Getting 10 mo old to drink water

[nukuspot]

DD gets constipated and the solution I found is to have her drink water after her solid meals. She is still BF on demand and even when she doesn't ask for it I offer the breast. But she is eating more and more solids and so she does get hard stool and it's unpleasant for her. So the ped said to try to get 4oz of water in a day.

I can't even get her to drink 1oz! I've tried 3 types of sippy cups (with valves in and out alternately), 2 shot glasses, one normal stainless adult mug, and spoon feeding her water (with various spoons). The only thing that works is spoon feeding the water but it takes forever and she loses interest after about an oz. The sippys she just likes to hit on her tray and suck air through the spout without tipping to get water. If I try to tip it for her she will get mad. She shot glasses and adult mug she will drink a few sips then just stick her hands in it and play.

I also want her to get used to water as a drink not a toy because we are going to Hawaii soon and it's going to be hot---So constipation might be more of an issue there no matter how often I BF her.

Help?!

[firewoman]

Hmmm....could you possibly just give her a little of http://www.vitacost.com/Peter-Gillha...F-183405000032. You wouldn't have to force as much fluid down her gullet and magnesium is natural way to get things moving. This formula is expressly for babies. It worked great for me during pregnancy when things weren't moving normally. It is gentle and has other beneficial effects.

For cups, I have heard good things about these: http://www.toysrus.com/family/index....goryId=3945443

[Erinz]

Would she let you offer her less food? So many types of foods can be constipating for a baby. I'd be sure to not be doing grains or other fiber foods, cooked carrots, bananas. My youngest is 9 months and maybe has a taste here and there, I kinda go with the old saying "food before one is just for fun" and don't try to make meals out of it. Also, is she feeding herself to be certain she isn't being overfed? She still has a very young digestive system.

My oldest LOVED coconut water from the time he was a baby. That was a for sure way to get good hydration into him. The single serving ones (such as Vita Coco) have that easy sip area too. 10 months would be super young for a baby (well mine anyway!) to be handling cups by themselves. I can't imagine drinking unassisted cracks me up! hehe

[nukuspot]

She's self feeding, and I can't really give her less food. I just give her bits off my plate and she loves it...If I don't she will scream and then meals are no fun. So we all eat together and it's been good. I have stopped applesauce, bananas, and brown rice because they are the most constipating foods. It's mostly fruits, veggies, meats, and quinoa that she eats.

I love the idea of coconut water. I never even thought of that as an idea. I drink it myself but never thought to offer DD anything to drink but BM, water, and the occasional sip of prune juice. That's a really great one!

[Ruthie's momma]

Have you tried offering her water from a straw cup?

[AFWife]

I'll be watching this thread because we're having a similar issue with my DS. I even tried putting in a bottle yesterday and all he did was chew on the spout (I think he's forgotten how to drink from a bottle lol)

[Mama Khi]

I often use a straw to give DD water. Put the straw down in the water and put your finger over the hole to trap a little water in the straw. Then put the straw at DD's lips. My DD usually then sucks the water out. If she doesn't suck I just take my finger off the end of the straw and the water goes in her mouth and she swallows it. Obviously, I only do a little bit of water at a time. She really likes it.

[nukuspot]

Time to experiment with straws! As far as straw cups, is there an especially good one out there? (Preferably not plastic.)

[Erinz]

This is the straw cup we have

http://www.amazon.com/Foogo-Thermos-...7214562&sr=8-1

it's stainless on the inside.

[gracemamma]

What is constipation in a breastfed baby eating solids?

Just curious if I should be concerned about this too. DD is getting more into solids and hasnt pooped in about a week. Its never been an issue til this week. It seems strange that she can eat every day and drink loads of BM but still not poop! She went crazy for apple sauce earlier this week with steamed zuchini and carrot sticks until I thought about the binding issue and switched to pears instead- hven't trid H2O though-just breastmilk.

[firewoman]

Coco-biotic

I use this stuff for myself and it is AWESOME. If you want to do a coconut water AND get some beneficial flora, too, this would be good. She would only need two or three teaspoons a day.

https://shop.bodyecology.com/prodinfo.asp?number=BE301

[Louisep]

Our DS had a problem with constipation for a couple of months when he started solids. We made sure he drank plenty of prune juice - not sure if there's something wrong with that seeing as no one else has mentioned it?

Also agree with using straws.

[lifeguard]

Do you only offer water at meals? We have sippy cups with water tucked all over the place & offer them to ds often (& have for a long time now). He quickly learned to bring us a sippy cup if he was thirsty (for some reason he refuses to do it himself).

[CookAMH]

I agree about trying a straw. We haven't done that since 10 mo DS likes to drink out of a regular plastic small cup. Have you tried something that size, just a regular cup?

I also agree about offering water between meals. And try some pureed prunes or prune juice.