How to Wing My 2Yr Old from So Much Juice.

An alternative to juice is those Crystal Light packets...or Great Value from WalMart. That's what I give my kids so they are getting their water intake and not so much sugar from the juice. My pedi says they're great to use! My kids love the Rasberry Lemonade Crystal Light...it's sweet like juice...but all water

T.,

I agree with watering it down. If he is thirsty he will drink it. Doctors tell you if a child doesnt like what they are suppose to eat they eventually will if they are hungry.

Have you thought about Crystal Light? (we buy the walmart brand less than 2 dollars for 5 pitchers!) No sugar etc. I buy my daughter the crystal light OJ and Apple Juice and she can tell NO difference and she is 4!!! Plus she doesnt get hyper from the sugar.

E.

I was gonna suggest diluting it with water, too. I can't imagine how much money we would spend on juice if I didn't dilute my son's juice (I buy organic, natural juices- $3-$5 per small jar). My son only gets 1/5-1/4 juice and the rest water. I would start diluting your son's juice maybe 3/4 juice, 1/4 water for a week or so and then go to half and half for a week and then to 1/4 juice, 3/4 water. Something like that- it should help with how much he wants to drink because he probably likes the sweetness a lot and this will cut the sweetness (all that sugar- whether added or natural) is bad for his teeth, anyway.

You might want to mention this to your doctor. There could be something wrong with his electrolytes or absorption. Maybe have some blood tests done just to be sure.

Until then you may just have to put your foot down and restrict how much fluids you give him. Or at least set a cut off time, like nothing after an hour before bedtime. This may help with the wet sheets.

I had a neighbor who's youngest would drink all day if he could. He would even drink his brothers juice if it was left unattended. They just had to get strict with him. It involved a lot of temper tantrums but he got diaper rash's like crazy if allowed to drink all the time.

Hope this helps, and that there is nothing medically causing this.

About 1 hour to 30 minutes before bedtime cut him off or at least don't give him his big cup. I usually will just give my daughter a small kitchen size dixie cup with water before bed and she doesn't complain.

Just don't always give it to him. I give my son juice maybe once or twice a week, but when he gets it he goes crazy for it and will drink the entire cup before he will touch anything on his plate.

So, I make him eat first, and I allow him tiny sips out of my water cup so he can get drinks while he is eating. After he eats, I allow him to drink his drink.

Do you give him water in his sippy? My ped. told me to only give my son water--that he would get enough of the vitamins found in fruit juice from fruit itself, plus fiber!! My suggestion is start putting water in his sippy instead. He'll probably get mad and insist on juice instead, but the water is so good for him. If he gets truly thirsty, he will surely drink it. I hope this helps.

Start watering it down and he will lose the taste for it. I will say that it is not going to be easy because he's hooked on it so to speak. He will notice the difference and will probably throw a fit.

We purchased the Ozarka water fountain for out kids and that is the only thing they can drink between meals. They only get lemonade with meals and sometimes fruit juice and milk with breakfast. It may seem sort of harsh but it works.

Hope this helps.

That's good that you're diluting it .. I would certainly mention it to your dr at the next appointment - just to be sure. Things like diabetes and such can make a child thirsty. I'm totally not saying that's what it is .. but I'd keep track of how many ozs he does drink in a day and let his ped know, just in case. :-D

My toddler is like this also, our dentist was concerned that it would lead to tooth decay. They suggested that we only give her juice or milk at meals, any other time she gets water. That cut down on the amount of fluids she drinks in a day because she likes juice more than water. Lots of luck!

I would stop offering him juice and only give him water in between meals and milk with meals. That is the rule in our house until my oldest turned 3. We let him have a juice box at luch on Tuesday's and Thursday's at MDO. Heis 4 and he doesn't even ask for juice because he knows the rules. Just give him water.

I would have some blood work done. Being extremely thirsty could be a sign of diabetes. And then it could be that he just is a growing boy who plays a lot and needs a lot of liquid. Even if you are watering down the juice I would try and cut out a few cups a day and replace with plain water. You said he will drink it so why add anything to it. Water is very good for our kids and even the low sugar juices still have sugar and the sugar free drinks have unwanted chemicals.

Good luck,
H. Mims

Once you rule out any medical issue (like diabetes), could it be a comfort thing? Some kids get attached to a pacifier or a blanket or stuffed animal. Is this his "security" thing? If so, I'd definitely try the water only suggestion that was already mentioned. Or, try distracting him during times when he might usually ask for a drink but you know that he's already had enough to drink for now. Pick something that he enjoys - building with blocks, playing with toys, doing art projects, reading books, etc.