Juice

Jane - posted on 09/26/2009

our pediatrician recommends not giving juice. she feels it has no or little nutritional value, are just as bad as soda and that they should learn to eat fruit. instead i put pieces of fruit in the netting feeder.

check w/his pediatrician.

Caroline - posted on 09/25/2009

I'd keep juice to a minimum just because of the sugar and acid levels, but I think your little one would actually really like to try a splash of juice added to water. I have always diluted my little girl's juice, but not in any specific percent or whatever. She loves it even when there's a little sweetness! Have fun :)

Lisa - posted on 09/25/2009

why do you want to start him on juice? all it is is liquid sugar with a few trace vitamins. babies and children do better with whole foods, like the juice that's still in the fruit. give slightly steamed fruits or strained or mashed so your child gets the full nutritional benefits.
I'd stick with water, it's also better on his teeth. remember fruit juice has sugar and to brush his teeth after drinking it, just like you'd do if he ate food.

Iris - posted on 09/25/2009

Well the best time would probably be when he is about 8 or 9 months.. Start by giving him dialuted apple juice.. Half apple juice and half water.. Then slowly put more juice then water.. Don't start with orange juice or any really acidy juices.. They might hurt his little bum with rashes...

Tracy - posted on 09/25/2009

Simple! Just start with any baby brand like gerber and start him off the delutting it, 1/2 water and 1/2 juice and as time goes by reduce the water and increase the juice till it is just juice. ;-)

Sarah - posted on 09/25/2009

I agree with Alana - I have 2 1/2 year old and a 5 month old. I didn't give my son juice until he asked for it (I am sure that will be quicker with my daughter because she will see my son with it)! Alana is correct in saying that water to drink and pureed fruit to eat are better for your little one than juice. They will discover all the sweet stuff quickly enough! Try to keep them eating all the right stuff as long as possible because as they get older they can become more picky.

Kerry - posted on 09/24/2009

omg...why do you wan to give him juice??!! If he drinks water fine there should be no need for juice. It is full of sugar and sets them up for bad eating habits.

Brandy - posted on 09/24/2009

If you are nervous about it, there is really no need to give it to him. It's extra sugar, it's hard on his teeth and sometimes it's hard to get them to drink plain water again once they've had it. As long as he is getting enough fruits in his diet, don't even worry about it. But if you do decide to give him juice, make sure it is 100% pure juice. My daughter is 17 months old and has only had juice a handful of times and drinks water throughout the day and likes it.

Heather - posted on 09/23/2009

thank you everyone for your advice i appreciate it all!! I gave him a bit of apple juice tonight after supper out of his sippy cup and i think he drank about an ounce and a half (minus what spilled)! I bought the 100% pure juice like you said, however I didnt water it down because it already tasted reallly mild! Thanks again!!

Sandra - posted on 09/23/2009

my son started off on pure pear juice around that time extremely watered down. then as he got older we started adding more juice and less water (and also exploring with different flavours of pure juice). he is now 17 months old and he still gets half water and half juice regardless of the flavour

Alana - posted on 09/23/2009

My pediatrician said not to give juice. It has little nutritional benefit (plus your baby is getting needed vitamins and calories from milk/formula and other baby food); they'd be better off drinking water and getting whole fruit (or rather, pureed whole fruit!) so they get the fiber. My baby will discover sweetened beverages without my help - no need to push it. You're lucky your baby will drink water so readily - my little girl rejected it for a long time until I broke down and put a splash of apple juice in for sweetener! If you do still want to give juice, the other posters have given you good info however. And it's not a bad idea to have your baby ready to take a little prune juice in case he gets constipated (mine likes it mixed with a little apple juice and water so it's not so strong).

Christi - posted on 09/22/2009

My son started drinking juice at about six months. I just make sure to dilute it with water so as to drown out some of the sugar.

Stephenie - posted on 09/22/2009

My doctor said I could start my son on juice at 6 months up to 6oz a day so that he doesn't fill up on that instead of other food because it is kind of sugary.

Chris - posted on 09/22/2009

They can start juice when they are 4 & 5 months old. Make sure it's 100% juice, and then do half juice and half water. Give no more than 4 ounces at a time. Apple juice is usually a good first choice. You can also mix some of it into his cereal to help add flavor. We do that for my daughter and she loves it. It doesn't have to be Gerber, that stuff is too expensive. We use Mott's, they even have Mott's Tott's that already has the water in it, so much cheaper.

Melissa - posted on 09/22/2009

I started out buying the juice that Gerber makes (the small bottles, not gerber splashers) and diluted it half juice, half water. he really liked it!

Nicole - posted on 09/22/2009

Juice is fine to give him now, just make sure it's 100% juice and no more than 4 ounces a day. You can dilute it with water. I give my 9 month old son a sippy cup of diluted juice each day and he hardly ever drinks it all. I also use it to mix his cereal. I use apple juice for the cereal and white grape juice to drink. Avoid orange juice though, it might be too acidic for his little tummy.