To most of us, fruit juice is regarded as a healthy option, but sugars and acids don’t make juice a good choice for babies and small children.
Better alternatives
In your baby’s first year of life, he will gain most nutrition from the milk he drinks and the early foods he tries when he is weaned (at around six months). When he is thirsty and there is no need for another milk feed, or you want to help him wash down some food, you can offer cool, boiled water in a beginners’ drinking cup.
Sources of vitamin C
Whilst some mothers like to give juice as a source of vitamin C (not only important in itself but also vital if the body is to absorb iron effectively), it is preferable to offer vegetables and fruit rich in the vitamin, mashed and prepared as your child’s other food is. (You will notice that some jars of baby food have added vitamin C.) Unfortunately, strawberries, which are rich in vitamin C, are NOT suitable for children under one due to the risk of allergic reaction.)
The dangers of juice
As it is, a baby who spends too long ‘nursing’ a bottle of milk is exposing his young teeth to risk of decay, so putting juices into his cup or bottle would only make matters worse.
Also, once your child gets used to enjoying drinks with a flavoursome kick to them, it is often hard to persuade him back on to water, which is a far more important beverage to maintain in his diet.
When you do begin to offer juices (preferably wait until at least a year), make sure they are heavily diluted with water. Acidic juices can cause a young digestive systems problems, can affect bowel movements and cause burning or soreness when a baby sits or sleeps in a wet nappy.
Toddlers beware, too
Whilst your dentist will condone an apple a day, she will not welcome the idea of putting fillings in the mouths of children under five. Fruit juice (not just fizzy drinks and sweets) can be a major cause of tooth decay in young children. Some diluted juice can be a good idea once your child is older, but only offer it at mealtimes, try to steer away from (nutritonally inferior) apple juice, and avoid ‘juice drinks’ altogether.
