Daughter won't drink fluids

I've had this problem too....and I still can not drink plain water at all because it makes me feel sick... It is a running joke (although not actually very funny) that when asked if I would like a drink I would say no thanks I had one last week! I don't really know why I don't like drinking. I am tactile sensitive so is probably something to do with the tactile sensation. I find hot drinks easier and now actually quite like tea and coffee although this wasn't until well into my 20s... I find drinking through a straw easier as that provides some proprioception and also gets the fluid down quicker and in a more directed stream rather than all the water sloshing around in my mouth. Just like with other tactile sensation I find it much much more difficult if my anxiety is higher as I become even more sensitive.... I am sure your already doing lots to try and help your daughter in relation to her anxiety but this perhaps should be as much of a focus as her drinking.

The other thing to consider is if your daughter ever feels the sensation of being thirsty. I have difficulty with interoception (sensing information that comes from my internal organs) ..and don't sense the feelings of hunger and thirst until they become really intense. If your daughter struggles to identify the sensation of being thirsty she may not be naturally inclined to drink frequently unless it becomes routine and habit.

I hope this is helpful I am no expert and would always say to seek proper medical advice and it might worth speaking to the peadeatrician to see if they thought speech and language therapist could help with an eating and drinking assessment?

My son struggles with drinking tried many different ways to encourage him he has bad consitpatiion. Seen a specialist and now have to work with food for his fluid intake. 

As he don’t like the way a drink feels when it goes down and he can’t feel the need for thirst. I tried thicker fluids which was better for a while and he’s gone back to his old ways so back to the fluid intake through food. 

I had this problem with my daughter several years ago, refusing to drink.

What I did was to use a clear plastic bottle and mark lines on it with magic marker, and then if she drank a measure she could have a sticker to put on a chart, then when she had got a certain number of stickers she could have a reward.  It seemed to work, but mainly because she loved collecting the stickers at that time, and it wasn't the reward she wanted but the stickers. So I bought quite a lot of the sparkly stickers to use that she liked.

Now she is older she seems to have grown out of that problem, apart from some days when she is too engrossed in other things and I have to remind her to have a drink, but some days she won't drink much at all.

Also I found she liked to have a bottle and a straw, or just drink out of the bottle instead of a glass.  Even now she prefers the bottle, and that's a good idea as it's less likely to get spilled than a glass, because she usually puts the lid back on, or even if she forgets and it gets knocked over the drink doesn't spill out as fast as a glass and I can soon pick it up before there is much mess.

I have the same problem. I have spent last night up at the hospital as my son is soo constipated.  School has banned any drinks other than water and he's so Ill now. Don't know what to do

Have you spoken to gp about having her swallowing looked at?

i apologise for constantly posting, ive just spoke to her re drinking & we made some progress for the first time...from what I can put together is she doesn't like the sensation of liquids in her mouth...& I have sat here making a list of things she eats/drinks & what are watery based & there seems to be a pattern where if there is a meal with gravy/tomato based sauces etc she will leave the sauces on the plate, she will however have thicker substances such as Paediasure/yogurts & occasionally a milkshake? Am I looking too much into this or is it a possibility? She said when liquid is in her mouth she wants to "spit it out" but it falls down her throat & then it makes her feel "sicky" or makes her cough x

Hotel california said:

I am wondering if there could be a dental problem.  For example, if she has gaps then the sensation of fluid passing through these may be uncomfortable resulting in avoidance.

I am reading a book called "out of sync child" which suggests using a sonic tooth brush to desensitized the mouth. will she drink through a straw or have smoothies?

Sometimes children will copy their friends so wondered if she played having a tea party with friends and she could serve squash Iin a teapot.

I'll keep searching for other strategies.

thank you, she does have gaps in her teeth I hadn't thought of it being a dental issue x

She's had a problem with drinking since toddler age but it's really peaked since starting school & especially the last 12 months :(

She isn't one for imaginative play etc, she won't tell me what it is about fluids that bothers her just "I dont like it"... I've tried marking bottles to show what she needs to be drinking but that only works briefly as it's a novelty she soon reverts back to not drinking!  x

I am wondering if there could be a dental problem.  For example, if she has gaps then the sensation of fluid passing through these may be uncomfortable resulting in avoidance.

I am reading a book called "out of sync child" which suggests using a sonic tooth brush to desensitized the mouth. will she drink through a straw or have smoothies?

Sometimes children will copy their friends so wondered if she played having a tea party with friends and she could serve squash Iin a teapot.

I'll keep searching for other strategies.

Has this issue with fluids been going on for a long time or has it developed fairly recently? I was wondering if there could have been a trigger?

I've tried the ice lollies which has worked a handful of times yet she consumes things fast so naturally gets the good old 'brain freeze' which causes her to avoid frozen lollies/ice cream for long periods of time! she is back at the hospital next month for a review, I'm running out of ideas x

What about ice lollies?  I was told these are a good way of getting fluids in to a child not drining enough.

Thank you for your replies, 

she won't eat soup as she doesn't like it, she will eat watery based foods which is why we have been giving her things like lettuce and fruits especially in the last few months, I'm just wondering if she has an issue with liquids? The paediatrician said that for the mean time we are safe to play the 'watch and wait' card re her kidneys as she could grow out of it but she really needs to combat the fluid intake...it is worrying me as I don't know how to tackle it if she has developed an aversion to liquids and the harm she is doing to herself x

Hi - will she eat soup?  Lettuce + melon contain a lot of water.  This must be so worrying for you because of the damage she's doing to her body.  Has the Paed said anything else?

Hi Sarah,

We have a behavioural specialist on our helpline - 0808 800 4104, you can book an oppointment using option three. 

How is she with foods that contain a lot of liquid?

best wishes,
Anil

Community manager