Flavoured Water

alanalea

My 9 month old daughter has never really liked the taste of water, refuses to drink it and if i do put it in her cup she spits it out. She also hates the baby juices and i won't give her fruit juices at this age. One of my friends gave her some flavoured water (the fruited, sugar and colour free sort), and Tabitha loved it. Is it safe to give her these waters, in small amounts?
Does anyone else have any other ideas?

Thanks in advance,

lea x

callansdad

I gave my boy water with a little splash of Robinsons (sugar free variety). My daughter is one later in the month. It's a battle trying to get her to drink from a bottle or a cup. I've tried her with allsorts and she refuses. The most i have gotten her to drink was 3 fl oz of formula milk. I am still breastfeeding her and she is very reluctant to take anything else

filigree_2

If it's sugar free then it has artificial sweeteners, which are just as bad if not worse. Most sweeteners are not approved for use in baby food.

My son never liked water but he happily drank milk for ages so I just let him have that. One suggestion I heard (didn't try it myself) was to use fruity teabags, cooled first of course. They might be OK for a baby but I'm not making any promises.

alanalea

Tabitha quite happily takes three 7oz bottles of sma white per day, so i've no worries there. I think that when the weather gets warmer she'll hopefully start taking water. Its a battle trying to feed her at the moment aswell. Shes so stubborn!! (don't know where she gets that from :whistle: ) She won't let me feed her anything off of the spoon, apart from weetabix, so everything has to be solid'ish for her to feed herself.

Oh forgot to mention, She'll quite happily drink soapy bath water lol

Rachie_B

you are better off giving her something with a little sugar in rather that the "sugar free" kind

ocean spray cordials are supposed to be a better choice

also redbush tea is suitable for babies though im not sure what it tastes like / whether she will drink it !

wendyl1967

my two never like water. I used to give them fresh juice very watered down. 1/4 juice the 3/4 water. I would be reluctant to give a young child artificial sweeteners

froggergirl

I would avoid any juices with artificial sweeteners and go for ones with sugar if you have to. We made the mistake of going for the 'healthy' sugar free option for our DD and we are still living with the problems now.
DD and DS get plain water or milk now and if do get a treat of juice it cant contain any artificial sweeteners at all

Counting_Pennies_2

I avoid sugar free and carbonated waters.

What I do use is fresh fruit juice watered down (approx 1 part juice, 10 part water)

But the main drink my son has is the High Juice cordials that supermarkets sell. He currently loves the Apple one from Waitrose (found near Robinsons squashes)

Hth

alanalea

Thanks all for your replies I've been given some good ideas for alternatives.

Mamabear

I give my daughter cammomile tea - in accordance with italian tradition - which has the added advantage of having a calming effect.

She been drinking it since she was 6 months old and still loves it now shes nearly 2.

WeirdoMagnet

I'd be wary of artificial sweeteners, especially anything containing aspartame.

Google it for more info.