Toddler Barely Drinks Anything!

Take her to the doctor if you haven't already. She sounds like my niece. She is probably severely dehydrated and might need to be hospitalized. Sometimes kids are stubborn, but sometimes it may be something more. Perhaps it's allergies, whatever it is she needs you to find the answer. Good Luck.

Obviously there is a concern for dehydration. Continue to try with flavored waters, even those new juices like Juicy Juice that have veggies and fruit in them.
Has she been diagnosed with sensory issues? It isn't uncommon for kids to stop liking certain textures, both of my kids have issue with mashed potatoes and stuff like that and they are seven and four. If she truly just won't eat veggies and fruits, keep offering it to her, exposing her over and over. Even her just trying one bite and make the veggies and fruit fun. There is that brand too by V8 of juices with veggies in it.
My kids love sugar free kool aid, try pedialyte, gatorade. Talk to your Pediatrician. She should have six to eight pee diapers a day! Good luck.

This may sound silly but try using a sqiurt bottle. My boys love squirting that into their mouths. But make sure it is new and maybe she could pick the color that appeals to her. You also might want to take her to an ent and see if there is any real problems. Like acid refux or any blockages. This is only to ease your mind. And maybe she just isn't liking the taste any more..... Try putting a little stawberry and or chocolate in it . My kids also like it with a little vanilla. What about smoothies. Start by adding a little yogert to her milk. I like to cook with milk. And v8 juice.. I sneak it in to mac n cheese and i make my own spaghetti sauce too. So may be if she eats bread you could get abread machine and put these ingredients instead of water?? Oh how about choc milk popcicle? Good luck and god bless you and yours!!

P.s. Do you know what a doula is??

Simply Thick was a lifesaver (almost literally) for son #2. You just mix it in with whatever the drink is, and it makes it easier to drink. I didn't look where you are from, but there is a pharmacy that sells it on Colfax, in Denver near Pres./ St. Lukes. You can make it any thickness you need, but it helps with the muscle weakness. GL! I hope you can find a solution. (Simply Thick took our son from drinking less than 5 ounces a day to over 25 ounces a day.)

I would try lots of otter pops. Good luck!

I am not sure what to say as my experience is with a teen student. He told me he was a camel and explained just what you said. He had a name for it. His fingers were scaly and dry (that is how it came up.) I remeber talking a bit about it with his mom too but can't remember the name for it. Try internet searches as there is something out there and go to the doctor. Follow your instincts and if your doctor says, it is fine, don't worry...but you do..go see another until you are sure. It took me 5 GI doctors for myself to get a right fit. follow your instincts and educate yourself (but dont believe eveything) on the internet.

Wow that is tough! hang in there she will start eating and drinking eventually.
Try having her help you make her a special drink using the blender.

I would not let her watch TV, Color, Play, Read a book, or anything enjoyable until she drinks a sip of water (one sip per book, per 5 min of play, so on and so forth. Make it a "house rule". Since it is a house rule you'll have to do the same, she will model your behavior sooner or later. Think of it as training her to drink as she is playing, etc.

Let her carry around a sippy cup with water (that usually ups the amount she'll drink). As far as food I don't have a lot of experience with that.

You might ask your dr. she may be having reflux (heart burn), that will make many a kid not want to drink or eat. Both my kids had reflux.

Good luck. Just be Consistent.....she will model your behavior of following the house rules. It won't be easy, but after a few days hopefully it will become automatic.

Oh, fruit juice popsicles might be a good idea.
R.

I would go with the always safe "talk to your pediatrician." I don't think that there is a major worry about it as of now - but I would chat with them anyway.

My niece and nephew (twins) had food issues much like your little one when they were young, and they actually went to "food therapy." If this is something you feel that could benefit your child, ask your child's doctor about that too. It's a sensory motor issue (as you know) and they may have some occupational therapy strategies that may help. No hurt in asking about it!

Good luck, and hope you find your answers.

