A baby under a year old should not have fruit juice. The question of whether or not to give a baby juice is actually a very common one, so if you’ve been a little unsure, you’re not alone. Most of us assume that since babies above the age of six months can and should begin eating fruit, they can also drink fruit juice. But is this really the case?

When is it safe to give my baby juice?

Though it may be somewhat surprising, babies under the age of 12 months should not be given any kind or type of fruit juice, according to the American Association of Pediatrics, the NHS and other reputable sources. It promotes cavities and has very little nutritional value, among other disadvantages. Once your baby reaches their first birthday they can sometimes have a very small amount of diluted juice.

Why should babies not be given juice before they’re 12 months old?

When it comes to fruit juice, there are more problems than benefits, including:

Tooth decay. Even 100% fruit juices contain natural sugars that can be harmful to teeth, especially little teeth that are just coming through.

Malnutrition. Another potential problem that comes with giving your baby juice is malnutrition, simply because babies may not drink enough breastmilk or formula when consuming other liquids. And by not drinking enough breast milk or formula, they won’t get all of the essential nutrients necessary for proper development.

Digestive issues. We all need fibre in our diets to aid proper digestion and regular bowel movements, and fruit generally contains a lot of fibre. However, the juicing process actually removes almost all of the dietary fibre present in whole fruits, often leading to constipation.

Obesity. On top of causing tooth decay, the high-sugar content of fruit juice can lead to childhood obesity or obesity later in life. Obesity puts children at risk of breathing problems, high cholesterol and blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, among other health problems.

So, for the meantime, it’s best to avoid giving your little one any fruit juice even after the age of one year.

What is the best way to give juice to toddlers and older children?

Freshly squeezed juice which is diluted with water is ideal. Serve it in a small cup along with a meal, but not more than 100ml per day. You can buy 100% fruit juice which is pasteurised, but this has fewer vitamins.

It is important to give their teeth a good brushing after drinking juice, but make sure to wait at least 20 minutes before brushing so their saliva has time to neutralise any acids.

Should I give my baby juice?

For our Baby Nutrition Journey, we answer your questions about fruit juice.