Water

Do you all bring cups of water outside for all your kids? I bring my group outside at the end of the day for 45-60min. They have snack with water before going out.

My kids are all young and I limit cups to the table as they quickly become communal cups and get lost in the daycare.

This family in the past has commented that their child (now 14ish months) is thirsty at home in the evenings, that they let him have cups while playing etc. At pick up they would comment how he's thirsty etc...they started sending a water cup in his bag so they can give it in the car on the way home (ideal solution) but that lasted all of 3 days before they stopped sending it. I'll also note that the child still gets numerous large bottles at home (held by the parent) I very quickly phased that out here as the child had zero interest in the bottles and I had zero interest in bribing a child over age 1 (who eats like a champ at the table) to take formula.

So this morning, again, dad commented they were worried how he is so thirsty in the evenings. I again restating how often the cup is offered and told him to keep sending a cup in his bag.

Am I being unreasonable with not letting the child carry a cup around all day? Is it unreasonable to not offer water while outside for one hour (we don't go out if it's really hot)?

I will likely just send another email stating when water/milk is offered and why it is not a free for all of cups around here. Things are different at home with one child versus a group of 5 under age 2.

I usually only have cups at the table while inside but outside is different. I bought some cheap sippy cups and put their names on them and take those outside with water in them. This way if they lose them at the parks it's not the good ones the parents send. They are running around outside and it's hot so I like to offer a drink.

I will throw them in my outside bag, add a couple bottle of waters and fill at the park or in backyard. Before coming in I dump the cups so it doesn't leak in my bag and I'm not juggling cups and children!

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Originally Posted by 5 Little Monkeys

I usually only have cups at the table while inside but outside is different. I bought some cheap sippy cups and put their names on them and take those outside with water in them. This way if they lose them at the parks it's not the good ones the parents send. They are running around outside and it's hot so I like to offer a drink.

I will throw them in my outside bag, add a couple bottle of waters and fill at the park or in backyard. Before coming in I dump the cups so it doesn't leak in my bag and I'm not juggling cups and children!

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I pretty much do the same as you 5LM. The kids are not allowed to walk around all day with a sippy cup so indoors we have regular "sip" breaks as my guys are all very young so I understand the communal cup issues. When outside I have them all on a little table and they can come and drink as frequently as they require as long as the sippy is placed back on the table when they go back to playing. If the child is thirsty then they need their water intake increased, theres nothing that can be done about that and its actually a really good thing for them to drink as much water as they can. As a parent I'd be a little frustrated if my child was always thirsty at pick up even with your explanation of the routine. Remind the parents to bring a sippy for the ride home and top him up as often as possible. I don't think the formula or holding a bottle for their child has anything to do with how thirsty he is so I wouldn't connect the two. If he's thirsty he is thirsty.

I just question if he is as thirsty as they think. I've offered a sippy cup while outside in the past and he'll take a small sip push it away and want to play. I can't help but feel like they get home and give him a bottle of formula and he is sucking it back since he enjoys the cuddle with mom and hasn't had formula all day.

I have take and toss cups I can bring out to offer. I will offer the water shortly before he is picked up to see if they notice a difference.

I think the parents are being a bit nit-picky, questioning you so much, but I do the same as the above. Cheap sippy cups with cold water outside, but mine have to stay on the step by the door. They can go over and take a drink as often as they want, but they're not to be running around holding it. It eliminates my needing to take them all inside or send my 6 year-old in for water, but still at least stops a lot of the mess.

I could be wrong in my thinking but I view formula drinking as hunger and water as thirst. You could be right that he is just wanting that cuddle time with the parent. Either way, I would still offer water outside, especially on the really hot days.

Each child has a good quality non leaking cup that has their name on it. I put them in a small cooler that has a strap that I can carry. I take them out with me when we go out on hot days. Either the kids ask for water or I offer it regularly, they have to drink it there on the spot or sit and drink. I don't ever allow water to be carried around by the kids either inside or outside as they so easily turn into communal cups. That is one of the necessary differences between life at daycare versus at home.

If it were me I would be taking water outside, but it wouldn't be a free for all. I would also be asking the parents to have water available for their child in the car if they feel they need it and tell them that when it is offered that they only take a small sip. There is only so much you can do!

