Hello!

My little one (nearly 12 mths) has water in either a sippy cup or a bottle but instead of drinking it he throws it around or sips on it and spits the water out. How do I encourage him to drink the water?


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  • My daughter is a bit older but she will only drink water out of MY water bottle lol. I guess because she sees me drinking it – she wants it and so long as she’s drinking water I’m happy with that ;)


  • i think persistence is the answer here.


  • Sorry if this has been mentioned previously, I can\’t see comments for some reason. Have you tried making him water iceblocks or slightly flavoured iceblocks? Not juice but maybe blend up some fruit and add that? My daughter loves her water but at times will only eat ice. Might be worth a shot now that the weather has warmed up? Good luck :)


  • Just keep giving it to him. If he’s thirsty, he’ll drink it. It may just look like he’s playing with it, he could be drinking it when you’re not watching


  • Yes try to give it some flavour, get creative and try soda water!


  • I only give my daughter watered down juice when I was first introducing water she had a special straw cup with a round bottom that she thought was fun so that was her water cup now she is two she will only drink water out of a big persons cup or a pop top bottle


  • I think you just have to keep trying. Different temps might be a good idea – warm, ice cold, room temp etc


  • Try giving some chilled water from the fridge with ice cubes in it my kids love COLD water, they will not drink it unless its from the fridge or with ice cubes in it. If this doesnt work try frezzing some juice and popping in a few cubes into the Cold water. Good luck.,,,


  • well they do this as they are getting used to water. it is very different to milk. Breast milk is sweeter and thicker than water. They will learn to drink it, just persist. It is a lot better for them and a lot less stickier to clean up.


  • Mine loved ICE-Blocks made just with water.
    I bought the Ice block with the plastic stick the kids hold from Tupperware and a Cheap kitchen shop. My kids loved these. I would put a drop of food colouring at add interest not flavour.
    These are great for babies who are teething. Mum you need to hold for them but they can cut their teeth on theses and the kids love a plain ice block. Tell Granny to have these ready for the grand kids. No sugar needed!


  • maybe a bit f cordial, coloured ice lemon?


  • My first child refused water as a bub & I used freshly squeezed orange juice watered down at first & a blackcurrant cordial (with no added sugar). He soon got used to it becoming more dilated overtime & accepted just water within months.


  • I met someone who put the tiniest amount of cordial in the water to flavour it and their son would drink it. Personally given your son is still quite young I woukd only try very dilluted juice (juice not fruit drink). My daughter was constantly constipated around that age and refused water. I even fed it to her on a teaspoon, I boiled prunes and gave her the cooled juices from the saucepan in her water. Now she is older I just leave a sippy cup somewhere she can get it. She’ll either getmit herself or I’ll offer it to her. Give h im lots of praise when he does drink water and drink water yourself in front of him. Maybe even offer him some from your cup. Good luck! Perseverance pays off


  • add some orange or lemon slices to give it some flavour or try soda water (do you have a soda stream) I found I could give me daughter anything fizzy and she enjoyed it a lot more.


  • i have competitions with my 2yo. we each have a glass of water and see who can drink it down the quickest. he drinks about 6 glasses a day because he always wants to compete with us all


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