Juice

After 12 months, you can give small amounts of juice as a drink. Waiting until the second birthday is even better. Regular or heavy intake of sweet drinks can narrow the variety of foods a child eats. It raises the risk of tooth decay. It can also change appetite in ways that hurt growth.

Babies under 12 months should not get juice as a drink unless a doctor advises it. Breast milk or formula is enough, plus small amounts of water after 6 months. Cooking with juice as an ingredient is fine.

How much and how

Between 12 and 23 months, keep juice to a minimum if you can. When you do serve it, stay under 120 ml a day. Dilute it with water. Use an open cup or a straw. Serve it with a meal in one sitting. Offer water afterward to help rinse sugar from the mouth.

Which juice

Pick pasteurized, 100% juice with no added sugar. For cold-pressed bottles, the label tells you if the juice is raw, heat-treated or pressure-treated. The cold-pressed method does not change the sugar or fiber picture.

Whole fruit is better

In whole fruit the sugar is less concentrated and comes with fiber. That adds fullness and helps steady blood sugar. Juice loses its fiber and concentrates the sugar. Whole fruits and vegetables are more nutritious than their juice.

Juice is not a common cause of choking. Still, liquids can slip into the airway. Offer small amounts while your child is seated and supervised. Stay close during meals, within arm's reach.

Juice ingredients are mostly not common allergens. Children with oral allergy syndrome may react to some juices, particularly raw, unpasteurized ones. The sign is usually brief itching or burning in the mouth. Heat treatment reduces the reaction.

Acid in juice can cause a rash near the mouth that is harmless. It can also worsen diaper rash. A thin layer of barrier cream on the face and diaper area before the meal can help.