Thanks everyone. I will start bringing water out. seems I am the minority in not bringing water out already! Still not convinced we need it, I don't take them out when we it's super warm, like today when it'll be 30 plus humidity. We are never out for more than an hour as naps and routines with 5 under 20months don't allow it!
I did send home an email saying I'd retry water outside, that the child didn't show interest in the past. Reminded them to send a cup in his bag so he can drink in car ride home.

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Originally Posted by AmandaKDT

Each child has a good quality non leaking cup that has their name on it. I put them in a small cooler that has a strap that I can carry. I take them out with me when we go out on hot days. Either the kids ask for water or I offer it regularly, they have to drink it there on the spot or sit and drink. I don't ever allow water to be carried around by the kids either inside or outside as they so easily turn into communal cups. That is one of the necessary differences between life at daycare versus at home.

If it were me I would be taking water outside, but it wouldn't be a free for all. I would also be asking the parents to have water available for their child in the car if they feel they need it and tell them that when it is offered that they only take a small sip. There is only so much you can do!

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Sorry, just saw that my previous post has a thumbs down icon at the top - didn't mean to put that!!!

Since you're only outside for an hour, just after they had access to water, I don't think you're wrong. Parents are being fussy. Keep track of their wet diapers for a few days, and see what you find. If you have a lot of wet ones, let them know what you found, and that their worries are unfounded.

We're outside most of the morning, mostly in the sun, so I bring water. Everyone has the same straw water bottle every single day, year round (they get it for snacks in winter), so for the most part, everyone knows which one is there's. They aren't allowed to play while carrying it. It's just available, and every so often I'll ask if anyone wants water, and hold it for whomever comes over.

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Originally Posted by AmandaKDT

Sorry, just saw that my previous post has a thumbs down icon at the top - didn't mean to put that!!!

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I noted the thumbs down but it didn't seem to go with your post so I ignored it :-)

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Originally Posted by kimg

Since you're only outside for an hour, just after they had access to water, I don't think you're wrong. Parents are being fussy. Keep track of their wet diapers for a few days, and see what you find. If you have a lot of wet ones, let them know what you found, and that their worries are unfounded.

We're outside most of the morning, mostly in the sun, so I bring water. Everyone has the same straw water bottle every single day, year round (they get it for snacks in winter), so for the most part, everyone knows which one is there's. They aren't allowed to play while carrying it. It's just available, and every so often I'll ask if anyone wants water, and hold it for whomever comes over.

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My crew also each have a colour coded straw cup and while they recognise theirs they are too young to not slobber up all the cups when within reach : -) someday they will be old enough and trustworthy!
He does have enough wet diapers on my end but I don't know it is a worthy measure when he takes bottles at home and I know they give a full bottle when he wakes instead of breakfast. He can be peeing out all the formula but still be thirsty in evening, especially since formula is not a thirst quencher.

We eat afternoon snack outside most days and I bring water out every time. I take the opportunity to teach the kids how to drink out of an open top cup instead of a sippy cup (plastic ones from dollarama). Not a big deal if we are outside and they spill the water all over. I then leave their cups on the picnic table so they can help themselves.

Even indoors the kids have full access to their cups whenever they need it. They must be left on the table though. NO walking around with cups!

Edit to add: I personally think it is teaching good manners to keep all food and drink at the table only and never allow it anywhere else , even outdoors it is left on the table.

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Originally Posted by mickyc

We eat afternoon snack outside most days and I bring water out every time. I take the opportunity to teach the kids how to drink out of an open top cup instead of a sippy cup (plastic ones from dollarama). Not a big deal if we are outside and they spill the water all over. I then leave their cups on the picnic table so they can help themselves.

Even indoors the kids have full access to their cups whenever they need it. They must be left on the table though. NO walking around with cups!

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I'm the same, all the kids have their own cups at the table and have access, outside I bring water bottles and fill their cups when they become thirsty.

Each child has their own sippy cup and they are free to walk around with it and of course they are brought outside with us. I even go so far as to put ice in them. I am a big water drinker and so is one little guy.

I don't find that they turn into communal water cups, since they learn right off the bat which one belongs to them. They will even bring each other the correct cup. After buying countless different styles of cups, I've finally found which ones don't leak so we are good to go.

