Swap Out The Fruit Juice

baby drinking water

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no fruit juice for children during the first year of life. This is a change from previous policy; until 2017 they recommended no fruit juice during the first 6 months.

Why the change?

Fruit juices offer no nutritional benefit, and can be a dental concern. Although often marketed as a healthy option, fresh fruit offers more nutrients, fiber, and less sugar!

AAP recommendations by age:

Birth-12 months: no fruit juice
1-3 years old: at most 4 ounces a day
4-6 years old: no more than 4-6 ounces a day
7-18 years old: no more than 8 ounces a day

In addition, the AAP cautions the following:

Do not put juice in bottles, sippy cups, or anything that allows for prolonged sipping throughout the day. The exposure can lead to tooth decay. For the same reason, do not give juice at night.

For more information and additional recommendations:

https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/pages/american-academy-of-pediatrics-recommends-no-fruit-juice-for-children-under-1-year.aspx