The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends not giving fruit juice to babies under 12 months. Fruit juice does not provide any nutritional benefit to babies in this age group. The high sugar content in fruit juice contributes to the risk of obesity and tooth decay. It may also lead to a preference for sweeter flavors over plain water.
How much fruit juice can babies and children drink?
1-3 years: Limit fruit juice to a maximum of 120 ml per day.
4-6 years: Limit fruit juice to a maximum of 120-180 ml per day.
7-18 years: Limit fruit juice to a maximum of 240 ml per day.
Recommendations
Whole fruits should be preferred instead of fruit juice. Fresh fruit contains dietary fiber, which has beneficial effects on health, and is lower in sugar and calories than fruit juice.
Children should be informed that excessive fruit juice consumption can contribute to excessive weight gain and lead to tooth decay.
Children should not be given fruit juice before going to bed.
Fruit juice is not appropriate in the treatment of dehydration or management of diarrhea.
Fruit juices containing sugar should not be preferred.Since fruit juice tastes good, children can easily drink large amounts of fruit juice. For this reason, fruit juice should not be given from feeding bottles or easily portable “sippy cups” that allow them to consume fruit juice easily throughout the day.
Resources:
- Heyman, M. B., Abrams, S. A., SECTION ON GASTROENTEROLOGY, HEPATOLOGY, AND NUTRITION, & COMMITTEE ON NUTRITION (2017). Fruit Juice in Infants, Children, and Adolescents: Current Recommendations. Pediatrics, 139(6), e20170967. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2017-0967
- American Academy of Pediatrics. (2022). Where We Stand: Fruit Juice for Children. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/nutrition/Pages/Where-We-Stand-Fruit-Juice.aspx
- American Academy of Pediatrics. (2017). AAP Recommends No Fruit Juice for Children Under 1 Year. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/news/Pages/AAP-Recommends-No-Fruit-Juice-for-Children-Under-1-Year.aspx
- American Academy of Pediatrics. (2017). Fruit Juice and Your Child’s Diet. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/nutrition/Pages/Fruit-Juice-and-Your-Childs-Diet.aspx
