To not give my toddler juice?

[CulturalBear]

I don't give my 14-month-old DS juice. He likes water, likes milk - and I don't see the need to start him down the slippery slope of dental issues with juice (I know you can mitigate against this but it seems like a pointless risk to take if he's happy with water and milk).

I often see reference to giving kids - even babies - juice, which seems so matter of fact that I feel like I'm the only mother who's an 'evil witch' and doesn't.

He eats very well - meat, veggies, fruit etc so I'm not worried about vitamins at all.

AIBU to not give him juice? How long did you hold out for (on the juice-giving front)?

[LuckyLopez]

Congratulations. stealth boast much

[ithoughtofitfirst]

He doesn't really like water. He just doesn't want to hurt your feelings. It's like when your mum knits you a shit jumper for Christmas.

[Dinosaursdontgrowontrees]

My 2yr old had juice today for the first time. We were at toddler group and at snack time she asked for juice. She didn't like it much. She won't be having it at home at the moment but if she is out and about and wants it I'm not going to say no.

[ReeseWithoutHerSpoon]

I held out until DD asked for juice, she was the same- happy with milk and water. Now she does ask for juice but just as often she asks for water or milk.

[sooperdooper]

Bully for you, what do you want, a pat on the head

[LokiBear]

Dd only rarely has juice now at 3. Initially I didn't give her juice because she was awful with drinking milk - even as a tiny baby. When we weaned she drank loads of water and dropped milk down to just two bottles a day. There was no way I was risking her drop even more milk by introducing juice. She prefers water to juice now. I think it's all about balance. There is nothing wrong with juice providing that it is given in moderation.

[GailLondon]

2.5 year old here who has never had juice....but he doesn't seem to like it and just asks for water so we are very happy to continue with just water/milk as long as we can!

[nappiesandnaptimes]

[sleepyhead]

Most people don't bother with juice for toddlers I think?

If you can't get them to take fluids then yes, no big deal. I'd also not kick off if someone else gave my toddler juice (and he's helped himself to his big brother's on occasion and then poured it all over the floor).

But in general, water is easiest, and no there's nothing particularly nutritious about juice.

[Justgotosleepnow]

Me too cultural.
It seems like I'm really going against the tide.
My dd isn't bothered about juice. Dentist says don't give it, common sense says don't give it.

So the bloomin eck is everyone obsessed with juice? And it's as if I'm neglecting her by only giving water.
Nooooooo
No juice. End of.

[Remembermyname]

My 17 month old has never had juice but I've never considered it much of an achievement as she is pfb so doesn't really know anything other than milk and water. Give it a couple of months and I'm sure that'll change...

[Mammanat222]

Up until DS was 14 months he'd only ever had milk or water.

Unfortunately the other kids he mixed with when he started childcare all had juice and he started nicking their drinks.

Have had to compromise and allow him to have the smallest amount of squash during the day, otherwise he a) doesn't drink or b) steals other kids drinks.

He also dropped his milk (10fl oz) a day so I do worry about his fluid in-take.

At home I only give squash occasionally, he seems to drink water fine when there is no temptation.

[sleepyhead]

Really? Who are these people who are obsessed with juice ?

Tbh, we're a sugar free squash household so beyond the pale in every way.

[ebolahat]

Meh. My 15mo likes red bull now and again, it's no biggie. As long as you love them, that's the main thing. Let the poor kid enjoy a bit of juice

[BeggingYourPardon]

We don't have juice at home either. But we have squash and milk.

It's really not a health/teeth stance either. I never had it as a kid. My brothers used to swig juice straight from the carton from the fridge and it used to drive my mum mad! So she stopped getting it (after filling the carton with washing up liquid water one day haha).

I never think to buy it. She happily slurps it away at toddler groups though.

[InvasionOfTheBodyShatners]

Please yourself. Who cares other than you?

[Saltedcaramel2014]

Is this really about juice? Reads like a massive stealth boast! Lordy

[CulturalBear]

Really not a stealth boast - he's my first (obviously, though we're hardly PFB) and you get Bounty emails about restricting juice to mealtimes (yes, I click, occasionally), and lots of mealplanners suggest juice etc.

It just baffles me. It seems so endemic that I wondered if there was a reason why it should be given, that's all...

[Rantymop]

I never gave my ds juice either. Only drank milk and water until he was about 11.

He's 14 now and I think he might actually be addicted to Dr pepper. My teeth start to hurt in sympathy everytime he goes to the shop.

[amyhamster]

Orange juice is good for constipation & vitamin C
It wards off colds

It's not crack cocaine

[TondelayoSchwarzkopf]

Because marketing that's why - juice products are hugely profitable.

It's not that impressive not to give a 14mo juice. If your 14 year old never had juice, that would be an achievement.

[InvasionOfTheBodyShatners]

People drink juice because it's a pleasant-tasting drink and can be a convenient source of vitamins. It's a simple personal choice.

[Saltedcaramel2014]

Ok, sorry, fair enough. It just read a little differently (at least to me) - ie. it sounds like you're doing everything right, so really why worry. But let's see, perhaps I'm missing something on the juice front too

[CulturalBear]

Ha amyhamster the nursery workers once suggested that it was a good thing he'd never had it as as soon as kids get a sniff of the stuff they refuse to drink anything else!

[PurpleSwift]

Are you really expecting people to say yes, yabu? silly post really