when to introduce juice?

Allison - posted on 03/07/2011

I haven't given my kids juice. 4 and 16 months. I would rather them be thirsty for water or milk, juice isn't what it's all cracked up to be and think of their teeth now. Juice might be a treat when they are older. My 10 yr old would rather have ice cold water than juice or pop when she is thirsty. High amounts or sugar shouldn't be introduced until 3 or 4, even natural sugar causes cause cavities if left on teeth for more than 30 mins, it absorbs through the gums into the baby teeth that have not pushed through.

If you don't want to give milk yet, try soy milk.

Allison - posted on 10/11/2009

instead of juice for constipation just feed bub the prunes (pitted of course)

Allison - posted on 10/11/2009

i dont recomend juice for babies until at least 2 yrs old when they can drink from a propper cup and can go brush their teeth...... i fed my daughter baby apple juice (apple juice that is watered down) and her front teeth are crumbeling away the dentise says that the teeth need 6 hours between sips for the teeth to recover from the acid in fruit juice....the dentist said that even very weak cordial was preferable...which i dont recomend for young babies....if u want to start introduce a sippy cup use it with water until milk is able or if u are formula feeding use formula in the sippy cup

Victoria - posted on 10/07/2009

If your little one is happy with just water and milk (formula) keep it to that. I was advise not to give juice, as it can be harmful to their teeth, especially if the juice is not with a meal.

Meghan - posted on 10/06/2009

We started with juice when Ethan was 8 months, but we try not to do it often. And when you do start make sure you mix it half juice and half water.

Katie - posted on 10/06/2009

That's up to you. My sons wouldn't drink just water so I diluted juice. They LOVE that! I introduced that to my son around 9 months!

Meghann - posted on 10/02/2009

I started juice at 10 months. I believe it is Gerber that makes a sippy cup with a latex top so it feels like a bottle to your child. It makes transitioning easy! I give him Juicy Juice in the cup because it is 100% juice. Dilute it with a little water so he doesn't get a sweet tooth and you are good to go!

Jenny - posted on 09/28/2009

I don't believe in giving juice, it is just unnecessary sugars, colors and preservatives that no one should really have, by juicing fruits you are loosing the fiber from the fruit too. They should eat their fruit not drink it, thats what I believe anyway. All my kids drink water and have two pieces of fresh fruit a day and thats it, no more as it is high in sugar. I myself only drink water, it is after all the only fluids our body really needs, don't get me wrong I'm no health freak by any means, I enjoy a cup of tea or coke zero(which is even worse than juice) if we are out, but there is some things that just make sense!!
This is only MY opinion, but it is what I do.
Cheers

Vanessa - posted on 09/27/2009

have you tried watering it down. or is it to cold cuz sometimes they dont like it if its cold? we give my daughter fruit and our kinda food also she's just starting to like regular milk... i do the juicy juice or the gerber splash which has less sugar then juicy juice...

Jessica - posted on 09/27/2009

I only tried giving my daughter juice after her doctor suggested it at her 9 mo check up. I had already been giving her water in a sippy cup, and she loved that. The second she tasted the juice she scrunched up her face and threw the cup. I've tried many times since then, but she just doesn't like it. I'm kind of glad though. I just make sure to give her actual fruit a lot. The only time I wish she would drink juice is when she's constipated - I try giving her prune juice or white grape juice and she still won't take it. =/

Vanessa - posted on 09/26/2009

ive already started giving my daughter juice in a sippy cup since she was 10months i only give her juicy juice or the gerber splashers..but your not suppose to give them to much juice because of the sugars!

September - posted on 09/02/2009

I say never but that's just my opinion. My husband and I only offer our son water at this point. We may end up giving our son juice in the long run but right now we are sticking to water. I have a cousin that was only ever given water and now when you ask her if she want's something to drink her first choice is water :) I just love that! My son really enjoys water. Anytime that he sees a bottle/cup of water he wants some.

Deanna - posted on 09/02/2009

I personally believe you eat fruit and drink water. Juice has no benifit. Like Michelle said it's "useless calories". That said, I loved juice as a kid and can't imagine that I won't let my daughter have it. It is a great treat. For now, no juice for this girl.

Jenifer - posted on 08/31/2009

Yea i don't give my youngest juice and our older kids get it every now and then as a treat. My boys are lactose intolerant so i worry about there teeth . I think they get enough junk from grandparents and things my kids have 13 aunts and uncles just with me and my partner if you ad my son Noahs fathers family and my step daughters mothers family you can see what i mean . They get enough junk foods and things from family

Ashlee - posted on 08/31/2009

my son has been getting small amounts of juice since about 6-7 months. we dilute it a lot though like 1-2 oz juice to 4 oz water. also we have started with whole milk already (our ped said anywhere between 9-12 months and he had other dairy with no probs so we tried milk and its going really well so far we have replaced his nap bottle with milk and he doesn't seem to care. So he gets 4oz formula in am 8oz milk at nap time and 8 oz formula at bed time. Also he always has his sippy handy with either water or diluted juice in it I refill it as the day goes on. He only gets milk/formula in a bottle juice and water are in a sippy
Good luck
oh yea my son has had apple, pear, blueberry, mango, tangerine and tropical juices already no probs from any.

Lori - posted on 08/31/2009

There's really no reason why you would *need* to introduce juice. Like Michelle said, it's really just sugar, and doesn't have most of the benefits of the actual fruit. As a treat it's fine, in moderation, (diluted with water is best).
That said, I recently started making herbal iced tea (no caffeine), using fruity tea flavors, and my baby loves it. He only had water or breastmilk before this - hasn't had any juice yet. Currently we're drinking the flavor True Blueberry by Celestial Seasonings. It tastes great - some natural sweetness, good flavor, but NO sugar, or sodium, etc. My husband and I have actually started drinking it instead of juice too, to save on the calories - not sure why it never occurred to us before.

Michelle - posted on 08/29/2009

juice is useless calories

Eva - posted on 08/29/2009

I've been giving my son watered down Watermelon juice and apple juice in his sippy cup and he loves it! I introduced it at about 6 months. hes 10 months now.

Jackie - posted on 08/29/2009

I introduced juice at around 6-7 months, but she only gets it like once a week usually on the weekend. She still likes her water too.

Denise - posted on 08/28/2009

They say after 6 months but not too much they dont need more than 1 cup a day. My little girl is getting close to 11 months and she just started liking her apple juice.