Juice for my 3.2 year old?

[KAEKAE]

My DS is 3.2 and has never ever had juice, his main drink is water and he'll have a cup of milk in the morning with his breakfast and a carton at nursery.

My dentists has recommended that I keep with the water and to not introduce juice. However, friends and family are really guilt tripping me into thinking I should now allow him juice. What do you think? Is it time my son has a taste of something else other than milk and water?

*dentist

I don't think he's missing much.
My DD1 had had juice by this age, but only because she spent lots of time with other children and they were having it (so she wanted it too - albeit watered down and quite occasionally).

If he hasn't noticed juice exists then why enlighten him?

I wouldn't ban it but if he's happy with water and milk then I wouldn't hurry to introduce juice.

My ds has milk, water or juice with meals and milk or water at other times. If he ask for juice instead then I give it but at the moment he quite likes to just drink water.

When you say juice, do you mean squash? I give DD's very dilute fresh fruit juice occasionally which keeps them happy. They don't seem to notice the difference between this and the squash they get at parties etc.

Mine have diluted fresh orange juice with breakfast, mainly for the vitamin c. No other juice ever.

Once they get started with juice, it seems impossible to ever get them drinking water again! (Said with feeling, and guilt.) I'd keep him with milk and water for as long as you can without actually banning juice. Far better for him to get the benefits from fresh fruit.

Keep to the water I'd say, but allow him the occasional juice if it'soffered.

dd didn't ever have juice/squash until 4ish, she is now 7 and would always chose water over any other drink.

ds1 had early as I was lax and so would never ever drink water. He had a scare at the dentist last month with the beginings of a hole in a tooth - he has a healthy diet, rarely eats between meals and has few sweets. Dentist put it down to no added sugar squash/dilute juice. He's 5 and this worried him so much he will only now have water to drink (so much easier) or milk with meals. Although he knows he can have squash/fizzy drinks as a treat when we're out (so not completely weirded out).

ds2 is 3.2 - he loves his squash and we've had lots of tantrums - don't be guilted by friends, you are the one in the right, stick to your guns. However, I'm with everyone else and if he wants to try something when you're out it won't hurt.

Don't ban it because it literally become the forbidden fruit.

I wouldn't do anything to introduce it either.

Both mine had water or breast milk for the first 3 years and there was no reason to have anything else. They were allowed other drinks when they were offered if we were out but carried on drinking water happily at home.

We have water between meals now but are on the slippery slope of having squash at mealtimes which you can't really fight once the older one is 13!

I agree with Al1son-no need to introduce it but don't ban it either-they will be offered it when out-I wouldn't make it a big deal.