Juice?

[LuvBug]

DS didnt have juice until well after his second birthday and it has always been pure cranberry(not from concentrate, with nothing but water and straight cranberry juice, no added sugar, blah blah blah, ect). He loves cranberry juice and I always have as well. He usually gets 1 part juice 9 parts water. I even water down my own juice. He has had OJ and lemonade on occasion, and it too was watered down. I just water down everything for DS and myself. We drink lots of water.
We gave him a sippy at 5mo with some water in it to see what he did and he picked it right up and sucked on it. shocking... so we would give him one with water every now and then after that. The older he got the more water he drank, then we switched to those straw cups. He loves water(as do I! nothing like a ice cold glass of water and some crackers! ok that sounded weirder than it tastes ).
Anyway juice is not necessary and is more of a treat. Juicing your own is great, and watering it down. Id juice my own cranberries but i cant even find any fresh! let alone enough to get some juice out of lol! So we stick to the bottled stuff, but all the other fruit juices we juice ourselves unless the fruit isnt in season.

 

[skaterbabs]

Joyjoy was given straight juice for the first time at 9 mos. We were flying and she wouldn't take a bottle or paci at all, and I didn't want to remove her from her car seat to nurse during take off & landing, so we were trying to get to to take ANYTHING that would have her swallowing instead of screaming.

 

[CDNTech]

DS1 got juice (1/2 water, 1/2 juice) starting at five months... I read somewhere it wasn't good to give them lots of water, it would fill them up and they wouldn't breastfeed as well, soooo, I gave him juice in a sippy cup... at least one 6oz cup/day.:hitselfonhead: like juice is better than water?:doh:

At least I recovered my brain by the time DS2 got here. He got water at 5 months and only tasted juice around 12 months (1/4 juice, 3/4 water).

They both rarely drink juice now, I don't keep it stocked in the fridge. It's milk or water for us.

 

[TheRealMacGyver]

DS1 got juice (1/2 water, 1/2 juice) starting at five months... I read somewhere it wasn't good to give them lots of water, it would fill them up and they wouldn't breastfeed as well, soooo, I gave him juice in a sippy cup... at least one 6oz cup/day. like juice is better than water?

Ya know, this is what our doctor recommended at around 5-6 months too! I also read in several of my books that water was BAD! I had a problem with that the first time I read it, and I still have a problem with it today. No one has been able to explain this logically other then "well too much water can cause kidney failure and possible death". Well, okay but just like they stop eating when they are full, don't they stop drinking too? I get the feeling this is one of those one in a million odds things that they have just made into some standard one-size-fits-all recommendations. ARRGH! (okay, I'm done)

My son always has watered down Juicy Juice (I know-bad stuff!) and he has fresh, when I make juice with my juicer. Usually carrot with apple. He doesn't like the carrot by itself, so I have to add something. And it's watered down as well.

 

[joolsplus3]

i havent given her any...and if i could help it, i never would...but i was wondering what a good age is?

It's ok, a little bit is really good for you... like 4 ounces a day for little kids (an ounce or two for a baby...leah somehow never gets more than a sip no matter how long she plays with the cup of it, lol)...grape juice is almost as healthy as wine, loaded with antioxidants, etc...

I think it's the kids drinking 5 bottles full a day that give juice a bad name

 

[joolsplus3]

OMG...I just remembered...my dr said I could start offering it to her at age 2 months!!! (that was after he told me not to breastfeed too often or I'd run out of milk... uh...ok.... I brought him an article on breastfeeding on demand to clear THAT crap up!)

I must have looked at him like he was completely insane about the juice thing, because he backpedaled and was like...well, you don't HAVE to, and it can be watered down...

 

[southpawboston]

It's ok, a little bit is really good for you... like 4 ounces a day for little kids (an ounce or two for a baby...leah somehow never gets more than a sip no matter how long she plays with the cup of it, lol)...grape juice is almost as healthy as wine, loaded with antioxidants, etc...

I think it's the kids drinking 5 bottles full a day that give juice a bad name

phew!! so what we did was okay then? (6-12 oz of juice in water--about 1 part pure juice to 9 parts water, or about 0.6-1.2 oz of juice total per day). i was getting worried after reading this thread. but i'm still worried about the teeth issue, since she would take sips throughout the day. regardless, it's stopped now and she only drinks juice with breakfast (still 1 part juice in 9 parts water... basically a sip or two).

 

[joolsplus3]

I was also reading about how liquid sugar isn't as bad for you as sticky sugar...from a tooth decay perspective... better to have a sip of juice than a raisin, really.

I mean, sleeping with a bottle or sippy cup full of juice, that's bad, and thinking you NEED juice for a baby, that's bad, but a little really is ok (good thing, too... sometimes I make up for my lack of daytime veggie consumption with a big ol' glass of juice at night, lol, gotta get yer fruits and veggies somehow!)

 

[Gypsy]

Ya know, this is what our doctor recommended at around 5-6 months too! I also read in several of my books that water was BAD! I had a problem with that the first time I read it, and I still have a problem with it today. No one has been able to explain this logically other then "well too much water can cause kidney failure and possible death". Well, okay but just like they stop eating when they are full, don't they stop drinking too? I get the feeling this is one of those one in a million odds things that they have just made into some standard one-size-fits-all recommendations. ARRGH! (okay, I'm done)

My son always has watered down Juicy Juice (I know-bad stuff!) and he has fresh, when I make juice with my juicer. Usually carrot with apple. He doesn't like the carrot by itself, so I have to add something. And it's watered down as well.

