When to feed baby juice
When Can Babies Have Juice
Knowing what’s best for their baby is something every parent strives for, and that includes what a baby can eat and drink, and when. If you’re considering giving your baby juice, we’ve got the answers to all your questions. Read on to find out when babies can drink juice and to learn more about your baby's nutritional needs.
When Can Babies Start Drinking Juice?
Many parents ask at what age can babies have juice? The answer is pretty straightforward: juice is not recommended for babies under 1 year as it offers no nutritional benefit. During your baby’s first six months, they get all the fluid and nutrition they need from breast milk or formula, and no additional water or milk is needed.
At 6 months of age, you may start giving your baby additional water in small amounts, on top of the fluids they already receive, but it’s still recommended to avoid juice. It’s not until your baby starts eating solids that they may need extra liquids in their diet. During this period, it’s much healthier for your baby to drink water and eat fruit instead of drinking fruit juice, which unlike fruit has no fiber and can encourage a preference for sweet drinks.
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When to Introduce Juice to Your Baby
Whether your baby is 4 months, 6 months, or even 9 months old, it’s not recommended for them to have juice if they are under 12 months of age. One-year-olds can drink juice, such as 100 percent orange or apple juice, but they should have no more than four ounces of juice in a day. Diluting the juice with water will help prevent your baby from consuming too much sugar. A more nutritional option for a baby who is eating solid foods is whole fruit. It contains more fiber and less sugar.
Keeping it simple and healthy is usually the best option. Once your baby is over 6 months, you may offer small amounts of water in addition to breast milk or formula. Here are the daily milk and water intake recommendations for your baby and young child.
Why Your Baby Shouldn’t Drink Juice
As mentioned above, giving juice to your baby under 12 months isn’t advised.
For the first six months, breast milk or formula will meet all of your baby's nutritional needs as well as keeping them hydrated. Around the time your baby turns 6 months old, you can start introducing solid foods to their diet and offering small amounts of water.
Even when you've introduced solids, it’s still not necessary to give your baby juice. Here are some reasons juice should be avoided:
It has no nutritional benefit; whole fruit contains more dietary fiber and less sugar
Juice can contribute to weight gain
It may cause tooth decay
Your child may develop a taste for sweet flavors
It may cause diarrhea.
Other Drinks to Avoid Giving Your Baby
Besides wondering when to introduce juice to a baby, some parents have questions about specific types of juice, such as when can babies have apple juice or orange juice. The answer is simple: giving your baby juice when they’re younger than 12 months old is not recommended.
Here is a full list of drinks to avoid giving your baby, toddler, and child under 5 years:
Fruit juice
Flavored milk
Sweetened drinks (including those with stevia and artificial sweeteners)
Plant-based milk (except soy milk)
Unpasteurized milk
Toddler milk
Cow’s milk before 12 months
Sugary drinks
Caffeinated drinks
It’s also important to note that giving your baby honey under 12 months of age isn’t safe.
Many parents ask the question “When can I give my baby juice?” Giving juice to babies under 12 months isn’t recommended. Drinking juice offers no nutritional benefit for babies and may lead to tooth decay and weight gain; it may even give your child a taste for sweet drinks. Until they reach 6 months, babies get all the fluids they need from breast milk or formula and do not need additional liquids.
After 6 months, or when your baby starts eating solid food, you may give them a small amount of additional water to drink as you continue to offer breast milk or formula.
Remember, it’s best to keep it simple when it comes to giving your baby, toddler, and young child something to drink. Stick to water when they are over 6 months, or water and milk once they’re 12 months old.
When Can Babies Drink Juice? Fruit Juice Guidelines for Babies – Happiest Baby
By Dr. Harvey Karp, MD, FAAP
Juice has traditionally been a widely accepted drink for babies and toddlers. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released information and details on when your baby can drink juice. Due to the higher sugar levels and lack of nutritional contents of fruit juice (apple, orange, prune, etc), it’s best to follow the guidelines set forth by the AAP.
