I.J. asks from Manasquan, NJ on April 30, 2009
Juice - Manasquan,NJ
My son is 13 months old and my mother thinks it's ok to give him Tang. My husband and I normally only give him water. We had tried other juices but he didn't seem to care for them so that's why we stuck with water. The babysitter was giving him Tang but had stopped since I asked her to but now my mom is giving it to him. Tang apparently has 1/2 the sugar of juice and has vitamins and stuff. Is it ok to give my son Tang? I was really trying to stay away from sugary juices.
1 mom found this helpful
So What Happened?™
Wow guys! Thanks for all the positive responses. We had a talk about the Tang last night. We won't be giving it to him anymore. We will be sticking to water and milk like we have been.
Featured Answers
J.A. answers from New York on May 03, 2009
Hello I.,
I have a 5 month old girl, so I can't really say if I would give her juice. You should ask her pediatrician. This is my first child, therefore, I tend to ask more experienced parents or her doctor on what I should do.
J.
T.W. answers from New York on May 01, 2009
I know i am late, but I would def not do the tang. I give my son 100% juice and water it down a little so it's not so sweet tasting. He does sometimes get full on apple juice. My mother has once even tried to give him soda. I made it perfectly clear that that was NOT OKAY under any circumstances. Motts has a Motts for Tots juice box that is pre-watered down. He is over 4 and I still buy them as much as possible.
More Answers
K.I. answers from New York on May 01, 2009
I.,
Buy some organic oranges and apples and use a juicer and make juice for your baby yourself. You can even add a juiced carrot in the apple juice and they will still love it. Make it in the morning and put it in a bottle. Tell your mother and babysitter he already has juice.
You should start putting vegetables in a food processor also and freezing it over night. Babies eat anything especially if they don't have too many choices.
I am against all fake juices. Water or freshly squeeze. If you do this daily you will see the differences in your babies hair, skin, and teeth.
You baby will practically glow in the dark - just kidding;)
J.D. answers from New York on May 01, 2009
I.,
If your child is fine with water& enjoys drinking it there is absolutely no reason to enter juice or anything else sweet like that into their palette. My Dr. Says not to give my daughter juice until she is in school & even that is only so she doesn't look like a 'freak' by not drinking it. Generally, ppl give juice as a way to give kids water when they won't drink water (so they drink watered juice). I believe kids get all the nutrients they need from their mill & food.
Best of luck with everything, I'm sure you will get a million different responses. But, whatever you do it'll be the right thing because you're the mama :-)
All the best,
J
H.P. answers from New York on May 01, 2009
I didn't even know they still made Tang!!! I agree w/ most other posters. While some watered down juice every once in a while isn't terrible, Tang can't be that great for a kid with all the chemicals. Plus, it fills them up, making them less hungry for nutritious food. I think the first time I gave my children juice was when my son was almost two. They gave it to him at the hospital after a sedated echocardiogram.
H.G. answers from New York on April 30, 2009
No Tang! You're right- it's way better to avoid sugary drinks. And unsweetened juice is ok, in moderation. (4 oz a day or less.) But Tang is not juice, it's vitamin-fortified sugar water.
Your son can get vitamins from healthy foods and vitamin drops. But once he gets used to drinking sweetened drinks like Tang, it'll be hard to keep him happy with water and occasional fruit/veggie juice.
L.S. answers from New York on May 01, 2009
Throw it out so she can't give it, and understand she's from a different time. It's very unhealthy, all that sugar, water is the best. My pedi said no juice at all, he'd rather her have the real fruit.
M.T. answers from New York on May 01, 2009
Tang isn't juice, there's no need for a child to have fruit flavored beverages like Tang, Hawaiian Punch, HiC, really they are closer to a soda than to a juice. Juice has natural sugars, TANG and those other things have table sugar. Children dont' need juice for their nutrition nor do they need fruit-flavored artificial beverages. He doesn't need a drink other than water or milk - the others fill him up and don't give any real nutritional value, so he's not as hungry and may eat less of the food that should be providing the nutrition. Good luck. If mom wont' listen, tell her that the pediatrician said absolutely no artificial fruit drinks.
A.B. answers from New York on April 30, 2009
In my opinion, if he likes water, why give him juice? Soon enough he will be old enough to want/ask for juice. At that point, you may want to. But why give him juice now? There is no benefit to it at all. My daughter is 2 and she still only drinks water and milk. When she gets older, if she wants juice, she can have it.
What is your mother's reason for wanting to give him Tang? Why is she insistant?
J.D. answers from New York on May 04, 2009
I wouldn't allow it. I'm fine with juice. I give 100%, no additional sugar added and try to get the calcium fortified. I know its got natural sugare in it, but I'm ok with that, I can't be totally insane. Sometimes I give it straight sometimes I add water if I think my son is drinking to much. Recently though my son has preferred milk over anything and he will drink water from a water bottle or straw - he's 2 though - but sometimes its just a matter of how I serve it to him. Regardless - thats not your issue, if your son is drinking water and likes it then stick with it. If you don't want him to have tang then just state it - your the mother! He's only 13 months old - he doesn't need tang - ESPECIALLY if you don't want him to have it!
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