Normal squash or baby juice....

[mum2sam]

for a 20mth old toddler. Is there any difference if i buy the sugar free squash and dilute it really well?The baby juice just seems really expensive and doesnt last long.

got to go, kids waiting in the car!

'twas a generic 'again' not a personal one herc

Twiglett I wasn't saying that companies making money made it right, just trying to point out that a lot of people get nored of water and companies wouldn't make moey if they didn't as nothercules seames shocked that anyone could get bored of water.

We just all have our own "things" (sorry couldn't think of a better word quick enough) when it comes to our children. I don't mind my DD having juice at mealtimes but she has never had a McDonalds - I personally hate them. That's just my "thing"!

just beware, my 4 year old recently had 2 teeth out, i gave him baby juice and squash, now he has got used to water, i gradually weakened it until there was hardly any in it.

There are stories for every side though aren't there? I have a friend whose child only ever had sweets on a friday - a very small amount, teeth brushed afterwards and was only allowed to have water - she was horrified when her daughter had to have one of her teeth taken out for decay! I am 35 years old, have eaten squash and sweets (not excessively) all my life and I had my first filling (which was tiny) last year.

mum2sam - my child drinks juice, a lot, often!

He is now 4 and I wish I had given him a bit less juice and more water when he was younger, because it's the cheapest, healthiest option as a main drink. But 100% juice also has a place (if it is the more expensive 'fresh squeezed' cartons, it counts as one fruit and veg portion a day - and those cartons are still cheaper than babyjuice!) and I don't think there is anyhting wrong with juice from concentrate as a change from water and milk sometimes.

Havent read the rest of the messages properly, but I use pure juice (not from concerntrate) diluted as if it was squash, to give the water a bit of a flavour. If I didnt he wouldnt drink any water at all (only the odd sip here and there) and I would rather him drink a bit of fruit juice with a lot of water than no water, ending up constipated or even dehydrated in this hot weather.
I don't use squash as I just see it at chemicals, and half the point of me using fruit juice is to get some fruit into him (the only fruit he will eat is bananas!)
I use innocent fuit smoothies a lot too, yep they're expensive but they are packed full of fruit and DS LOVES them! He drinks them neat and I also add water to them.

Ds is getting very clever though (2.2), if he sees me put water in his cup he goes mad- I have to put juice in the tops from the carton! (even if I pretend)

Nova x

I am happy to give ds dilute fresh juices.
Usefully, he knows about "plain water" and "fizzy water" (which we have in the house rarely). The point is that "plain water" is more exciting to him than just bog-standard water. He sees it as a treat.

(God I feel the vibes of hatred coming off you all right now I do not know how this came about, toddler brains are a mystery to me...)

DD usually drinks plain water and has done since being about 18months or so. However when little she refused water completely, no matter how much we pushed the issue. So we have her very diluted fresh juice and if out and about the odd bit of baby juice. She still has the odd juice now - undiluted fresh juice or even the occasional squash - she isn't that keen on squash though.

Sugar free squash is worse than full fat because of the aspartamine. Natural sugar content is better than sweeteners.

wow what have i started. Well ds has pretty much had water as ive always been strict before but i do know other people i.e inlaws have given him squash and probably tea behind my back. Plus hes now at the age where he wants what we are having so we have been a little bit more leanient with him. I figure a little bit now and then doesnt hurt.I def try and get him to have the real fruit juice now though.

I've just started buying Rock's organic squash for ds, for a bit of a change from dilute fresh orange juice or water. It's not particularly cheap but a little goes a really long way - would recommend it. Also it makes delicious ice lollies in this weather

Plus, another thumbs-up here for Innocent smoothies - again not the cheapest but I often dilute one carton and get a couple of beakers-full out of it.

I never buy sugar-free anything - full of crap. I'd always rather have the full-fat/full-sugar version and just have less of it.

I give very very weak robinsons special R (no added sugar) to my 4 month old as he gets so dehydrated in this weather and won't take water. My 17 month old has it too but she is really fussy and I have problems getting her to drink anything other than milk, I also give her diluted normal fruit juice too. Baby juice is rip off.

Agree with Snafu - almost all squash contains some crappy sweetener.
We buy Rocks organic for dh as he loves to drink squash.
Ds has water but I think Rocks, diluted fruit juice, fresh juice would be fine to give.

DS1 says noooooooooooooo if I try to give him juice. He will only drink water, or milk sometimes.

But he watches tv more than most children

Sugar free squash is presumably full of sweeteners, I wouldn't drink that myself. It's right to be concerned about teeth, but I think the brain deserves a little concern too.

dd1 (2.3) has squash (she won't drink water) or apple juice.
DD2 (3 MONTHS) will drink water on hot day's.

My DD1 has fresh fruit juice diluted about 20% juice 80% water, she drinks an awful lot of juice and I suppose the fruit juice accounts for one of her five a day too.

Sugar free squash is full of nasty additives I would rather she had natural juice.