Giving Baby Juice

Mommy2BAK wrote: I have just noticed the papers the doctor sent home with me on Blakely's 4 month check up.... it says that you can begin giving a baby juice at 4-6 months or some may wait until the child can hold their won cup.

What did you all do?

And how often did you feed the baby juice? Between feedings? And for what purpose.

I could really use some opinions on this.

Thanks!

FroggyJK replied: My kids are 4 and 18 months and I only give them juice occasionally. My opinion is that it's just full of sugar. I don't think I introduced juices until they were closer to 10 or 12 months old.

jolene555 replied: I am on WIC, and they provide infant juice after 6 months old. Georgia didn't care for the juice at all, nor did she care for the provided infant cereal. So, what I did was put the 2 together. I mix her cereal with about 1/2 formula and 1/2 juice and she eats it like it's going to run off. I wouldn't exactly suggest it, but I think it works best for us. She gets her fruit juice with the sugars, but it's mixed with something that she really needs.

DansMom replied: I can't remember when we first gave juice, but it was closer to a year old I think, and we diluted it quite a lot. It can be harsh on the tummy, and of questionable nutritional value, so I've always favored "milk" (in our case soy milk) or water.

Daniel is two now and really likes juice boxes (Vruit). I think they give him the runs because they're not diluted, so I'm not crazy about them, but DH points out that all the other toddlers in the playgroup get juice boxes. I'd like to know what others with toddlers (age 2 and up) are doing.

5littleladies replied: My girls all started drinking diluted juice sometime after 6 months but only once in awhile. I did mix some in their cereal quite often once they started solids-they loved it!

MomToMany replied: I dilute it to about 1/4 the strength. It's just too much sugar to give it straight. They don't get it very often since there's very little nutrition in it, plus can be so hard on their little tummies.

3_call_me_mama replied: There actually is nutrirional value in juice. As long as it is 100% juice. It is counted as a fruit serving in the food pyramid. Cameron had veggie juice at about 5 months and fruit juice at about 5 1/2 months. He loved it and still does. he's a big fan of juice boxes, but usually only gets them as once in a while. Our ped said that he shouldn't have more than 6oz of juice a day and not to dilute it because you are diluting the nutritiona;l value of it. It really doesn't have much more sugar than a medium size piece of fruit, and is a far better choice than soda, kool aid, or fruit drinks or sport drinks. Which are LOADED with sugar!

Alice replied: I agree... you really have to watch what you buy. 100% juice is fine. I give it to Kira, although I do dilute it alot. All 3 of my kids love it, and it can get expensive.

I think the point is to start introducing a variety of tastes to the child, as well as getting more practice holding the cup. Buy a few different sippy cups: we use the Playtex &/or Gerber ones-- both have replaceable valves. (We don't have a dishwasher, so after a while I can't stand the old ones.) You want one that really doesn't spill, as they're not upright nearly as often as you might think! Start with the small ones; they're lighter. Apple and white grape juices are relatively easy to digest, and far cheaper than pear or peach. As long as you're buying 100% juice, there's no need that I've ever seen for buying the cutesy little baby sized bottles.

MommyToAshley replied: I started giving Ashley juice around 6 months of age. I only give 100% fruit juice with no sugar added, except on special occasions, then she can have a juice box. You are supposed to dilute the juice until they are at least a year old, but Ashley is now 2 and I still dilute her juice. She isn't found of plain water and it's a good way to get her to drink water as well. Plus, I agree that there is some nutitrional value, it's full of vitamin C. As long as you use it in moderation and don't replace milk with juice, then I think it is fine to give a little now and then.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: My best friend and I had this discussion not too long ago. Her ped told her not to give her daughter juice...ever. He said she doesn't 'need' it. I totally disagree with that. While she doesn't 'need' extra sugar packed juice boxes, 100% juice has tons of vitamins and minerals that she could use (especially since she is sick ALL THE TIME). I feel as though she would benefit from drinking something other than soy milk. Allergies have not been confirmed, but they fear she may develop them. I will leave it up to my best friend to decide what to do with her child.

While I may not give my kids juice real often, I don't see anything wrong with it and I do have to dilute it or Maddie gets really runny stools. So far Ethan has handled juice well, too. I give him white grape juice when he has any sign of diarrhea. Gerber sells 100% juice in little containers on the baby food aisle in all kinds of flavor assortments.

coasterqueen replied: I am not a fan at all of giving a baby under the age of a year juice because in my eyes the majority of a baby's diet should either be breastmilk or formula. Solids, juice, etc should be tiny compliments (tastes) to a baby's diet til then. Breastmilk or formula gives them EVERYTHING a baby needs for optimal brain growth and development and too many solids or unneeded juice just takes away from their intake of what they really need.

Kylie got tastes of solids before a year of age, but breastmilk was the majority of her diet. She did not get juice til after a year more towards 18 months of age which at that time we diluted it. She didn't like it and that made me happy because it REALLY is wasted calories and honestly children should be getting their vitamins and such that they need from other foods including milk. Just my opinion though and from my peds advice as well. My ped told me Kylie should not get more than 8 ounces of juice in a days time at the age of two. He would rather see her eat fruit or drink milk than juice. She is a big fruit eater so that's good. When she did finally start liking juice we noticed her milk and water intake decreased dramatically and we did not feel that was a healthy choice for her, even with giving her 100% juice. So she get's juice on special occassions, maybe one small cup a week. I think she gets maybe one or two cups of juice at daycare each week, but her provider knows I'd rather see her drink milk or water and she adheres to that.

I guess it's just a personal preference. But if you do decide to give your baby juice please please remember that her breastmilk or formula or whatever you are giving her at this age should be the PRIMARY source of her food intake so her little brain and body gets the development process it deserves.

Mommy2BAK replied: UPDATE......

Well thank you all for your suggestions! But since Blakely's ped. did recomend trying juice between 4-6 months I went ahead...

I did dilute some Gerber baby juice and gave it to Blakely and guess what???


She hated it! I am glad that she did so that I won't have to worry about it being right or wrong.

annafrombc replied: Evan drinks very DILUTED juice with lunch. IT has added vitamin C and is organic. He likes it and because he doesnt like to drink much, It gives him some fluid during the day. I dilute it over 50%.

mummy2girls replied: I started Jenna when she was 6 months. And i diluted it! half water, half juice. And i never put it in a bottle because juice is harder on the teeth. so i did it by sippy. But isnt really a juice drinker. She usally only drinks it when she is sick.