When can babies drink juice?
When can babies drink juice? The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says it's best to wait until after your baby is 1 year old before giving them juice unless your doctor recommends it earlier for managing constipation.
Growing concerns about increased rates of obesity and tooth decay prompted the change of when you could give babies juice from the previous recommendation of 6 months.
Apple Juice for Babies and Infants
When I was a young doctor, we thought apple juice was a great first drink for babies, but it turned out to be a bad idea...resulting in the early introduction of sugar addiction.
It turns out that fruit drinks and fruit juice (including apple juice) are the food equivalent of an "alternative fact." Actually, the "fruit" (the pulp and most nutritious parts of the fruit) is thrown away, leaving "juice" (pretty much just sugar and water). This includes apple juice, orange juice, and even prune juice.
Your baby is better off without juice in the early days!
What can babies drink if juice is out?
For the first 6 months, babies should only have breast milk or formula (it’s even better if you can breastfeed for a full year, per the AAP). But after you do wean, formula and water are the preferred drinks, until your baby’s first birthday.
I also recommend offering non-caffeinated mint or chamomile sunshine tea. Just drop the tea bags in a pitcher of room temperature water and let it sit in the sun and self-brew for an hour. They are naturally sweet without sugar…and kids love them!
How much juice can toddlers and big kids drink?
After 1 year of age, pure 100% juice is OK as a special treat. Don’t think of it as a daily beverage for your little one to sip throughout the day. But that said, when you do give juice, AAP recommends you stay under the following daily limits:
- 4 oz. a day for 1 to 3-year-olds
- 4-6 oz. a day for 4 to 6-year-olds
- 8 oz. a day or 7-year-olds & up
So, if you were asking yourself the question “When can I give my baby juice?” Now you know! However, don’t let these juice restrictions confuse you about fruit—whole fruit is full of vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber. When you introduce solids to your baby, pureed and mashed fruit should be part of the mix.
About Dr. Harvey Karp
Dr. Harvey Karp, one of America’s most trusted pediatricians, is the founder of Happiest Baby and the inventor of the groundbreaking SNOO Smart Sleeper. After years of treating patients in Los Angeles, Dr. Karp vaulted to global prominence with the release of the bestselling Happiest Baby on the Block and Happiest Toddler on the Block. His celebrated books and videos have since become standard pediatric practice, translated into more than 20 languages and have helped millions of parents. Dr. Karp’s landmark methods, including the 5 S’s for soothing babies, guide parents to understand and nurture their children and relieve stressful issues, like new-parent exhaustion, infant crying, and toddler tantrums.
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Have questions about a Happiest Baby product? Our consultants would be happy to help! Connect with us at customercare@happiestbaby.
com.
Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider.
When can I give juice to a baby? Expert advice
April 26, 2019
Author: Pampik
When can I give juice to a baby? What juices can be given to children under one year old? At what age can juice be given to children? You will find answers to these questions in the article on the blog of the children's online store Pampik.com.
The first feeding of the baby is an important step in the development of the baby
Many parents are concerned about the time when they can start giving the first complementary foods. Another important knowledge is what exactly is included in this first complementary food. The problem is mainly that the advice contradicts itself.
More recently, it was believed that juice should be given almost immediately, from the first days of life. And, accordingly, our mothers, following the guidance of Soviet pediatricians, gave us juice. Everything would be fine, but later it turned out that most people with such a diet have stomach problems in adulthood. So it's really not possible. This advice, alas, is hopelessly outdated by several generations.
The best first food is porridge. Porridge is followed by single-component vegetable purees, then multi-component purees, then meat and fish. And after the child confidently eats mashed potatoes - that is, starting from four months, or even more, you can give juice.
Should I give juice to my baby? Is it too allergenic for the baby?
Of course, juices are a great variety for a children's menu. They are tasty, they are healthy, they introduce kids to new tastes and have a lot of vitamins. Moreover - since they are liquid, they are much easier to introduce into the diet.
