Many moms like to think that as soon as their baby turns 6 months of age, they should start giving them juice. But this couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, juice is NOT necessary for an infant. Here's why: - Because of the sugars in juice, it can cause diarrhea. - Too much juice can cause a child to be overweight or obese. - Juice contains sugars and acids that can cause tooth decay. - Giving your baby too much juice can hinder growth and development, and can cause malnutrition and anemia due to lack of nutrients like proteins and complex carbohydrates. - If you are still breastfeeding, juice can cause your baby to nurse less. Although juice contains Vitamin C, you don't want to give them too much. It should never be considered a supplement. If you must give your baby juice, consider these guidelines. - Wait until your baby is at least 6 months old. But even then, babies at this age still do not require it. - Dilute juice by at least half and half. Most grocery stores have a baby aisle with juice specially diluted for babies. These juices also contain more Vitamin C than regular juices, but are also more expensive. - Never give your baby juice from a bottle. And never give them juice from a cup to suck on all day. This can cause tooth decay. - Don't give your baby juice at bedtime. - Babies shouldn't have more than 150ml (one half cup) of juice a day. - Instead of giving fruits in liquid form, try giving them real fruit! - If your baby is thirsty, give them water instead. If your baby doesn't like water, try flavoring the water with a little bit of juice. - If you start feeding your baby water from the beginning, they won't naturally prefer juice instead of water. I hope these tips will help you in your decision to feed your baby juice. If you are concerned about your baby's health, contact your physician. |
