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.

Everything in moderation imo. Mine had certainly had juice and fruit shoots at that age. Now at 14 and 16 milk or water are still their first choice for a drink.

Our toddlers are closer to 3 at 2, 8 months and Dd has had before in a picnic and happy to go back to water 🤷🏻‍♀️
We have bottled water where we are and she’s been raised on water and daily drinks this plus milk.
Tbh I didn’t see it as being that bad 😬DD’s diet is naturally super healthy with daily veg, salads, fruit, fresh fish and so on, she has a variety so never use the word treat, but she is now allowed ice cream when it’s warm or chocolate/cakes occasionally. I feel ok with it as know the amount of properly good stuff she eats normally.
She’s never hyper afterwards and it’s such a teeny tiny carton

Those asking where Um bongo is, we’re in another country and the shelves are full! It’s like going back to my 80’s childhood 🤣

I don't give mine juice because she likes water and milk so I don't see the point. She has a lot of fruit which is sweet which she enjoys. I'm not a fan of sugary drinks, but I don't see a big problem if you just give them as a treat. But equally your friend is entitled to just give hers water.

It’s not something I’d let DD have. I’m trying to stick to milk and water until school. I know it’s going to be a challenge but juice is terrible for teeth so that’s why I want to steer clear. Once they get a taste it’s harder to stop.
I regret letting DD try a bit of my chocolate biscuits as the little terror won’t touch the toddler biscuits now

I just don't see the point tbh. If you're going to give them something other than water or milk, why go for a drink with sugar, sweeteners or artificial flavouring rather than actual pure fruit juice? It tastes horrible by comparison too, imo!

DSC has fruit smoothies because they won't eat fruit & barely touch any veg...
They are limited to 1 a day though & I've got ones which are fortified with iron & fibre now.

It's up to your friend what she wants her child to drink though... Maybe they react to colourants or additives?
For a treat every now & again I think a juice drink isn't that bad but you'll have some acting as if you are giving your child spoonfuls of sugar everyday.

Honestly didn’t think Um bongo was one of the hugely bad ones? I know fruit shoots etc aren’t great

My two still mainly drink water despite having been exposed to the "evils" of (full sugar) squash since the toddler years. They even have teeth left and a happy dentist.
It's not a big issue in this house, and not treated as something akin to crack.

I’m a teacher and the problem I’ve noticed over the years is that sometimes the ones who aren’t ever allowed any treats abc have a fantastic, healthy diet, often crave the other child’s things and used to even pinch them! I’m going back a few years. I kind of want to get a balance where there’s a range of food and none are seen as bad but to obviously have 90% of her diet being really healthy.

@Whenspringcomes

I’m a teacher and the problem I’ve noticed over the years is that sometimes the ones who aren’t ever allowed any treats abc have a fantastic, healthy diet, often crave the other child’s things and used to even pinch them! I’m going back a few years. I kind of want to get a balance where there’s a range of food and none are seen as bad but to obviously have 90% of her diet being really healthy.

but they don't miss what they don't know.

I wouldn't introduce any of this at 2 (or 3).

I don't ban my kids from eating sweets or junk stuff, but they can see it's a "birthday treat", not something they have home.
They don't expect birthday presents randomly, or when it's a friend's birthday. Same thing with food really.

I am not saying you are doing anything wrong offering it, but I would have replied like your friend and given mine water. If it's only a playdate, it's not needed for my own kids.

Honestly didn’t think Um bongo was one of the hugely bad ones? I know fruit shoots etc aren’t great

I have no idea if fruit shoots are any worse than Um Bongo tbh. I'm not sure there is a slightly bad vs hugely bad distinction when they are sweetened drinks. I only tend to categorise fruity drinks into actual juice vs sugary/sweetened fruit-flavour drinks, and I'd definitely put things like Um Bongo into the second category.

Oh you're so right OP, the ones on the 'super healthy' diets are the ones going mad for treats & trying to sneak all sorts when they get a bit older! My dm was ridiculously strict & I think I got a bit embarrassing as I got older
Mine had juice cartons & sugar free fruit shoots fairly regularly, they're fine & grown up with no dental problems.
Each to there own but don't feel bad, you did a nice thing buying some treats.

It's hard enough to avoid the fake "yogurts" and rubbish that are given to kids, they already eat so much sugar so early.

I am really not a fan of these drinks.

Smoothies are already full of sugar, and I make my own.

They are awful in every way! Bad for teeth, hard to recycle and they manage to squeeze them all down themselves! I rarely allow them.

Hmm, just reading up and apparently in the 80’s all additives, preservatives and sweeteners were removed from the product, plus citric acid replaced with lemon juice and 100 % fruit 🤷🏻‍♀️Does this make it any better, worried now our picnic juices tradition shouldn’t have really been started. Dd just likes the fact she has a little carton with a straw she uses herself etc

There’s no benefit to having it, leave it until they’re older and it’s more of a social thing for them to be a part of.

All juice is work of the devil , it's mostly sugar.

@Whenspringcomes

I’m a teacher and the problem I’ve noticed over the years is that sometimes the ones who aren’t ever allowed any treats abc have a fantastic, healthy diet, often crave the other child’s things and used to even pinch them! I’m going back a few years. I kind of want to get a balance where there’s a range of food and none are seen as bad but to obviously have 90% of her diet being really healthy.

I remember doing this in school in about 1968! I took someone's lovely greaseproof paper parcel of twiglets (an exotic item never seen in my home) and left her my nasty homemade scone instead. She didn't think it was a fair swap. I was in trouble.

I personally wouldn’t have offered it but on the other hand I wouldn’t have made a big fuss about it as a guest either.

At that age DD always had water/milk and the odd mix of sparkling water with apple juice (that’s what we drink at home, so she had a small glass or a sip from ours).

She hated squash, it took until she was a Scout to even think about drinking it and it is still not her beverage of choice.

My 2 year old has a daily juice with breakfast. All his teeth have fallen out; he’s obese and badly behaved!

@OverTheRainbow88

My 2 year old has a daily juice with breakfast. All his teeth have fallen out; he’s obese and badly behaved!

I just snot bubbled.

@OverTheRainbow88 😂

I’d give v diluted fruit juice at that age. Hard to remember now but juice boxes came a bit later (and not Um
Bongo - fruit shoots - parties only!). I was a mean mum but neither of my kids (late teens now) have ever had a filling.

Omg, where can you get Um Bongo?? I remember those from when I was younger, so good! I probably wouldn't give them to a toddler personally but I'm quite artist it's not out of the ordinary 🤷‍♀️

Strict not artist 😂