But there are also disadvantages. Yes, juices can and should be administered up to a year, but not earlier than six months. In principle, the later, the better, to some extent. There is no particular controversy about this. Starting from six months, the child's gastrointestinal tract is properly formed. Babies over six months old can safely digest foods other than breast milk or infant formula. If you enter the juice earlier, a variety of unpleasant consequences are possible: from allergies to indigestion. Therefore, when introducing juices, you should follow the recommendations of the pediatrician and take your time.
Juicy variety: what juice flavors are best for a child?
Of course, there are fruit and vegetable juices. Carrot, tomato and pumpkin are confidently leading among vegetable juices. True, with vegetable juices it is usually wildly difficult. Finding a pumpkin even among juices for adults is not very realistic. Carrots are simpler, even in a single-component form, a tomato is even simpler.
Among juices for adults, of course, you can also find beetroot juice. But it is most similar to borscht, and it is too early to give it to a child. Even if the baby is already eating beetroot.
But in addition, they are also divided into juices with pulp and clarified. Most parents perfectly imagine what juices with pulp are - at least in their school days. But, despite the appearance, juices with pulp are also more useful. Each juice is a source of vitamins.
Traditionally, the introduction of juice begins with clarified apple juice. It is the least allergenic among all. If you look at the vitamins, then each type of juice contains useful substances. Let's take a closer look:
- Apple. Apple juice, in addition to better digestibility, contains iron and vitamin C. A big plus of vitamin C is that it helps develop immunity. In turn, this reduces the possibility of catching a whole host of unpleasant infections, ranging from colds to sore throats. In addition to the apple, pomegranate and kiwi also contain iron.
But neither one nor the other to give the child in the near future is undesirable. - Apricot and peach juices. They contain beta-carotene, just like carrots. But if carrots are not to the taste of all children, then fruit juices are much tastier. Beta-carotene affects hair growth, strong bones, healthy teeth and gums. By the way, peach and apricot can be replaced with pumpkin juice. And if mom or baby is a fan of Harry Potter, drinking juice becomes much more interesting. You can not only try to nurture an interest in juice in a child, but also say that they drink this juice at the school of magic, and grow up to be strong and beautiful wizards. Even if the child is too small to understand, it never hurts to cheer yourself up. Apricots also contain potassium, which is responsible for the proper functioning of the cardiovascular system.
- Pumpkin. In addition to beta-carotene, it also pleases with B vitamins. They are responsible for the proper development of the body and the functioning of the circulatory, respiratory and nervous systems.
It should also be taken into account that some juices can also affect the functioning of the stomach. For example, the same pomegranate and pear juices save from loose stools. But apricot, peach and plum successfully fight constipation. The same, by the way, applies to fruits of the same name, so be vigilant and careful.
In line! The order of introducing juices into complementary foods
Of course, in relation to juices, another question arises - when to introduce, and in what order. The first step is to consult a pediatrician. Babies drink exclusively mother's milk or formula. The newborn can be fed only milk or, if the infant is lactose intolerant, a lactose-free formula. No need to try to dilute the mixture with juice - this will not lead to anything good.
As already mentioned, it is better to start with clarified apple juice. Immediately after the apple, you can enter the apple with pulp. In general, any juices with pulp should be administered only after clarified ones.
So the chance of getting an allergy or indigestion is much less.
The further order of the queue is simple:
- Following the apple, you can enter the juice of a plum, banana, pear or prunes. You can choose the order according to your taste. The only caveat is that only one juice should be introduced in one day. Then you need to wait a bit - what will be the reaction of the child. If the baby gives out an absolutely normal reaction, do not rush to immediately give the baby the next look. Wait a while. Naturally, juices already introduced into the diet can be given without problems. But only between feedings, observing the interval. Also, do not give several juices at once. Another important nuance is that when giving juice to a child, you need to start with a small spoon. If everything is good, you can increase the amount, if not, you need to slow down.