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Originally Posted by Lee-Bee

I just question if he is as thirsty as they think. I've offered a sippy cup while outside in the past and he'll take a small sip push it away and want to play. I can't help but feel like they get home and give him a bottle of formula and he is sucking it back since he enjoys the cuddle with mom and hasn't had formula all day.

I have take and toss cups I can bring out to offer. I will offer the water shortly before he is picked up to see if they notice a difference.

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I see what you're saying and I think you are probably onto something there. Why not just say it like that to mum and dad then?

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Originally Posted by kimg

Since you're only outside for an hour, just after they had access to water, I don't think you're wrong. Parents are being fussy. Keep track of their wet diapers for a few days, and see what you find. If you have a lot of wet ones, let them know what you found, and that their worries are unfounded.

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This is a great suggestion. If this child has soaked diapers regularly then you can let the parents know that the child is taking in more than adequate amounts of fluid throughout the day. They can't argue with that but if they do, I just wouldn't engage in a conversation about it any further.

If child has a snack and drink after nap and access to water while outside playing then assume the child is more hungry than thirsty and maybe parents should skip the bottle and give child some food to chew on.

I only provide drinks with snacks and lunch routinely and if it's a particularly hot day since we have lots of outside time here, I will offer additional drinks of water. However, all children are expected to sit down and drink/eat and I do not permit a child to walk around with a cup/drink, nor do they have unlimited access to drinks.

This is not a cafe. It's a day care. I do understand that some children drink more than others, but I will not permit walking around with a drink and it's not practical to supervise one child endlessly sitting at the table to drink whilst the others are getting on with the scheduled activities.

This is something I discuss and am very clear about in interview. I make the statement that children will be expected to sit in the designated area to eat and drink and will not be permitted to move food or drink from that space. I explain that milk is offered with morning and afternoon snack and water is provided with lunch.

I have had a couple of children over the years who look forward to a drink on the car ride home - siblings I will add - but IMO part of that is habitual expectation and kind of their routine vs them being truly thirsty much as many of us, turn the tea kettle or coffee pot on first thing in the morning as part of our own routine.

I don't think you are being unreasonable. And I do think if these parents were truly worried about their child's thirst level, then they would have made sure that drink came for more than the 3 days they managed. LOL

I also think that there's a lot of suggestive comments being made between you and the Dad - with no real statements. I am one of those direct people. I say what I mean and I mean what I say and I am very clear in my communications. This again, is something I inform parents of at interview as subtle hints and suggestions often lead to mis-communications. I encourage my parents to be the same in their dealings with me in terms of caring for their children.

His "read-between-the-lines-when-I-tell-you-my-child-is-super-thristy-in-the-evenings" comments are, I think, his subtle way of telling you they would like additional drinks provided. Likewise, your lack of direct response leave him wondering if you have understood his message.

Be clearer - make the statement that you will not permit a child to walk around drinking in your day home. That drinks are provided at a given time. And feel free to suggest that their provision of an extra drink during the car ride home was a great solution but short-lived so ask why that can't be continued. You could always suggest too that they include his cup in his bag and you are more than happy to fill it with fresh water just prior to collection for his journey home.

I agree with Rachael, I only offer drinks with snacks and meals. If it is particularly hot, I will offer a juice box/jammer as a special treat, but really this summer has not been hot. They get plenty to drink at their homes in the morning and evening and plenty to drink with snacks/lunch here. Unless he is having to many dry diapers I wouldn't worry about it. Kids are not welcome to walk around my house with zippy cups. And guess what, at centres (I have worked in them), kids can get a little disposable cup to have a drink any time they want, but rarely, rarely, rarely, did I ever see a child do it.

I tend to disagree with those who say that drinks do not need to be available all day long. I can't imagine only drinking when I eat. If I am thirsty I go have a drink. I cannot imagine telling little ones that they must wait until snack time. They are constantly moving and active and they will need fluids way more than I do. My kids must have their drinks at the table as well and are not allowed to walk around with them but they do know if they are thirsty they can go have a drink. Water is available at my house all day long, in their sippy cup/straw cup (for the big kids). When we go outside in summer I bring open top cups outside and they remain on the kids table while they play. It isn't a lot of work and becomes routine once you start doing it. Water is good for you and I strongly believe that kids aren't getting enough as it is. I rarely serve juice - maybe three or four times a year.