2.5 Yr Old Drinks Tons of Water, Lately Soaking Through Overnights During Day!

I would be happy that he is drinking water, but he may be drinking more than he needs (for comfort or out of habit). The rule in my house was always that we eat and drink at the table, and no carrying around drinks or snacks. If he has to stop what he is doing to sit down and have a drink he may do so more mindfully and only drink when he is actually thirsty.

Hi J.! As a mom with kids that have Type 1 Diabetes, I applaud you for taking your son in to be tested when you recognized that he could have symptoms. Based on the lab results, I would be confident in your doctor's diagnoses for now. A blood glucose test for Type 1 Diabetes does not need to be a fasting test, so don't feel like you need to test again, unless you continue to have concerns.

Have you ever heard of Diabetes Insipidus? Despite the name, it's not related to types 1 or 2 diabetes and does not affect blood glucose. The symptoms are intense thirst and frequent urination. It's pretty rare, I believe, but something to ask your doctor about if the excellent advice given by the other posters doesn't work out.

I wish you and your son the best! I'm very glad to hear that you aren't dealing with a Type 1 Diabetes diagnoses..

You got him tested and are concerned about diabetes because he pees a lot? But admit that he carries around his cup and sucks down water all day long like some kids suck on a pacifier?

I'm no doctor, but if he's drinking water all day, I would think he'd pee a lot.

I suggest you stop trying to find a disease at fault and focus on the real problem. He DOES have a lovey, it's his water cup! Figure out how many ounces of water he's drinking daily and cut that amount back to less than 40. 24-36 is the typical recommendation for toddlers. He's going to throw fits when you limit his water, but oh well. I personally don't believe in letting a child walk around with a binky, a blanket, a lovey, a cup, anything. Once their crawling, those things stay in the crib (cups at the highchair or table).

Break the dependence now, before he heads off to school.

2.5 is old enough to understand that water stays at the table.
Let him having his cup to haul around, empty unless you are going out. When he wants a drink, it's time for him to use a small, sturdy mug at the table. If this is an issue, take him with you and let him pick one out. My guess is that he's old enough to stop what he's doing and drink at the table. This will probably cut back on the consumption, which does sound excessive and just a habit.

I would keep track of the amount of water he is drinking. It is hard, but you can overdo water. It dilutes key minerals in your system and the smaller the child the easier it is to throw a system out of whack. When you have a number, call your doctor and see if his consumption is within healthy ranges.

i would have worried about diabetes too, but since he's been tested (sensible of you) and the test has come back fine, why drive yourself nuts trying to create a problem where none exists?
you've got a kid who likes water, which is awesome. he drinks a ton of it, which is also great. if he DIDN'T pee a lot, that would give me pause.
since it's worrying you, why NOT keep track of it over the course of a few days? it would be easy enough to measure how much his cup holds and do a simple stroke-mark count each time you fill it.
once you've got a good median, run it by your doctor.
i'm betting he's fine, though.
khairete
S.

Glad you had him tested for diabetes and are aware of the link between constant thirst and drinking and diabetes. Keep an eye on that just in case because diabetes is nothing to mess with, and the doctor should be willing to retest any time you want. Was it a "fasting" test or just done whenever?

Does he seem to be truly thirsty when he's always asking for more water? If so, that would be more of a sign he might be diabetic but your description indicates maybe he is drinking for comfort and out of habit, since his cup is his lovey and is always in his hand.

I would start reducing the water. He's going to ask for more. Just smile and say lightly, "Oh, sorry, no more right now" --and then be ready to distract him immediately: "Let's go outside" or "It's time to leave for X" or whatever. Have things he can do with his hands, besides drinking from his cup, ready in every room and in the car as well; when he asks for more water, instead hand him something tactile like an age-appropriate play clay or coloring set. He needs to be distracted consistently to get him used to doing something that makes him put down the cup.

Also, was he using a pacifier prior to going so crazy over his cup? It might be that he likes the sucking sensation of the cup, if it has a mouthpiece he has to suck on to draw out water. Even if he doesn't technically have to suck on the cup to get water out, he might be sucking the top anyway and possibly chewing on it too as comfort or for teething -- not great for his developing teeth. But it might explain the constantly having a cup at his mouth.

I would focus on this for a while and be sure he has things to do (and that you have time to be next to him doing them) so that he gets distracted from the cup. You might even have to "lose" it before an outing or two, so he is going away from home to do something fun but the cup isn't there -- eventually he's going to come home and the first thing he does will NOT be to ask for the cup.

