Juice and Water

• Never give before age 6 m/o. Until baby starts eating solid foods, all water is provided by breastmilk or formula.
• During very hot weather, for bottle fed infants, may offer water between feedings, but don't force, or worry if he rejects it; he may instead prefer extra feedings. Breastfed infants generally do not need extra water.
• Infants: don't put it in bottles or sippy cups, as this encourages sipping throughout day. Don't give at bedtime.
• 90% of all infants consume fruit juice by the time they are 1 yr of age.
• Fruit juice can provide extra free water for normal infants and young children.
• White grape juice may be digested more easily, has a balance of carbs and no sorbitol

But limit juice as it can result in gas or diarrhea. How to limit intake: give with food to slow down rate of absorption, dilute 1:1 with water. Give water with meals, as giving milk/formula/juice can curb appetite for solid foods.

1-6 y/o: 4-6 oz per day
7-18 y/o: 8-12 oz per day or 2 servings per day

AAP Caring for baby and child: Birth to age 5, revised edition.

Study upholds danger of drinking too much sweetened beverage

Assessment of the daily dietary intake of 20 children 6-13 years of age showed that children who drink a large quantity of sweetened drinks consumed less milk than other children and, therefore, ingested less daily protein, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and vitamin A. In addition, children who drank more than 12 oz per day of sweetened beverage consumed more daily calories - they ate the same amount of solid food as other children - and gained more weight.

(Mrjdenovic G, et al. J Pediatr 2003; 142:604)