Drinks with Artificial Sweeteners

[Rockamum]

My 17 month old son has had a taste of squash and now loves it! By mistake I bought a low sugar Ribena thinking of the Vit C goodness, then read on the side it wasn't suitable for under 3 year olds! So, I've opted for a Hi Juice alternative. Does anyone know if it's OK to give toddlers juice with artificial sweeteners and/or Sulphites (the internet says both yes and no - sooooo confusing!) or should I avoid them. Unfortunately he won't drink just water like my daughter now. Being a parent is so confusing sometimes!!

Personally I'd give sugar (may rot teeth) over artificial (may rot brain) any day, but I am Very Old and Out of Touch with these matters, so I don't know what is currently fashionable good practice.

how about just a tiny tiny bit to flavour the water? That's all we give our 2yo if she asks for juice

i would go back to water now or you have NO WAY of going back ever!!! if he is thirsty he will drink it. i wouldnt even give my nearly 4 yr old hi juice or anything artificial or sweeteners unless she was offered it at a party or whatever.....

I used hi-juice with both of mine, always the sugar one (avoid as much no-added-sugar stuff as possible). I always made it more dilute than recommended on the bottle.

My kids are now 5 and 7 and drink water 9 times out of 10. In fact there is a bottle of blackcurrant in the cupboard slowly going out of date as they rarely ask for it any more)

just give water. If you don't have it in the cupboard, they will drink water.

I would just offer water, or (if you must) a tiny bit of diluted pure fruit juice.