Do you go places regularly like a church or house of worship, or the grocery store, or a play group, etc? Does he currently carry the cup and drink in all those places? If so, I would now make some places drink-free zones. (This is a good idea anyway since he's old enough to start learning there are places we drink and eat, and places we do not.) Maybe start with one place, such as no more drinking during church, then build up to leaving the cup in the car at the store. Maybe you already do this?

I would note that the person posting below about too much water intake is right. Hard to believe but yes, it is possible to take in too much water -- actually happened with an adult friend who was trying so hard to be hydrated that he overdid it and the doctor said he'd thrown off his body's chemistry. (He was fine.) Not saying that's your son's case but just be aware of it. Most of us, including most kids, do not drink nearly enough!

I do think it sounds like drinking has become your son's comfort, like a pacifier or blanket for other kids, but it's a comfort that has a lot of potential issues, and once he's a bit older and maybe in preschool (is he now? Does he drink there or does he get distracted by the activities?) he will not be allowed to carry his cup around.

Doesn't sound like he has the other symptoms - the weight loss, blurred vision, irritability and being ravenous at times. Also quite severe fatigue.

Usually they do the blood test and if they suspect diabetes they do the fasting one. Then they sometimes do it again. But usually they take into account all the other signs too.

My child developed a habit of drinking when we weaned him off his soother. He still liked the oral soothing aspect, and it really upped his diaper use. I just weaned him off it.

I do the same. I have a bottle of water that I drink all the time. Then I use the washroom all day. I am not so much thirsty as if it is there, I will drink it. I do it to make sure I get enough water in during the day - but it's addictive (why they tell you to keep water on you).

Good luck :)

There's nothing wrong with him, he's just drinking water all day because he has it. I do the same thing at my desk at work; I have a cup on my desk and as long as there's water in it, I'll drink it. And then I need to pee. If I am busy and don't fill it, I don't drink water and don't need to pee.

So. Start limiting your son from drinking so much water. To start with, simply limit refills. Instead of refilling it whenever he brings it to you, refill it only at meals. Let him carry it around, but only agree to fill it at mealtime. Once it's empty, it doesn't get refilled again until the next meal. After awhile, he won't be interested in carrying an empty cup around until the next meal, so you can gently suggest leaving it at the table. It doesn't have to the a harsh transition, and reducing those refills will mean he doesn't soak his diaper. "Sorry, kiddo, no more water until breakfast."

My son who is now 13 drank water ALL the time and like yours, went through diapers like crazy... but I was happy it was water he liked.,
That said, he is healthy and to this day, still LOVES his water..

With regard to a blood test vs Urine analysis.. From all that I read with regard to some of my own health issues, IF you can get urinalysis done as oppose to just blood work, its' so key in better detecting a problem that UNTIL it manifest itself in the blood and is then a larger problem, it won't be detected and or dealt with. With a 24 urine analysis you can then see what his body is holding on to and what it is releasing, hence when you do that, you get a better scope of the body's functioning and or what might not be functioning.
try the urine analysis again (pref 24 hour) you do that home and he goes into a container, which if at home, he might be willing to do ..
something worth considering..
good luck

Sounds like you've ruled out any serious health issues. Just keep in
contact w/your doctor.
If carrying his water sippy cup around ends up being just a comfort thing,
maybe just limit amount of refills right before bedtime to reduce mid-
sleep leakage.
As far as sleep leakage, wen youngest was a baby, I would "layer" his
bed with a mattress protector (they make good ones that aren't noisy or
crinkle too much when you move around), thin towel, fitted crib mattress
sheet, towel another fitted crib mattress sheet. Reason for layering, if
little one wet during the night just neeeded to quietly change him & take
off top wet layer. Layer underneath was generally dry & could put little
one back down fairly swiftly back to bed w/o too much awake time &
kept him dry for sleep. This stage should pass fairly soon. Hang in there

He sounds just fine. Water is a healthy drink. Also sounds like he is going through a growing spurt. Everything goes into overdrive. All intake, out put, activity and rest. . This is going to happen over and over until he reaches his final size. For some men that is their early 20's.

It is really good you had him checked out.

Sounds fine to me. Maybe actually see how much he is drinking. Then check with your doc. It may just be habit right now.

In order to regulate his intake, fill his cup from a gallon jug. At the end of the day, measure what's left in the jug, and you know just how much he's had. Do this for 3 or so days and you'll get an idea of what he's actually putting away.

Best,
F. B.