It's called water intoxication, and it is very serious. Babies fed with a bottle will often be coaxed into finishing the bottle, or drinking just a little bit more after they have turned their heads and signaled they were done, they do this with water too. Many parents give their babies water instead of formula to cut down on the cost of formula, and some breastfeeding moms give their babies water to try and increase the amount of time between feedings -- neither is a good idea and both can be harmful. Babies under 6 months of age should get all of their nutrition from breastmilk or formula, everything they drink should contain protein/fat/carbs, after 6 months, when solids are started it's ok to give a little water every day (up to about 4 ounces max).

 

[TheRealMacGyver]

It's called water intoxication, and it is very serious. Babies fed with a bottle will often be coaxed into finishing the bottle, or drinking just a little bit more after they have turned their heads and signaled they were done, they do this with water too. Many parents give their babies water instead of formula to cut down on the cost of formula, and some breastfeeding moms give their babies water to try and increase the amount of time between feedings -- neither is a good idea and both can be harmful. Babies under 6 months of age should get all of their nutrition from breastmilk or formula, everything they drink should contain protein/fat/carbs, after 6 months, when solids are started it's ok to give a little water every day (up to about 4 ounces max).

I've read all that stuff, but my problem is that when they say it is okay to start giving watered down juice, they still say "no water" That's just crazy! If the juice isn't hurting them the same amount of water certainly isn't.

 

[southpawboston]

I've read all that stuff, but my problem is that when they say it is okay to start giving watered down juice, they still say "no water" That's just crazy! If the juice isn't hurting them the same amount of water certainly isn't.

LOL, i see your point, seeing that juice is 99.9% H2O, while tap water or bottled water is about 99.99% H2O.

 

[Mom To 3 Knuckleheads]

i dont give them juice period, they get ice water and soy milk for the most part.

i make smoothies alot for breakfast and then yummier ones for dessert , i will let them have ovaltine once in a while.

when we are out i may let them have apple juice or flavored milk as a treat...i hate juice..it has no nutritional value...they eat plenty of fresh fruits and veggies , they dont need juice.

 

[Erika Ruth]

My kids don't like juice. They just don't like it... Too sweet. Every once in a while, they like watered down lemonade. We are a milk and water family. We even do Chocolate milk.

My 3 year old and my 16 month old just don't like it. (and I don't encourage it).

Erika

 

[southpawboston]

okay, i can see how having juice throughout the day isn't good, especially because of the high caloric content (all that fructose) and because the sugar is bad for the teeth.

but why do so many people think that a little juice is bad? many of you have said that it has "no nutritional value" and describe juice as though it is evil, even in small amounts. how can that be true? and i'm not talking about juice blends or juice with added ingredients or added sugar... i'm talking about 100% juice, no artificial anything. how can it have no nutritional value? what about vitamins and antioxidants?

am i missing something? can someone explain why it has no nutritional value and that plain water is so superior (again, other than the sugar part)?

 

[Simplysomething]

, I'll give him a Juicy Juice box, but that is supremely rare (as in, maybe once or twice a year).

So, this struck me funny. But only because Charlie isn't even two yet. lol

ETA ..I don't remember when I started juice, it was before a year. With DS2, I sometimes water it down, I sometimes don't. Depends on my mood or how lazy of a parent I'm being at the moment. He doesn't really care whats in his cup, so long as he gets liquid refreshment.

Ds1 always wants glasses of "ice cold ice water" which still makes me smile, even if he can get it for himself.

I'm sure that my food and beverage choices are a bit too mainstream for some of you. Wah. Here, I'm on the fringes! lol

 

[LuvBug]

The only issue I have with fruit in general is that you have to watch your natural sugar intake from them. Yes the sugar is all natural, but it will still mess with your levels if you eat it at the wrong time or have to much.
This is why I waited and limit our juice intake and always water it down even for myself.

 

[bbartlettnfld]

Well arn't I a terrible mommy! My DD lives on Orange juice.. And I don't water it down! She's 4. Her teeth are well brushed and she's far from fat! Yes she does fill up on it and would rather drink juice or milk to eating, but I give it to her after meals...
But then again all she does is eat fruit, veggies and a small bit of meat.. I don't think it will kill her... I know plenty of kids that drink pop she rarely does unless she steals a sip, but DH and I rarely have it so she doesn't have much chance...
I grew up in a very restrictive envrionment for food, I know what's it like to go to school and see what everyone else got and be teased because of my food... My DD will not experience that!
BethAnn

 

[joolsplus3]

Well arn't I a terrible mommy! My DD lives on Orange juice.. And I don't water it down! She's 4. Her teeth are well brushed and she's far from fat! Yes she does fill up on it and would rather drink juice or milk to eating, but I give it to her after meals...
But then again all she does is eat fruit, veggies and a small bit of meat.. I don't think it will kill her... I know plenty of kids that drink pop she rarely does unless she steals a sip, but DH and I rarely have it so she doesn't have much chance...
I grew up in a very restrictive envrionment for food, I know what's it like to go to school and see what everyone else got and be teased because of my food... My DD will not experience that!
BethAnn

I wish I could GET my DD to drink some orange juice sometimes... (they only get milk or water at home, you'd think it'd be a treat...) :thumbsup:

 

[AdventureMom]

There needs to be a never option. We don't give our kids juice (except OJ which is homeade). I am not saying they have never had it. They have had it at bday/class parties or after a soccer game when a parent brings it for after game snacks (most bring water though). But the pre package high in suger juices we don't buy. Plus they would much rather have water or milk more then anything else.

That mostly described us as well...

 

[ThreeBeans]

I grew up in a very restrictive envrionment for food, I know what's it like to go to school and see what everyone else got and be teased because of my food... My DD will not experience that!
BethAnn

Not letting your child drink his body weight in juice everyday hardly qualifies as being 'restrictive'