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)?

My eldest didn't have juice for years as I didn't think he needed it

He is mainlining it now...he is 15 and virtually drinks it in its concentrated form!!

Gross

And what if you had a child that didn't drink water or milk? What would you do then?

That was my DS1 - milk refuser, and sipped such small amounts of water that he was seriously dehydrated and constipated.

So good for you, you have a biddable child who drinks what you give them. Well done you!!! Clearly it's solely down to your wonderful parenting skills.

Really really not stealth boasting or wooping about my parenting skills - I know I'm lucky that I have a water drinker!

Just thought that some people give it to automatically, that they might think it odd, mean or weird to not give juice, the same way I get eyebrows if someone tries to give him chocolate buttons - I'll let him have a couple then put the rest away cos he doesn't need them.

But then, I suspect the middle-classery of MN may well see this differently to some of the parents round here - where else do HVs have to reiterate not to let your child have tea from a bottle or sippy cup?

I'm happy not giving it to him, as long as I'm not depriving him of something, hence the AIBU.

YANBU, we're still a no juice house at age 4.

I'm baffled by some of the responses on this thread .

Are we talking concentrated juice or squash? My toddler only drinks milk and water but in the future I would be happy for him to have squash. Probably less happy for him to have concentrated juice or pop but at some point it's difficult to dictate what they eat it drink outside of the house.

Ds never drank juice or squash and would always ask for water. I used to try to persuade him that he could have them but no. (Even if I wasn't there he had water.)

I got fed uo with people asking why he couldn't have them. I used to grit my teeth and say he could have whatever he wanted and they should ask him.

He still drinks water. He's a teen so does have tea or coffee at times but still no juice or squash or fizzy stuff.

Everything in moderation is fine...

My twins are 25 months and have also never had juice. Dh and I dont drink it so it has never been an issue.

Can't believe anyone drinks juice tbh. It's an absolute rip off. What am i made of money?

Get some tea down him. 4 sugars. From a bottle.

or Panda Pop

after reading all those posts the word juice looks REALLY weird

I KNOW. hate when that happens.

Juice. juice.

J.U.I.C.E.

Weird.

It's all very well, it's all very virtuous, it's all very smug, but one day you'll be on visiting or on holiday some where really hot and you'll wish your DD would happily drink, available everywhere, un diluted orange juice.

My mum sneaks dd juice, posses me off but its nana privilege

My mum probably gives ds about 10 welsh cakes for every day he's in her care. It's amazing! She would have told me to fuck off and given me a box of sunmaid. Or whatever it's called.

2.10 DS has two cups of "tea" a week and has done since he was 15 months, when they were out of a bottle! Terrible mother. He drinks milk and water 90% of the time, but does like an occasional froot shoot. We went through a phase around his second birthday when he stopped drinking much water and his behaviour was dreadful... I didn't make the connection until hi 2nd birthday party, when he drank loads of leftover squash for the couple of weeks after the party, and turned into an angel, because he was being hydrated. We got him off the squash and back into water but occasionally he will go through a juice phase. Don't care really, but no reason to give them juice particularly if they are happy with water.

Not til 2 ish with number one. A soon as she could reach the table and swipe his cup for the second. They still drink loads of water. He hates fizz, she likes an occasional lemonade. Still got all the relevant teeth and I never given a second thought to whether you (or anyone) are or aren't banning juice.

I don't give my 17 month juice, he doesn't like mixers with his vodka.

I gave mine baby juice from about 3 months old. They're now aged 23 and 21, neither have any health, weight or dental issues. We all hate diluting juice and while DDs drink water, I hate the stuff!

I was the same as you, there was a dentist in my postnatal group and she said juice was the biggest problem she saw for toddler teeth, so I've always taken it quite seriously. Plus there is a lot of obesity in the family so I really want to give DS as healthy a start as poss.

However, my DM thinks I am being completely pfb and mean so I feel like I am being stupid about sticking to it. I know she gives him juice when I'm not around (and biscuits, muffins etc) and so I feel like I have to be even stricter with him the rest of the time. I do feel like I'm being unreasonable and I hate feeling like that so I do understand where you are coming from. DS will happily drink water or milk so why give something unnecessary?

My DC generally only get offered water or milk at home unless they're a bit constipated or unwell (the health visitor recommended dilute apple juice for constipation).

Juice sometimes when we're out, particularly if we've forgotten to bring water along or cartons of juice are included in a meal deal.

But I've never had even the slightest hint from people in real life that they think not offering juice as a first choice is odd or mean. Maybe they're all really polite, or.maybe they just don't care whether or not I give my DC juice?

No idea when my 4yo first had juice. I don't generally buy it due to the cost.

He has squash every day though. And milk and water.

Yabu. I don't know many people who give their under 2s juice or squash, as they can barely speak at that age it's easy not to. However when they get to 2.5 or so they may start asking for juice/squash when out and about as they see it available in shops and cafes. I see no harm in allowing them some very weak squash at home or an occasional juice carton in a cafe. It isn't crack cocaine and everything in moderation is fine, just make sure their teeth are brushed.

In all seriousness the main problem with juice is how it is administered. If you give the child juice with a meal there is no big problem. It's if the child is allowed to spend the day sipping juice from a beaker at will. There is no real chance for the saliva to dilute the juice and the teeth are constantly washed with an acidic liquid.

So keep your juice for mealtimes and water for sipping and all is ok

I never had it as a child nor liked it until I was about 20. Do I win ?