how to get your toddler to drink more?

[bettyjones]

We decided to forgo sippy cups. But it really doesn't seem to be working. DD takes an open cup and dumps it. So I really don't want her to have a cup unsupervised. She still nurses a ton. I think she needs to drink more water than she does at 19 months. Doesn't really know how to drink out of sippy cups or straws. Any help would be appreciated.

[sapphire_chan]

When we started Lina with open cups, we held them for her or gave them in the tub.

With straws, the best way with young kids is to hold your finger on the top of the straw to hold the water in then drip it into her mouth. (Looks super cute, like a hamster )

Oh, and lots of dumping time helps with drinking. At this point, if Lina goes to dump it means she doesn't want to drink and I take the drinking cup away and move to the tub or sink to do pouring.

[LadyCatherine185]

we wanted to forgo sippies as well, but DS would also dump regular cups. He also dumps plates, bowls, etc. so we just went with the sippies.

Is she still nursing? She may not need as much water as you think.

[butterfly_mommy]

We have had many different sippy cups for DS. The ones that he had the most success with are straw ones. Now the only one he uses is the Thermos Foogo straw cup and I and he love it. It never leaks when closed so it is easy to throw into my bag. It is also a bit insulated so it stays pretty cool al day. I only use it for water. Also I can pass it back to him in the car and he knows to close the lid when he is finished drinking. Actually we all have Foogo straw cups, DH uses his for at night on his bedside table. Any other type of drink he has in a small glass cup either with a straw or sometimes without.

When I started giving DS a cup I would put about a 1/4 inch of water into the cup at a time and only when we were sitting down. Like sapphire_chan said if he started dumping then he was done drinking and I would move him to the sink/water table to dump. Now DS is 27 mons and I am pretty confident giving him a cup with a few inches of drink in it while he is standing in the kitchen and he mostly doesn't spill it

[MountainMamaGC]

My DD prefers warm beverages to cold. Thats how I get her to consume more fluids. I make her a "cuppee" Its grain coffee (a beverage made from roasted barley) and milk. I make it warm and serve it in a straw cup and she drinks it in 2 minutes. She has access to a cup of water at all times but she wont drink enough of it and with her constipation issues I have to to something to get her to drink more.

She figured out the straw cup when I squeeze the liquid into her mouth from it.

[bettyjones]

Thanks for the suggestions. I will try them out. It's funny she actually really likes drinking out of my water glass when there is ice in it. Maybe she'd like warm drinks too.

She is still nursing but with summer coming I'd hate to neglect other fluids. Mostly I offer water, occasionally milk or juice.

[tbone_kneegrabber]

what about a water bottle? Like klean kateen, or sigg, or green bottle etc? Then its harder to spill, not a "sippy" cup, but still a container to drink out of?

That's mostly what we used when ds was littler, not that he's a bit older and drinks other stuff besides water, we do more straw cups.

[JudiAU]

Have you considered a sippy with the value removed. This is what we do in our home because toddler drinks a lot more if there isn't a restriction and part-of-a-sippy helps reduce the water spillage. We like theseL http://www.toysrus.com/product/index...LAID=352137679

It makes a good compromise. Most sippys are very hard to get water out of...

[shanniesue2]

Originally Posted by bettyjones

Thanks for the suggestions. I will try them out. It's funny she actually really likes drinking out of my water glass when there is ice in it. Maybe she'd like warm drinks too.

She is still nursing but with summer coming I'd hate to neglect other fluids. Mostly I offer water, occasionally milk or juice.

DS LOOOOOOVES Ice water... asks for "water ice" constantly. He also love to suck on ice (although this terrifies me and I try not to let him do it and the times he get the ice in his mouth before I can stop him, I won't let him out of my sight until he's finished the cube).

We use those cups with the spouted lids when he's playing or just hanging out. at the table we use a regular cup (most of the time). That way, he learns how to use a regular cup, but he can also have constant access to water without us having to follow him around with a towel. Although if he really wants to he can take the lids off those spouted cups, so in the car and at night he has access to a true sippy with a screw on lid because he can't get the lid off of those.

[junipervt]

my DD will drink the most out of a waterbottle w/ a sports top (we have Klean Kanteen) anything else (sippy spout, open cup, straw) & she just takes little tiny sips.

[gagin37]

give straws a try, your lo will probably catch on very quickly and the novelty of it might make her want to drink more. ds loves his cups w/straws and drinks water all day long whenever he's thirsty.

[Emmery'sMom]

I second trying straws, and also mix it up a little- I give my DD herbal teas quite often- raspberry, mint, orange spice, chamomile, etc. She only drinks things cold so that's how I serve it to her- over lots of ice. Just make sure to read the labels because some teas will have green or black tea mixed in with the herbal leaves..... I don't know about you but the last thing my DD needs is any caffeine

I also juice a little bit of fruit- apple, strawberry, orange, some grapes, watermelon, etc.- to add to a sippy full of water just to slightly flavor it.

You could also make homemade popsicles for her- it's a nice treat in the summer and will get a few ounces of liquid in her.

[tmwmommy]

My dd likes straws that are bigger because they have a faster flow. Since you mentioned that she nurses I wouldn't worry too much. If she gets too thirsty she can nurse more frequently. My dd is 20 months and doesn't always drink a lot of water but does gulp down the breast milk! After all, it is a great thirst quencher

[redvlagrl]

We do both open cups and sippys. There is always a Klean Kanteen sippy of water available for DD including in her bed. At mealtimes she uses a glass at the table.

I think the suggestion of a straw cup is great. Otherwise a sport top.

What is your reason for skipping sippys entirely?

[emilyash]

You could also try a teething feeder with ice cubes in it?
http://www.amazon.com/Sassy-Teething.../dp/B00014PLGS

[DanielleT]

My DD won't drink water at all unless it's cold and in a water bottle...but until we discovered the water bottle i would give her very diluted apple juice and i mean very diluted like 99% water and a splash of apple juice and she would drink it fine

[bettyjones]

Originally Posted by redvlagrl

What is your reason for skipping sippys entirely?

A bit of a Montessori thing. Have kids use real objects. The idea being they would understand cause and effect. Turn a cup over what spills ( this doesnt' happen w/ sippy cups). Yes, she does understand cause and effect. She enjoys dumping water and asking for a napkin to clean it up. Enjoys the clean up too. Also b/c of dentist hygentist recommendation only water in sippy cups. Though pretty much all I give her is water.

[blizzard_babe]

We transitioned by using a straw cup, but pulling the straw out. That way, they're still drinking the "regular" way (it's kind of limited, but... like I said, it's a transition step), and a little still spills if they tip it over, but less spills between the time you see them tipping it and when you physically intervene. Natural consequences, but not as much a pain in the butt to clean up .