Which is more important: Milk or Juice? And what is the adequate quantity that I should give to my child? What are the effects of too much juice on my child?
According to pediatrics’ academy, too much juice can be responsible of obesity, dental cavities, diarrhea and sometimes gastrointestinal problems.
What are the precautions that you should take when administering natural juice to your child?
Babies under 6 months should not be given juice; just milk
Babies between 6 and 12 months should be given small amounts of juices up to 100ml and in a cup not in the bottle
Toddlers and children up to 6 years can drink up to 200ml per day only
Soft drinks are prohibited for kids. Those beverages are high in sugar and caffeine that your child doesn’t need at all. In addition, they can be responsible of tooth decay and lead to a low intake of calcium since kids will substitute them with milk.
Always try to administer fresh homemade juices
Instead of juices, offer your child fresh fruits
When administering juices, always check your child’s weight since juices are high in sugar and may lead to obesity. A moderate intake of juices does not harm your child as long as your child does not suffer from tooth cavities and does not have overweight problems.
Juices should not replace the milk intake. Your child should drink around 2 to 3 cups of milk per day.
Water and milk are the best beverages for your child. Let him drink them as much as possible. Water will hydrate your child’s body and milk will provide the recommended daily dose of Calcium and calories that his body needs to grow.