- Berry juices are next. It can be blackcurrant, strawberry, raspberry. As with the previous ones, you first need to enter the juices one at a time.
If there is no allergy - you can continue. A mixture of juices in this case is dangerous only because if an allergy starts, it is difficult to understand which particular component caused it. - Last but not least, you can enter juices from citrus fruits and any other fruits that do not grow in your latitudes. This usually happens after the child is one year old. Naturally, if you do not live in Ukraine, but, for example, in Israel, then the procedure for introducing juices will be completely different. Of course, if your pregnancy also took place in Israel.
- Grape juice is an exception. It should be administered no earlier than five or even six years, because it wanders slightly, and periodically does this in the stomach.
Recommendations for the introduction of juices
Although most parents use the services of pediatricians, young mothers and fathers can simply forget about some questions. Especially if the child is the first. Therefore, Pampik.
com provides useful tips. By reading the blog, you will find out what else is worth paying attention to.
So, what do we recommend for the introduction of juices:
- Do not give your baby more than the amount of juice recommended by the pediatrician. Even if he asks. The fact is that getting used to new varieties of food should occur gradually. Here it is important to observe the exact dosage and increase the amount little by little.
- Despite the many recommendations on the sites, let's juice undiluted. If you buy a special children's juice, the vitamins and nutrients in it are balanced. When juice is diluted with water, most of the nutrients are lost. And the possibility of an allergy does not disappear.
- It is not necessary to give the crumbs juice intended for adults or squeezed out by oneself. Such juices do not have a balanced composition; often they are acidic. And the original product is not a fact that is really suitable for the baby. When you buy juice specially made for children, you know for sure that every step in the production of the product is under strict control.
Both the original raw materials and the production process, along with sterility, are monitored. - Tracking allergies and other strange reactions is easy. Pay attention to the behavior of the child, to his stool, and to the skin. If rashes appeared on the skin, something went wrong.
- Juice must not be introduced before you have introduced the first complementary food. If you are thinking about how to introduce complementary foods, and how to accurately determine the timing of the introduction of complementary foods, everything is simple.
The first weaning is a rather simple thing. If the child stops getting enough milk or formula, his weight almost doubles, he confidently sits on a chair and tries to steal a piece of food from under your nose - he is ready.
Rating of juices: what you can choose
If you buy juices in bulk, immediately calculate how much you need per month. And, of course, in this case, the Pampik online store will come to your aid.
So what can you choose from?
- Hipp. A company that almost everyone knows about. The price of this juice is not cheap, but the Hungarian manufacturer promises low allergenicity and a completely organic product. Sold in small glass jars of 200 ml. Among the most common options you can find apple, carrot, plum, as well as various apple-fruit mixtures.
- Sadochok. These juices are enjoyed by many Ukrainian children and adults. Sold both individually and in small packs of 5-6 pieces. In the line of juices, you can find almost any taste of Ukrainian fruits. Most often, apple and derivatives are found in stores.
- Agusha. There are small tetrapacks and a very favorable price. True, the line of flavors is rather strange: from pure juices, it is easiest to find only apple and pear. Everything else, alas, is a mixture with the same apple, such as an apple-peach or an apple-banana.
- Bambolina. This is a Belarusian company, which is distinguished, first of all, by a variety of tastes.
Juices mostly with pulp, packaging - 200 ml tetra packs. But among the flavors you can find an apple with blueberries, an apple with blueberries, an apple with rose hips - and much more.
- Miracle Child. Another popular juice brand. It is produced by the Odessa plant, in the abbreviation OKZD. The juice is supplied in 0.2 liter tetra packs, and almost all of it contains pulp. But in the line, both fruit and vegetable flavors coexist.
- Fleur Alpine, The Netherlands. This brand claims that its juices are hypoallergenic. At the moment, a jar of juice from Fleur Alpin is the most expensive in Ukraine. There are few flavors, some are mixed, but in general this is one of the most interesting lines.