Yes! I went (am going through) the same thing with my second son, who is now 17 months. He is extremely picky with food (eats like 10 things, no matter how often and hard I try) and would only drink a few ounces of milk/water a day. His morning diaper would be fairly wet, but the rest of his diapers were barely, barely wet. It was totally stressing me out. I tried everything-- whole milk, 2%, 1%, soy milk, rice milk, watered down juice, pedialyte, pediasure, flavored waters, homemade juice popcicles, etc. AND I have tried all sippy cups, regular cups, straws, etc. I have been as consistent as possible, and would try to be patient and calm, but it was hard and stressful. He just wouldn't drink! It was so weird, because my 1st son ate everything-- a healthy and varied diet, and drank tons and had very wet diapers at every changing. Anyways, after about 4 months of trying everything I could think of, he is finally up to maybe 10-12 ounces of milk/water a day. Still nowhere he "should" be, but compared to where he was a few months ago, it's a lot!

My only advice is to hang in there and keep doing
what you're doing and don't give up. Keep checking in with your pediatrician, too. Good luck!

I will pobably give you familiar advise but at 18 months you can try to flavor the milk with chocolate or straberry syrup they even have powders out there that will add vitamins to the milk. The other thing is that kids can get fluids from other sources. My daughter when she is on a low drinking spurt still loves ice cream, otter pops that you can but in a baby safe mesh tingsor carefully help her eat. You can try yogurt and juices. Another thing is that you can go to Wal Mart or Target and look in the juice aisle for Tummy Ticklers. They are sippy bottles that have fun characters on it. Let her pick the 2 or 3 pack she likes and see if she drinks better with it. They come with no added sugar 100 percent apple juice in them and desined for toddlers. Then you can clean them out in the dishwasher and use them again. Really when they aren't drinking you look for anything thatthey will take while still offering milk and water. It is just about keeping them from getting dehydrated. If you have tried everything or you are just worried and need the advise from the doctor then it is okay to call your pediatrician. Sometimes moms just need to know their kid is normal and okay and doctors are used to the questions. I hope that you can find somethingthat work. You sound like a great mom who cares about her child and I would trust your instinct. Mother's intuition is usually pretty spot on.

I would try Gatoraid or sweeten her milk with Strawberry Qwik. I am sure you want her drinking healthier things, but in the hot weather, you are kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place, because she needs to be hydrated. Both of my kids were really funny about cow's milk and my doctor actually recommended that I try the Strawberry Qwik thing, so I did, and it worked for us. I just gradually used less and less until they didn't use it anymore. Now my kids drink a ton of milk on their own. Another idea is to make popsicles for her out of juice, and that way she is getting some liquid without drinking. Also, you can try adding ice to her drinks to keep them cold (make milk ice cubes to add to the milk so it doesn't get watery). She may want a cooler drink in the heat.

It's not uncommon for toddlers to have peculiar tastes. My 20 month old also has texture issues. Fortunately, he drinks a lot. He drinks milk. Have you tried flavoring the milk? Or try cheese, ice cream, or yogurt to get the calcium. My son won't drink plain water. But if I put a splash of juice in it he drinks it. I only use 100% juice. Plus, Juicy Juice makes juice that has fruits & vegie in it. You might also try popsicles. Have her pick out a special cup. Have her choose drinks. Make sure she's taking vitamins. As a child and an adult I haven't been very good about drinking fluids. I had to be reminded. Remind her to take a drink. Make it fun. Don't make it a chore. As far as the mild oral-motor weakness --- she should see a specialist --- such as a physical therapist or speech pathologist. As far as getting in the fresh fruits & vegies --- try The Sneaky Chef cookbook. You're not alone with being frustrated with your young ones eating habits. Be a good role model and keep trying.

For my daughter if she seems to be difficult like that and your really concerned, which I would be, I would be willing to try something sweet, like koolaid, so what if they get a little mores sugar in her diet, you gettting whatever you need to work. I would try a few different koolaid flavors and see how that works. Let me know, otherwise if I hear anything I will let you know of ideas.