To not understand why most people in the UK give their toddlers and small children 'diet' drinks? Is it a fad?

[Bellarosa1234]

I have lived in the UK for several years and now have a toddler DD. I have noticed all my English friends feed their toddlers diet drinks? Like robinsons squash, supermarket no added sugar squash, no added sugar flavoured waters etc. Am I missing something? Why do toddlers and children need diet drinks? When I lived at home we would dilute fresh fruit juices at meal times for the children? I did that infront of a friend and she made me feel like a bad mother. She said fruit juice is bad and full or sugar? I went to have a look at some "squash" in the supermarket and it seems like it is a con? My friend said it was kind for children's teeth but it still has fruit juice and added acid. Am I missing something? Obviously I want to do my best by my children but I just can't understand why people think diet drinks are great for kids, can anyone enlighten me? Thanks in advance!

[SeventyNineBottlesOfWine]

I grew up drinking full sugar squash.
At the age of 37 I have not one filling.
My children both drink full sugar squash (7 and 16) both of them have perfect teeth too.
The only child I knew who had a problem from drinking full sugar squash was one who used to carry it round in a beaker all day long and constantly sip from it- I'd presume that was because her teeth were dipped in it regularly all day long like a sugar bath.

[Fairuza]

OMG chemicals!!!!!

Mine don't drink juice because it is sugary and it's a waste to buy a whole carton for the little bit they'd drink.

They have sugar free/low sugar squash as one of them won't drink plain water and they're not bug milk drinkers.

[WaitrosePigeon]

Nothing wrong with fresh fruit juice watered down.
Nothing wrong with fresh fruit juice not watered down.
Nothing wrong with sugar free squash
Nothing wrong with flavoured water.
Nothing wrong with milk.
Nothing wrong with water.

This, in moderation. Like everything.

[mzS1990]

I just buy whichever ones on offer

[Bellarosa1234]

alasalas2 I am curious why are the British known for having bad teeth? My dh is British, his teeth are not great, I spoke to him about squash but he has no idea, he said he drank water as his mum couldn't afford Ribena!

[specialsubject]

do remember that 'Innocent' gives 14% of the sugar 'requirement' for an ADULT in just one small serving.

suggest eating an orange instead, save some plastic, less sugar as you eat less, tastes better!

[Janecc]

Your toddler doesn't need the watered down juice to get vitamins unless seriously vitamin deprived. The amount in watered down fruit juice would really be negligible. It is the parents lack of knowledge about nutrition that may be leading them to believe cordial is better than watered down fruit juice.

You are correct that these no/low sugar cordials are a type of diet drink. Around 50% of the population have the same insulin/chemical reaction to these drinks as those, made with sugar so they are not healthier than the full sugar versions. Some artificial sweeteners can be toxic.

I give DD (8) and her friends cordial and sometimes lemonade as a treat when they visit. And she has these drinks when we go out. Otherwise she drinks water or sometimes fruit juice. She loves the dreaded FRUIT SHOOTS, which are aimed at children and I am lead to believe are about as healthy as drinking a Diet Coke. Some of her friends drink cordial all the time.

[FuturesAChanging]

I don't like no added sugar squash, or sugar free fruit flavoured water as they are packed chock full of artificial sweeteners. It depends on whether you see them or sugar as worse. Diluted juice at meals and water in between is fine

[Lostwithinthehills]

I drink no added squash and other 'diet' drinks but my DD has water or milk. Very occasionally she might ask to try whatever drink I am having, be it juice, or Pepsi, or whatever but she never likes the taste and I wouldn't encourage her away from water even if she did.

I was shocked to see a VERY young toddler being given coke to drink at a zoo a couple of years ago. I couldn't understand why the parents were doing it.

As for the British having poor teeth, I'm over 40 and without a single filling so I don't really see that stereotype.

[Longlost10]

sugary drinks make you more thirsty

[Longlost10]

Won't drink milk or water? They will if they are thirsty and are given no alternatives.

neither are any use if you are thirsty

[Muddlingthroughtoo]

Ooh judgey mumsnet today. As long as your children are hydrated what does it matter? Mine drink squash, they drink water, they drink milk, sometimes they even have a sugary milkshake!! They are healthy, their teeth are perfect so what's with all the drink shaming?

[squoosh]

I think people are being overly sensitive. No one is drink shaming (!).

[notamummy10]

I really want to know why do Adults drink diet drinks... Just because it says diet, it doesn't mean it's good for you!!

[OrangeNoodle]

I don't understand the popularity of squash in the UK either OP. Revolting stuff. I wonder if cordial/squash is a wartime hangover from when real juice would have been impossible to get? I don't know.

[eurochick]

NeedacleverNN were those studies from companies selling squash by any chance?

We are trying to keep our toddler on just water and milk for as long as possible but if we move on to squash it will be the full sugar kind. I'm not a fan of artificial sweeteners. I hate the way they are in every soft drink now (even the non diet versions). Like another poster, I was brought up on normal squash and am still waiting for my first filling at age 40.

[Muddlingthroughtoo]

I'm not over sensitive, not even sensitive, it's just the attitudes on some on here get up my snout. Some people suggesting that children should be forced to drink water (by not giving an alternative) seems a bit mean. I'll tell you now, if someone took away my wine and said I could only have water, I'd bop them right on the nose.

[Muskateersmummy]

Water and milk are definitely the best option. But neither dh or I drink water and we do drink squash she often wants what we are drinking, so she has one too. But hers is very very week. She has perfect teeth according to the dentist. I'm a big believer in all in moderation, sensible moderation.

[Muddlingthroughtoo]

I suppose it's the same as the Americans known for being obese. I don't think squash was around when the bad teeth infamy began though.

[Fairuza]

I'm not actually such a dick that I'd watch my child get miserable and dehydrated and constipated because I need to enforce my authority over them If they would rather drink sugar free squash then why would I refuse?

[Lostwithinthehills]

"I really want to know why do Adults drink diet drinks... Just because it says diet, it doesn't mean it's good for you!!"

Notamummy it's because there is already more than enough sugar in my diet without adding to it with cold drinks. I don't like plain water.

[PurpleDaisies]

Won't drink milk or water? They will if they are thirsty and are given no alternatives.

neither are any use if you are thirsty

Are you saying that water or milk won't quench your thirst if pi are thirsty? . That's just not correct.