- Spoon in the palm of your hand. Another Belarusian brand in tetra packs. Tastes are standard, price is average.
- Peanut. Quite an interesting flavor line; you can even find a pumpkin. And it's not so easy for adult juices. Packed in a tetrapack, there are both pure juices and pulp.
The cost is very affordable.
- Bebivita. Another Hungarian company. It costs less than Hipp, it is sold in jars in the same way. Among the flavors stand out apple, peach and a mixture of apple and pear.
- Marmaluzi. Lithuanian brand, very cozy design, reminiscent of grandmother's fairy tale jam. The shelf life of an open jar is one day. The line of flavors contains an apple and a lot of apple-berry mixtures. For example, apple-sea buckthorn or apple with chokeberry.
- Gerber, Poland. Tastes are included in the basic complementary foods with juices. The cost is quite low, in the line there are also vegetable flavors.
Always consult your pediatrician before drinking any juice, regardless of brand. Some juices are recommended to be taken from four months, some - from six. Some packages may have a shelf life of more than five months. But only a pediatrician can give you the final confirmation.
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Complementary foods for a child - the introduction of fruit puree, fruits and juices into the diet of infants
Historically, fruit juice was recommended by pediatricians as a source of vitamin C, calcium, and other vitamins.
The juice is delicious, sweet, children drink it with pleasure, and suddenly it turned out that there are potential risks: the high sugar content in the juice increases calorie intake, overweight and the risk of caries. More recently, about twenty years ago, doctors recommended the introduction of complementary foods, starting with juices and fruits. But now the situation has changed. Children's nutritionists believe that the optimal time for the introduction of juices is 1 year after the child gets used to the main complementary foods: vegetables, cereals, meat, fish, fruits. At the same time, you can find recommendations to give juices from 6 months or after 3 years. Carbohydrates, which are abundant in juice, change the child's appetite, but to get the required amount of vitamins, you need to drink a lot of it, about 1 liter! In addition, they do not give a feeling of satiety and the child may be prone to overeating.
Introduction of fruit juice American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations: download
- Optimal to completely avoid the use of juice in infants up to 6 months;
- AAP and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry guidelines state that juice should be offered to babies in a cup, not a bottle, and that babies should not go to bed with a bottle in their mouth.
- They concluded that long-term exposure of the sugar contained in the juice to the teeth is the main factor influencing dental caries.
- After 1 year, fruit juice can be used as part of a meal or snack. It should not be drunk like water during the day or used as a means to calm an upset child.
- Do not give juices if the child has diarrhea, oral rehydration solutions only.
- The development of perioral rash in some children after feeding freshly squeezed citrus juice is most likely due to the chemical irritant effect of the acid.
- Diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms that some children experience are most commonly associated with carbohydrate malabsorption.
- Although fruit allergy can develop at an early age, this is rare.
Baby food - fresh juices
It is not recommended to introduce freshly squeezed juices to children under one year old. But there is no strict ban.
Juice up to a year is not useful, unlike children older than one year . It contains a lot of fruit acid, which can lead to increased peristalsis and intestinal walls, pain, and digestive disorders. Dilute with water in a ratio of 1:1. And remember, fresh juice retains its maximum amount of vitamins in the first half hour, so do not store juice for later. With a later introduction of juice, their better tolerance is noted. This is due to the maturation of the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract and its readiness for the absorption of juice. But even with this, the child may experience pain and bloating, regurgitation, and stool disorders. This is due to the presence of organic acids in juices, which have an irritating effect on the gastrointestinal tract.
How do I start adding juice to my baby?
First, a teaspoonful (about 5 ml) between feedings, observing the baby's reaction.
For children under 3 years old, juices are recommended to be diluted with boiled or baby water in a ratio of 1:2. Freshly squeezed juices - up to 7-8 years. The amount of juice: from 1 year to 1.5 years - up to 100 ml, should not be exceeded. At 2 years - 200 ml.
