x-posted how can I get my 3-1/2-year old to drink more?

[angelachristin]

It is an ongoing daily battle to get him to drink enough. We live in the desert, summer is here and it is going to be 2+ months of days over 110 degrees and nighttime lows in the 90's. It's 1 pm and so far he has had about 8 oz of diluted apple juice and a few sips from a water bottle. He no longer breastfeeds (weaned about 3 months ago.) I am at my wit's end, his pee is hardly ever light. I try to buy juices that he likes, and he has special cool water bottles (camelbak, etc.) the only times he drinks a lot is if he has junk like capri sun, which i never buy but he had the other day at a friend's house, his pee was the clearest i've ever seen it after a day of scarfing down one capri sun after another. i am not going to buy that crap. any ideas how to get more liquid into him? I follow him around and hound him but he just refuses a lot of the time. i don't want him to dry up!

[bender]

Maybe add propel powder to water? It gives it a flavor which might help him. Also, popsicles. Honest Tea makes a kid's drink that is free from HFCS and other stuff. It tastes really good, too.

[crunchy_mommy]

I've never bought Capri Sun but I've heard they make some 100% juice? Might be worth looking into if it's the only think he'll drink & you don't mind giving juice. Also try flavoring water with lemon or apple juice etc. And you could try things like smoothies, coconut or almond milk, etc. Plus he doesn't necessarily have to 'drink' to stay hydrated, try things like homemade popsicles, juicy fruits like oranges, peaches, etc.

[Thalia]

DD will drink water from her canteen at the park, but not so much at home. Maybe try having water and only water around when he is most likely to be thirsty?

I would also try doing a gradual transition of diluting the 100% juice, mixing a little more water in day by day, so that eventually he's drinking water or very lightly flavored water. Just make it very gradual.

Smoothies are also big around here, and you can make them with just yogurt and fruit and ice, so they are healthy. I sneak flax oil, cooked carrots, and wheat germ into mine and DD loves them.

DD also likes flavored sparkling water (the kind with no sugar or artificial sweetners) which we allow occasionally as a treat.

I also think lots of juicy fruits help.

[angelachristin]

Thanks! I feel like such a loser because he used to ONLY drink water, he loved it! He still likes it, but he just doesn't drink ENOUGH of it. It's SO hot and dry here. Like 2% humidity. I make smoothies all the time, he used to love them (especially green smoothies) but now he's just burned out on them it seems. He was way into coconut water for a few days, now it's his enemy. We do straws, fun cups, etc. I ended up getting some organic juice pouches for now to help.