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The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that fruit juice not be given to children less than 1 year.1 At that age it offers no nutritional value, contributes to tooth decay, and might cause your baby to prefer sweeter flavors, which will affect his or her food choices later in life.
For children of 1-6 years, the AAP recommends only 30 – 170 ml of juice per day as part of a meal or snack.1,2,3
- Don’t give juice at bedtime because it can cause cavities.
- Don’t allow sipping juice throughout the day as it might cause tooth decay and decrease their appetite at the next meal.1,2,3,4
- Choose 100% fruit juice, not the sweetened or artificial drinks. If the label says made with real juice, it usually means it is mainly sugar and water. Look for words that end with ose like sucrose, fructose, etc. which indicates added sugar. 2,3,4
Although 100% juice and sweetened drinks have similar calories, the real juice offers better nutrition 1,2, and has Iron, vitamins, minerals and has less additives, colorants, plus it helps with mild constipation. Even though a small amount of real juice is acceptable for your toddler, drinking too much can lead to obesity1 and can cause toddlers diarrhea 5 from the sugar in the juice.
Instead of juice, offer your toddler real fruit as they have more fiber, flavonoids, vitamins and minerals that come from eating the full flesh and skin of an apple, for example. Eating whole fruits can curb their appetite and holds them for the next meal. 1
If your toddler is hooked on juice, you can help by starting to dilute their juice with 50% water to help decrease the amount of sugar they consume. 2
If you are having severe difficulties with your toddler, consult your pediatrician or dietitian for further recommendations.
Dr. Rima Halat
MD Pediatrician
