Dear Lesley: my child will not drink water

I sympathize with your frustration when it comes to potty related issues. From one parent to another, we have all been there. Afterall, parenting is an on-the-job training type gig.

When it comes to increasing her water intake:

• Offer water consistently throughout the day.
• Offer only water at every meal.
• Reduce the number of times you offer her juice.
• Give the amount of water she needs for her age and weight. If you do not know this amount, speak to her primary care doctor to find out how much water is recommended for her. Once you know this, do not attempt to give her large servings in one sitting. If she only needs 16 ounces of water to be adequately hydrated, offer 4 different 4-ounce servings of water throughout the day.

Tips to steer her interest:

• Do not end mealtime until she has finished her water.
• Celebrate with her when she finishes her water. Let her know that it is a good thing. Yay! 👏
• Model the behavior. Have a cup of water at mealtime as well.
• Pour water from the bottle into a cup in front of her, even if you do it at the table.
• Try to not offer juice with meals but at snack time instead. This can be way to set a schedule teaching her that there is a time for juice and that she cannot have it whenever she wants it. Be prepared for her to act out whether that is crying, pouting, or refusing to drink water in an effort to get you to give in and give her juice. Stay strong (lol) and continue to offer water. She will eventually (one day 😆) have to accept that you are only offering water at certain times. Think of it like her learning to understand a school schedule. She learned in time to grab her shoes and backpack to leave and while at school she learned that there is a special time reserved for lunch. This is the same concept. It is not meant to be harsh even though she may cry. You’re just teaching her routine until she understands on her own.
• Change up the juice. Offer only 100% cranberry juice. Remove or hide the juice you know she likes. If she doesn’t see it when she is looking for it, she may believe that there is none. Only give her the juice she likes on special occasions such as a walk through the neighborhood or a trip to the park.

Additional useful tips:

• Offer her fruits and vegetables with high water content.
• Offer her yogurt with live cultures.
• Offer her primarily fresh, whole foods. The nutrients, antioxidants, and fiber will promote healthy function of the body’s systems including the bladder and urinary tract.

Lastly, if you feel you are allowing a little too much independence where wiping is concerned, reduce it. Consider wiping first and explaining how you are doing it. For example, “mommy will wipe from front to back first; afterwards I can watch you do it.” I am not a potty-training expert, but I feel you should continue to be involved in the wiping. I remember it taking a while for my child to master cleaning that area properly. If you need more structured guidance on potty training (beyond family and friends), reach out to her pediatrician. Someone in the office should be able to give pointers as a professional and/or provide instructional resources. Be encouraged.