First, it is better to give the juice of green apples or pears. Juice from plums, apricots, peaches - it is better to give at an older age, they have a slight laxative effect.
Then you can give a mixture of juices from 2 or 3 fruits. You can give a mixture of cherry, cherry, currant, raspberry juice, orange juice, pineapple, mango, grapefruit and mixtures thereof. It is better to give grape juice from 5-6 years old, there are a lot of carbohydrates.
It must be remembered that:
- Apple, carrot and pear juice - strengthen
- Plum, pumpkin, apricot, peach - weakening
This can be used if there are digestive problems.
If we choose industrial juices - carefully read what is written on the label, there should be no artificial additives, dyes and preservatives. Do not use opened packages. Should I give industrial juices for baby food? Why not? They are made from high quality, proven, specially selected raw materials, production is strictly controlled, they have balanced compositions and optimal taste. Until the age of 3, buy juices for your child only marked “baby food” on the package.
Introduction of fruit and fruit puree - European recommendations
If your young child has already tasted vegetables and accepted them, it's time for fruit. The season is always for them, but the best is in autumn, when the most delicious apples, pears and plums appear. Fresh fruits from all over the world are available in stores all year round, but it's worth starting with seasonal, locally grown ones. And these are: apricots, raspberries, apples, pears, plums.
They contain not only vitamins, dietary fiber, but also minerals, including valuable microelements, which should be present in the child during the expansion of the diet.
Fruit is usually recommended from 6-7 months of age. Complementary foods often begin with fruit or vegetable purees. But it is better to start with vegetables. Fruit puree tastes better, is sweeter, and the child may then eat vegetables worse. But vegetable puree will not affect the baby's desire to eat fruit dishes. Therefore, more often pediatricians are advised to give fruit dishes after the introduction of vegetables and cereals. Start complementary foods with fruits in the form of mashed apples or bananas or pears. Then you can add fruits that grow in your area of \u200b\u200bresidence. Then you can include fruit and fruit and vegetable mixtures.
Fashionable but exotic fruits or with strong flavors - strawberries, mangoes, kiwis, currants - should be introduced later. But there is no strict ban.
Fruit puree should be started with 1 teaspoon in the morning, increasing to 100 g over 2 weeks.
Homemade or factory made? As you wish, subject to the basic hygiene rules of cooking. If you have time, make your own fruit puree. Plums, apricots, banana can be mashed in a mortar or blender. Grate apples and pears on a fine plastic grater. For the first time, the apple can be boiled, then it will be soft. Pour the prunes with boiling water and leave for 15 minutes. Do not add sugar!
Homemade fruit puree - don't forget about hygiene
Grater, preferably plastic or a blender, pour over with boiling water, wash and peel the fruit.
Gradually make the fruit puree coarser.
Start with liquid puree, at 8 months - finely ground puree, at 10 months of age. - puree from larger particles.
When the child has 6-8 teeth, you can give pieces of fruit and he will eat them on his own.
Properties of various fruit purees
- Banana puree is a good source of trace elements: magnesium and potassium, calcium, iron and phosphorus.
Bananas rarely cause allergic reactions - Prune puree can act as a mild laxative that increases intestinal motility. Contains potassium, vitamins B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin).
- Blueberry puree contains a tannin - tannin, contains pectin, which has a disinfectant and anti-inflammatory effect, contains a large amount of provitamin A - beta-carotene, which is good for vision, manganese. In addition, blueberries are low allergenic. Apricots are an excellent source of potassium, carotene, vitamin C and pectin.
Advice from Nyankovskikh Healthy Child University
- Fruits are sweet and can be used instead of sweets.
- Fruits should be included in the child's diet as the second food group after vegetables. They can be given quite early, when the baby is four months old (between 17 and 26 weeks of age).
- Initially it can be a mousse (or puree from a jar) and then an apple scraper with a spoon.
