was just putting cold water on the floor in a beaker while she was playing, she ignored it a lot but then eventually she was enjoying herself playing so much she just picked it up and drank, i think she'd forgotten how stubborn she'd been and didn't think about it and just did it... i'm talking a couple months so you just have to be patient with her, always use the same beaker and just water cos if you use squash it might just be the taste of that that she's not liking. Good luck xx

Paula - posted on 10/31/2009

i use 2 give my daughter a drink of water when she was due 4 a feed,she would take abit of water and then have her bottle.

Shandrena - posted on 10/31/2009

Hey there, hope that this message reaches you and your family well. I use Organic Agave Nectar, its a natural sweetner from the agave plant, and it puts you in the mind of tea. (http://caloriecount.about.com/agave-nect... As some one else commented earlier, try it in a glass, they love to drink out of what you drink out of.

Angela - posted on 10/31/2009

i used to put a tiny bit of sugar (just a pinc) in with the water to give it a kittke taste. as she got used to it i did less and less til she had just plain water. It didnt take long since it was such a small amount and now at 14 she drinks nothing but water. good luck!

Jackie - posted on 10/31/2009

When I wanted my little ones to drink water, I offered it BEFORE I started feeding them. When they are hungry they will take whatever is offered (even if it's just a few sips!), then on to the food. We also put ice in their sippy cups, while they try to figure out what is moving in their cups, they usually sip out of it.

Amber - posted on 10/31/2009

My daughter likes to drink room temperature water, which lead to picking water over anything when we go out to eat.

Kimberly - posted on 10/31/2009

Hello, they have water for yound babies, sometimes they will not drink the water we drink. So you can go to the grocery store and take it, and if that do not work you should consult your doctor. I hope that this helps, talk to you later

Anne - posted on 10/31/2009

Hello,my daughter has just had her 1st baby,I used to give my children water if they were a little unsettled in-between feeds,with a touch of sugar in it,the health visitor told us to give the baby water if shes unsettled,everyone tells you different things,you dont know who to listen to,just keep trying with a little water,if your baby has a teaspoon of water its better than none, anne

Sarah Helaine - posted on 10/31/2009

hi sarah here. got 4, aged 8-2. not sure of age but can try ice lollies to get fluid in or watery veg like cucumber to chew on. handle on bottle so she can do it herself may help and loads of praise for trying it. One of mine isn't keen on plain water either, but thats all thats on offer at night and she will drink it reluctantly. Have it always available as once she can see others have it she will try. Even tinies can be observant. Good luck, you will find an drink that she will like. And if all else fails water down the formula. If you're flexible and relaxed about it, it will be alright.

sarah

Riche - posted on 10/30/2009

All the moms said a lot of similar stuff. When she starts w/ solids introduce water and diluted (100% fruit) juice to her diet. If you are nursing, once finished only vitamin D milk. At present time, aside from her formula milk, all other time she is thirsty, only give her water. If she is thirsty enough she will drink it.

Meri - posted on 10/30/2009

try a straw....worked for both my boys! besides you skip the sippy cup and it is better for their teeth!

Laura - posted on 10/30/2009

for my boys i introduced cup with half water and juice.. worked great.. they both took cups at 8-9 mos.. and got some water along with it

April - posted on 10/30/2009

I would add a very very small amount of the flavored powder (ie fruit punch, grape). It's like crystal light but you can get different brands. My son liked the little bit of flavor it added.

Susan - posted on 10/30/2009

Not sure how old your daughter is, but most children don't really need water until they are not drinking much formula. They get so much from formula, they don't need more liquid.

Tiffany - posted on 10/30/2009

you could also add a pinch of lemon juice into the water just to change the taste- try pinches of other fruits if needed. I made sure my daughter had water from birth even though she was breast-fed so she got used to the taste and she loves it.

Elisa - posted on 10/30/2009

Hi everyone - all your comments are really helpful! Think I am going to post a question on here every time I have a parenting dilemma from now on!!! :-)



For those who asked, Lucia is 4 months. I've been told that I should try to give her additional water now that she is on formula. You've given me lots of things to try, so thanks again xx

Jackie - posted on 10/30/2009

I started my son on water at 5 months old. He is now 9 and chooses water over most offered beverages. When I first started him on water, I added a little sugar to it. Then I slowly started weening the sugar out until it was just plain water. I know that the thought of sugar seems bad, but it was effective. It also helped with the thrush that a lot of babies get because he wouldn't have formula sitting in his mouth throughout the night. I also think that it helped him sleep the whole night. Hope this was helpful. :)

Linda - posted on 10/30/2009

How old is your baby because, when I had all my children it was some years ago. They were given water at the hospital in between feeding so that adjusted to it.

Alison - posted on 10/30/2009

Just wanted to add that your daughter looks beautiful!

Jennifer - posted on 10/30/2009

Maybe try letting her drink from a regular cup - with some help if needed. My son is 6 months old now and always wants to take a sip of my water if I'm holding him while I get a drink.

Keri - posted on 10/30/2009

My son is 14 months and starting a sippy cup, I add a small amount of crushed ice in the cup so the rattle keeps his intrest and he seems to think it something special. LOL

Sarah - posted on 10/30/2009

What is she drinking the water out of? Have you tried sippy cups? My daughter is 10months and will only drink small amount of water at time. She drinks more when I let her have some of my water. She wants what I have. Maybe you could try giving her some of your water.

Sunni - posted on 10/30/2009

If your child is under 10 months my doc said that the water in breast milk or formula is enough to keep them well hidrated. If older I would suggest offering only water after 7 or 8pm this will help with the health of their teeth as well. If she is thirsty she will drink it. also just placing a bottle or sippy of water with her meal. This way if she is eating crackers she will crave something to drink and guess what is right there and ready..

Gwen - posted on 10/30/2009

we didn't really introduce water until she was around a year old. just put some in a sippy cup that she can drag around with her. from time to time, she may get curious and try a little. my daughter was not really interested in juice either until recently (19 mos.). try not to worry. she will get plenty of fluids through formula and other foods.

Brandie - posted on 10/30/2009

Check with your pediatrician. You didn't say how old she is, but she may not even need water at this point. Any juice you give her should be after she is willing to take water regularly---if not, she may forever refuse the water! You should dilute the juice with water so she doesn't get too much sugar. No orange juice yet; it has too much acid. Good luck.

Stephanie - posted on 10/30/2009

How old is your daughter?! When I started my daughter on cereal and jar foods (around 4 months) I started introducing water and diluted juice with a sippy cup and also a bottle. At times they are hungry is a good time to add in some extra hydration. They are more willing to take whatever you offer if they are hungry. Good luck!

Katarina - posted on 10/30/2009

Try a wet,sterile wash cloth for her to suck on. My Dr. is a little "old school" and suggested putting a pinch of sugar in my son's water bottle.