It puts babies' overall nutrition at risk
Many families are trying to reduce their soda intake but manufacturers are fighting back with “no added sugar” formulations and “fruit” drinks. So far, they’re winning.
A drink of diluted fruit juice is the routine afternoon snack of many babies. It’s often the good stuff: pure juice. No nasty preservatives, more vitamin C than necessary and no added sugar. But you don’t have to add sugar to make fruit juice sweet—that’s why babies prefer it to water. And because they prefer it, it becomes habitual. An afternoon drink becomes an all-the-time drink that grows with the baby. As they get older, they drink less expensive “fruit” drinks and sodas, which become empty calories and unwanted pounds.
With babies’ tummies full of sweet stuff they’ll want less milk or solid food, so overall nutrition is at risk. If babies who want a nonmilk drink are routinely given plain water, that’s what they will expect. It’s probably the most important single thing you can do to prevent cavities and obesity.
Leach is the author of Your Baby and Child
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