how to get my babygirl to drink water?

[Mrs Ang]

My ger is 9 mth old and don’t like to drink water. I have tried different bottle and still the same. Therefore I will add a bit of juice, vit c or gripe water to provide a taste. Has anyone done this before and later on managed to persuade their child to drink plain water? Pls share. Thanks.

[ningning]

Hi! thanks everybody there, thanks for your tips and advices. Now i am more confident to try get her to drink more water. cos i felt defeated each time i tried unsuccessfully to get her to drink! :celebrate:

[autumnbronze]

ningning:

Hi! thanks everybody there, thanks for your tips and advices. Now i am more confident to try get her to drink more water. cos i felt defeated each time i tried unsuccessfully to get her to drink! :celebrate:

Hi ningning,

Please don't give up ..... take a break from it but don't give up

Good Luck :celebrate:

[duriz]

Don't give up trying new things with your child, she's only 1 year old


My DD is 9 months young. She enjoys nursing tremendously, thus we have a hard time giving her water as well. Here are some \"tricks\" we use:

1. Let DD watch papa and mama enjoy sipping water *slurp* *yum* now how about you try it too?

2. Using a cute spoon (I know, already 9 months right?) but it works

3. Using a cute mug, bery messy but she loves slurping from it

4. Giving her favorite baby cookie and then water as she'll be thirsty after munching

5. Like most parents here who suggested, encourage, recognise, reward and praise. This system should work for every new thing you wish your child to try. Then new experiences become fun ones and they will anticipate more than dread them.

Ever since we had DD, I always talk to her like a contemporary (an adult). I leave the baby talk to the grandparents. Even when I was nursing her during confinement, I would encourage her to drink up and when she burps loudly after, I praise her for being such a good girl.

Kids these days are lwatching your every move, listening to your every word even though they may not be verbalising, repeating or answering you *be careful*

[carebear]

insider:

carebear:

Says who? :roll:
All the old wives' tale!

carebear,

Though it may be 'old wives' tale', you may want to study more about this with research from TCM point of view to balance the cold water consumption. TCM is against food that is colder than our body temperature in general as such causes damages to our internal organs in the long run.

I heard from several old men/women (met them when my dad was in hospital) that one of their habits (and maybe secret to their long life) is to have lukewarm water every morning and all told my dad and me to do the same.

I have the habit to drink cold water too as well as my eldest son. My eldest daughter doesn't take cold drinks at all coz of sensitive teeth and I don't allow my youngest son to have cold water due to his weaker lungs and probable asthma attack.

If you have time and mood, would suggest you to go do some research on this under Asian context (cannot use the western research as their physical is different from Asians) and then decide accordingly. No harm reading (unless you totally disbelieve in TCM). What you are doing/allowing now for your kids may impact them for life later (for girls, I can't remember whether will it weaken their pregnancy ability if feeding cold water from young - TCM point of view).

Just sharing coz I think it's important...

PS: incidentally, today my TCM sinseh told me to stop drinking cold water as it will cause my internal organs to be 'cold' （寒）and therefore weak and will suffer as I age further.

PS: Was chatting with my kids during dinner time just now. Daughter was saying we are doing all the wrong things for our bodies. Instead of drinking lukewarm water and showering under water of normal temperature, we are drinking cold water and showering under hot water. She told my eldest son, \"You keep showering under hot water, next time you'll have lower sperm count!\" and my son cannot be bothered... hahaha...

There, there....all based on heresay.
But if you are comfortable with it, go ahead.
How do you explain longevity of the Koreans who drink cold water everyday( This is what the tour guide in Korea told me).
I can't find any studies in the Asian context to say whether it is not advisable to take cold water. For me, as long as one likes cold water, then there is no harm in drinking it.
Can you quote any facts and figures that say cold water is bad for health?
I guess it is just passed down from the older generation.
I think because our forefathers, many from China, where the climate there is colder, would prefer to have warm water during the cold season.
Like i have mentioned, rather than risk dehydration, it is better to have cold water than no water.
So it is just a suggestion.
We are entitled to our own opinions and beliefs.

[DesertWind]

insider:

So many 'mouldy' water bottles found in classrooms!).


... Buying a practical bottle is not an easy thing to do (coz if it's practical, usually it is plain and 'boring' but my kids all using 'boring' bottles coz can't find 'interesting' one for them...)

Hi insider!
Glad to know mine wasn't the only smelly bottle around! ke..ke..ke.. :oops:
It is a pity too that all those cute and beautiful water bottles usually have those hard plastic straw, really difficult to suck!

[carebear]

insider:

for those who can read Chinese to have some basic TCM point of views about water:


http://www.jkzy.net/sjys/xj/2010-06-03/6137.html

Tons of such general TCM info available in the net and I will contribute only one. TCM is about 养生...

Those who can't read Chinese and only believe in ang mo medicine of course can choose to feed kids with ice and later coke, fries, etc...

Thanks for the article, insider.
Who gave you the impression that ang mo drink cold water, or is it a pre conceived idea?
I know drinking cold water is frowned by most elderly folks.
But there is no harm in drinking cold water.
BTW, relax, it is a suggestion only.....
Perhaps a glass of cold iced water will soothe your nerves.

[DesertWind]

insider:

... Parenting is a long learning process that sometimes we thought we are doing things right (whether something looks nice or looks right) for our kids but eventually we may learn that it is not so (and hopefully nothing fatal happening yet by the time we discover).

:rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao:
That's a really hilarious remark and so true!

U know I remembered my mother telling me those mistakes that she made when we were young (3 of us pre-schoolers). She asked me whether I remembered when I was about 3 she fed me half-boiled egg and I got such an allergic reaction ie. lips swelling and was coughing so badly! I told her yes it was so bad I remembered!

She said she made so many mistakes when we were young it is a wonder none of us dieded yet!
:rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao:

[carebear]

Good for you, insider that you have decided to do something which you believe is healthy!

If it is not harmful it is worth a try.
Thanks for the article, although i understand it, it would be good if you could post it in english so that our non chinese readers can also benefit from it!

[Shera]

The ways to let my children drink more water are:


- I drinks in front of them or sometimes we drink together or else we will have games like drinking competition, taking turn to drink & the rest clapped etc etc ...

- Not only do I tell them \"Drink water\", I will also hold the water bottle towards their mouths & they will automatic opened up, gradually I will start talking and get the kids' hands to hold it.

- I will buy those cartoon character design but before that, I will always say they must finish the water whenever it is inside it or else I will not purchase.

- I will remind my children that water is a good monster fighter so that it will drive away the yellow monster followed by white monster (colours of the pee).

Whether they did drink a little or alot, I will always try to praise them tog with claps. Please note the drinking water referring to normal boiled version.

I'm still learning, hope to hear more tips :celebrate: