

Serve juicy fruits as snacks instead of juice.Have water available in place of juice in a cup.Offer juices less often or dilute them with water.*.How can you limit the amount of juice your child drinks? When can you begin providing juice to infants?Īccording to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the American Academy of Pediatrics, parents or caregivers should wait to introduce juice until the infants reach the age of 12 months and are able to drink from a cup. Too much juice can promote weight gain, tooth decay and stomach cramps and/or gas. For these reasons, most health-care professionals recommend that parents limit the amount of juice their children drink.

In addition, some types of juice, such as apple and pear, contain high amounts of sorbitol, a nondigestible sugar alcohol, which may cause stomach upset or diarrhea in some children. Healthy baby teeth are vital to a healthy mouth lifelong. Do not put juice in a bottle because the natural sugars in juice can promote tooth decay. Children who consume too much juice may not be hungry at mealtime and may miss out on other important nutrients their bodies need to grow.įor dental health, do not allow your child to carry a “sippy cup” or box of juice with him or her throughout the day. While most 100 percent fruit juices contain vitamin C and some minerals, they often lack the fiber that whole fruit contains.Ĭhildren who drink large amounts of juice consume vitamins and minerals, but they get more calories from juice than from mashed or chopped whole fruit. The problem is, many children consume too much juice, often in place of milk, water, fruits or vegetables. Like foods, most beverages can fit into a healthful diet. A balanced diet includes a variety of foods.
