DownSyn Forum

Momof6

I have been trying for over a month now to get Austin to drink something beside formula. I've tried water, juice, sports drinks, flavored water, kool-aid, you name it, I've tried it with no luck. He just won't drink it. Does anyone have any ideas on how I can get him drinking. He's almost 15 months and I feel really needs to drink more than formula. Thanks in advance.

Oh I have tried things in different kinds of cups along with his bottle with no luck.

_________________
~Christine~
Mom of 6
Brandon ADD/ADHD 19, Chelsea 16, Connor 14, Logan 9, Cody 6 & Austin 4 ( DS & Hirschsprungs pull through 12/8/08 ) diagnosis 10/28/10 Colonic Neuropathy, 12/16/11 dx with seizure disorder, neurogentic bladder...Monti Cath 11/9/12
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/austinpaquin

I think I can, I think I can.
Climb the highest hills in all the land.
(If you think you can, you can.)
He could and he did !

I say CHEESE !

Kara · Posted: December 04 2009, 2:42 PM Post subject:

We have a non-drinker too, but he will usually take frozen smoothies or milkshakes. Did you try drinkable yogurt? All of those drink more slowly, and seemed to be easier to manage in his mouth. How does he drink the formula? In a bottle? Do you think it's a bottle issue or a different liquid issue?

Momof6 · Posted: December 04 2009, 2:45 PM Post subject:

Kara wrote:

We have a non-drinker too, but he will usually take frozen smoothies or milkshakes. Did you try drinkable yogurt? All of those drink more slowly, and seemed to be easier to manage in his mouth. How does he drink the formula? In a bottle? Do you think it's a bottle issue or a different liquid issue?

He drinks is formula from a bottle. I really think it's a drink issue because he will drink the formula from a cup. He doesn't want it that way, but will do it.

_________________
~Christine~
Mom of 6
Brandon ADD/ADHD 19, Chelsea 16, Connor 14, Logan 9, Cody 6 & Austin 4 ( DS & Hirschsprungs pull through 12/8/08 ) diagnosis 10/28/10 Colonic Neuropathy, 12/16/11 dx with seizure disorder, neurogentic bladder...Monti Cath 11/9/12
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/austinpaquin

I think I can, I think I can.
Climb the highest hills in all the land.
(If you think you can, you can.)
He could and he did !

I say CHEESE !

Karien · Posted: December 04 2009, 2:55 PM Post subject:

All I can say is: keep on. It took a long time for Kallen to drink anything other than his milk in a bottle. He later accepted Rooibos Tea (I don't know if you have it there) and now he loves his Pediasure, but only takes 2 bottles of those a day.
He drinks a chocolate milkshake when we go out- about a third of a glass.
Unfortunately he loves diet coke- he has no problem drinking that.
I also want him to drink more other stuff especially water. Someone on this board suggested that I put ice in his water and that really helps. I also have a 20ml syringe and have started giving him water with that. I have a glass in my bathroom and when I drink my water I offer his with the syringe. AHe thinks it's fun!
"I'm not there yet" and we are also working to have him drink more other drinks. Progress is slow, but happens!

_________________
Karien: happily married to Neels
Mom to Ewald (19), Eduan (16), Alvin (12) and KALLEN 6

lcboomboom · Posted: December 04 2009, 3:24 PM Post subject:

Since he's at an age where he can drink water and isn't relying solely on formula for caloric intake, what would happen if you began diluting the formula? Maybe it's a sensory thing and he just needs to babystep out of it. What happens when you add flavors to his formula (a tsp or two of instant breakfast powder, etc.)?

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LC Grace (Pudge) 10/10/08
AVSD repair 2/16/09
Gtube 4/1/09

Jace Cortin (Biggie) 9/30/09
AVSD repair 2/3/10

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Etta's Mom · Posted: December 04 2009, 10:54 PM Post subject:

I like the previuos suggestion about trying to dilute the formula/milk.

Does he like fruit- like pureed baby food?

Etta has trouble with liquid that is too thin. I've got her drinking from a straw now, but milk isn't thick enough and she kind of coughs on it because she sucks it up too quickly. SO, her favorite thing to drink besides milk is watered down pureed pears.

I just take a jar of baby food (usually pears) and I water it down some and she LOVES it! (plus, it helps some with her constipation).

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Mommy to Etta May- DOB: June 1st, 2008 (DS)
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HAnd · Posted: December 05 2009, 3:47 PM Post subject:

My baby with DS is too little to be dealing with this yet but something that helped tremendously with my older "typical" kids was to put water in a spray bottle. My 23 month old LOVES that right now, she'll either suck it out or ask to have me spray it in her mouth. People look at me strange when we are out in public and I ask her if she wants a drink then I spray it into her mouth but it gets water in her! My now 8 year old girl would ONLY drink water this way when she was a toddler.

SherryinWI · Posted: December 21 2009, 12:11 PM Post subject:

Have you tried the Honey Bear cup with the flexible straw tubing? I could just kick myself for not being more persistent....but Nate was so so oral defensive he would not mouth anything other than his bottle. Nate was just in an inpatient intensive feeding program and we took away the bottle and now are squirting in liquids from the Honey Bear. He is taking to it so well and we are now able to get him to drink 12 ounces of water a day in addiction to 20 ounces of whole milk with Carnation Instant Breakfast. He is 35 pounds and 5 yrs 3 mos of age. He is even sucking on the flexible tubing so in time we will change over to a straw cup. He just needs more time developing those oral motor muscles.

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Sherry
Evan 12, Olivia 11, and Nate 8*

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