Does anyone have any strategies to get a 10 month old interested in drinking water?

Question

My 10 month old has just recovered from a bad bout of the stomach flu. He's better and well-hydrated, but I really want him to get used to drinking water to stay hydrated (yes, he had pedialyte while he was sick but only if we squirted it in his mouth...he didn't like it either). He just isn't interested in water. We've tried adding a little fruit juice. No dice. Any other strategies? Should I just let it go? He eats lots of fruit so I know he gets water that way. He drinks formula pretty much exclusively (he eats LOTS of solid foods).

Answer 1

If you wait until he is ready for it, he'll take it willingly and easily. He just isn't interested yet, and he doesn't need it, so there's no reason to try to *make* him interested.

Answer 2

Other than pedialyte, 10 months old should not be drinking any other kind of drink, including gatorade or freezepops or even fruit 2 0 because of high sugar and chemical content and can cause SEVERE allergic reactions. Pedialyte is specially made for babies and toddlers whose system isn't as advanced as ours. So, PLEASE, don't give him that other stuff. My daughter is 8 months old and she also got sick with a little flu. Luckily it wasn't too bad. Since you son is eating fruit and food, while still drinking lots of formula you don't have to worry about introducing more water into his diet. He actual is getting plenty to stay hydrated. Just make sure to keep him cool now that it is summer time and that you are being sun smart. If you are still worried, try giving him an 8 ounce bottle, with only 1 scoop of formula. But if you think about it, when you give a child an 8 ounce bottle of formula, they are still getting those 8 ounces, PLUS the added nutrients of formula. If you are worried though, call the pediatrician. They way recommend something better, or tell you he is fine. GOOD LUCK!!! And I hope he is feeling a lot better.

Answer 3

Maybe try to dilute the formula down a lot so it is mainly water but has some of the taste and look of milk. But I am sure that if he is drinking his formula his is being well hydrated. Hope this helps!!

Answer 4

We didn't offer our children juice until they were 2 yrs old. They drank either milk or water. We drank the same. So our kids love water and will now request it over juice. Maybe try drinking a lot of water yourself and make it look like it quenches your thirst. But, I think they say that clear juice is the next best thing?

Answer 5

When I started working out I realized I would have to cut out sodas if I wanted to make any progress. I tried going straight to water but found its lack of taste very unappealing. I found that the flavored waters provided by Dannon was a nice way to make a smooth transition. They come in many flavors such as peach or strawberry. Pay attention to the additives though. Gatorade makes one too but it has more artificial ingredients and even sugars. Good luck!

Answer 6

Try giving water at just one meal a day. Make it the only option. It'll take a while and he'll let u know he don't like the idea, just remind him that he only has to drink water with JUST one meal. Get a really cool cup like bob the builder or whoever he like. Don't force just only offer water. He'll eventually drink it.

Also, with my 6 year old afte 5 pm it's water only. He doesn't like it but he does it now with no complaints.

It's a good habit to build-- good for u

Answer 7

For 10 month old, I still think milk is the best and fruit is the second best. If he consumes a lot of milk or fruit, he will stay hydrated. Please do not try to add juice to water now. When my baby was about 8 months old, my in-law worried that she did not have enough water (eventhough she drank lots of milk but they thought water makes her bowel movement runs easier), so they introduced juice to her and she likes juice so much that she refused to drink milk. It got harder and harder to get her to drink milk and she did not gain weight to a desirable level. So, please do not feed him any juice until he is about two. (As earlier answer also suggests.) Feed him as much fruit as he wants and try to feed him lots of milk too. Thank you.

Answer 8

i have a 19 month old, but shes not picky at all so its hard for me to answer that question, although i can throw out a suggestion and maybe it will work for u. Have u tried adding a little sugar to the water? All u can do is try it out, but it sounds like ur doing pretty good at trying things out. good luck to u.

Answer 9

Ice, Icepoles etc,
Make your own with what ever you want.
When my son was sick in hospital with bad stomach bug we ended up giving him coke to get him drinking again - he drank it because he knows he's not allowed it he only had a little but it got him drinking again.
But the icepoles work great to keep them hydrated as a first option. and can also help with slight fever.
Just wrap a teatowel around it so its not so cold on hands.

Answer 10

I would ask your pediatrician if there is any nutritional value in those fruit flavored waters. And if so, your child might like those Fruit 2 O waters. Or maybe some Vitamin water or Vita Water, whatever they're called.

Answer 11

Try this.....He should be able to drink out of a sippy cup by now, so fill one sippy cup full of water (try it cold) and then another with like ONE OR TWO ounce of formula...put them both in front of him, and he might choose the water....just a suggestion.