Are carton juices the devils work?

[Whenspringcomes]

Recently had a friend and her toddler over for a play date (allowed where we are)
I got a few snacks and drinks for the kids. For the sake of making things easy, I put out a couple of juice cartons with straws. My friend looked quite surprised and said her Ds had never ever tried one of these before and proceeded to give him his water.
For context, the snacks were cucumber sticks, cherry tomatoes, rice cakes, carrot and small animal biscuits. My Dd drinks water and milk daily and a juice carton if we have a picnic or play date as a sort of treat, but no big deal.
Did I make a huge mistake by allowing toddlers to drink one of these 🤷🏻‍♀️They’re two and a half years old.

Do you mean fresh fruit juice or a juice drink?
Mine were probably on the fruit shoots by then

@dementedpixie The tiny Um bongo cartons, I wouldn’t say full of nutrients necessarily but everything in moderation and a change from water and milk 🤷🏻‍♀️

Juice drink is in afraid the work of the devil. My 10 year old still isn’t allowed them. When she does have one at a party or something she is a nightmare, high as a kite.

When mine were babies the dentist told me that fruit juice is highly acidic.

My friends freak out that I give my kids squash

My toddler loves a fruit shoot oops

I wouldn't give a 2 year old a carton because they are a walking spillage risk, I'd rather give them something with a lid! As a one off I don't think it would rot their teeth to stumps though

I wouldn't give a carton coz they squeeze the bloody things and make a mess. Fruit shoots all the way

Juice is free sugar and bad for teeth. It's a parental decision.

My 10 year old still isn’t allowed them. When she does have one at a party or something she is a nightmare, high as a kite

You should see a medical professional then, as that is not normal (and unlikely to be caused by a juice drink)

She rejected Um Bongo? The woman's a goddamned fool.

Where can you buy Um Bongo these days, by the way? I wonder if it's still as delicious as it was in the 80s (probably not, it's bound to be 'no added sugar' now, the bloody spoilsports).

Kids dont need a change from water and milk. It's fine for your friend to not give or want her kid to have juice. It's not a judgement on your parenting.

Fine for a treat. I don’t think you did anything wrong!

@FishWithoutABike

Juice drink is in afraid the work of the devil. My 10 year old still isn’t allowed them. When she does have one at a party or something she is a nightmare, high as a kite.

It's much more likely that the excitement of the party gets her geed up. Kids don't get high on sugar.

@lubaluca you can get it home bargains still awesome

Well, it's up to her but the odd one won't kill anyone.
As long as it's not a staple diet, it's not a hanging offence!

Nice! Good old Home Bargains.

I wouldn't say that they were that bad as a once in a while treat, they are just unnecessary - tap water is healthier, cheaper, easier, more environmentally friendly - and toddlers don't know any different, if they are happy drinking water, I wouldn't introduce juice just for the same of it.

Where on earth can you still get Um Bongo?!

We don't have fruit juice at home but for a play date, fine. Juice drink not so keen but again fine for a party / picnic whatever.

I think the issue is once children have tried juice they tend to want it all the time. The longer you can keep them on plain water the better as it saves the teeth and the battles.

@LubaLuca

She rejected Um Bongo? The woman's a goddamned fool.

Where can you buy Um Bongo these days, by the way? I wonder if it's still as delicious as it was in the 80s (probably not, it's bound to be 'no added sugar' now, the bloody spoilsports).

Home and bargins and yes it has been ruined by the sugar police!

Proper fruit juice occasionally- fine. I certainly wouldn't be giving toddlers 'fruit juice drink' though. Those juice drinks are usually less than 20% actual juice, and full of glucose fructose syrup and flavourings.

It's not a mistake to OFFER

your friend is not unreasonable to decline.

None of mine would have had tried anything like that at 2. I know they will get loaded on sugar at every single party, and there are LOADS of parties and birthdays in Primary school (sometimes pre-school), so squash, fizz, fruit juice drinks, sweets etc.. are not available at home.
They don't miss what they don't know.

Every single parent has different views, but we know our kids tend to discover junk food with friends. 2 is a bit young.

If a toddler is quite happy drinking water or milk, I would definitely not want to introduce Um Bongo. There’s no going back really.

I'm diabetic and watch in real time what a 150ml carton of apple juice does to my blood sugar. It looks like Everest.

My toddler isn't allowed juice.