15 month old won't drink anything but

Hi ladies!  Good afternoon- hope everyone is doing well.  Ok, so my DS won't drink anything BUT very watered down tea (about 1/4 tea and the rest water).  He still get a bottle at night so he can have the nutrients of milk but otherwise he won't drink!  We have tried everything.  We live in Charleston, SC and it is  very hot and humid.  So, I can't wait for him to drink something if he doesn't like it.  I'm scared he will dehydrate.  We tried that for two days at daycare.  We only gave him juice and water and milk.  He hardly drank a drop.  Nothing.  I've asked his ped and she said to keep giving him the same thing (milk or juice) at each meal.  We have but he seriously will not drink it.  I'm out of ideas...help.

[GRose]

As long as he is eating fruit I guess I wouldn't worry too much about him not drinking juice since I think most kids actually drink too much juice, it contains so much sugar.

Noah goes through phases where he will not drink milk, I can refuse him juice or water all day and he still wont drink it so I put a little but of chocolate in it, just enough to give a good flavor. I like ovaltine cause at least that way he is getting vitamins with it. Has he tried chocolate milk? I guess I feel like it is better than no milk at all.

[baboojamaica]

I haven't tried the chocolate yet....good idea!  Thank you!!!

[have 2 kids]

Will he eat popsicles?   You could freeze the juice into cubes.  

[baboojamaica]

That is another great idea- thanks so much ladies!  I will  try that too!

[mami1323]

Those are good ideas, I had none for you.  Jayden drinks everything but refuses to eat veggies.  That's a question to ask...lol.

[tiredbuthappy]

i suspect diluted tea (uncaffinated of course) may be better than juice like someone suggested because of the sugar content.

when we took away the bottle, DD didn't drink much milk at all. She didn't ask for the bottle, but refused milk. So, I went out and i bought a pair of special sippy cups unlike any other she has. They have Elmo on them and a different kind of spout. We only put milk in this cup and call it Elmo milk. After 3 days, she started to drink enough milk- usually a cup in the morning, one with dinner, and one before bed. She actually takes the one before bed like a bottle now- snuggled in our laps.

the other ladies had great suggestions as well :) good luck, and don't worry about juice. whole fresh fruit is a much better source of vitamins and fiber than juice.

[AnnieBrooke]

If you're worried about vitamins, you can give a vitamin pill along with a regular healthy diet.  If you're worried about fluids, try having your son just drink water.  There is no problem with 1/4th tea and 3/4ths water if you are giving only decaffeinated and herbal tea -- like tired says, it's better than juice because juice gives kids way too much sugar.  Just don't let it be a black tea or Lipton's, caffeine is not what a small child needs.  If he does wind up drinking a lot of tea, be sure to brush his teeth regularly -- tea can stain teeth more than coffee.  Your kid might just be someone who likes the bitter flavor of tea more than the insipid sweet flavor of juice.

[GRose]

Are you trying watered down juice? Whenever I give Noah juice it is 1/2 water 1/2 juice, I figure I am cutting back on the sugar that way. Like Annie said, he may like the bitter flavor over sweet so that might work.