Liquids

Water! Teaching your child to love water is one of the best things you can do for their short and long-term health. Need to use chlorine-free, though, as it's the chlorine in city water that makes so many people think they don't like water. Means filtering city water, or using well-filtered water from the machines like at Whole Foods or Arbor Farms. As long as you are offering plenty of formula to her, you can also trust her own knowing of what she needs. Also, make sure any juice offered is at least 50% dilution with (good) water - the sweet is too concentrated for children. Ours are still drinking somewhat diluted juice at 6 & 8 years old.

1 mom found this helpful

Water is the best thing to put in sippy cup right now. Both my husband and I have weight issues so we wait until our kids are 2 before giving them jucie. We hope that we are teaching them to love water instead of caloric beverages.
Blessings, K.

Have you tried the yogurt and veggie drinks made by Gerber? My son loved those and I still diluted it with water.

E.:

She should be taking in at least 32 oz of formula per day. How I did it was four 8oz bottles per day. but its your choice how you do it. I just think if you are going to give more fluids give her more formula or water. I wouldn't do juice unless you really want to but if you do I would dilute it.hope it helps..remember this is my opinion/advice. take care, S.

Our pediatrician told us to stay away from juices, and that if we found it absolutely necessary to give juice, limit it to no more than four ounces daily. When my almost three-year-old was an infant, we gave her Karo syrup and water or V8 Fusion (watered down to 1/3 or 1/4).

I see no need to introduce to more liquids... especially with low milk intake. Juice is certainly not neccessary and can be way to sugary! I give water in a sippy cup especially when its warm.... its a great time to get your baby to like water :) My guy is 10 months - we rarely do juice but have on occasion I mix it with water anyway 1:4 ratio. In a few months you can give soy or cow milk!

My daughter is 9 months and LOVES peach juice. Jucie Juice makes a really good one. Also, she like white grape/peach.
Good luck - :)
J.

If you do give her juices, water them down 1/2 and 1/2. The sweetness of the fruit although typically natural does have an effect on little ones bellies. There is nothing wrong with wanting to give them some juice... Just make sure that you also gove water... I usually make sure that milk is at all meals. Morning snack is watered down juice and after noon snack is water.
Avoid anything acidic like tomatoe juice until you can be sure that shes not acid sensetive( It will burn their butt if they are and that is one nasty looking diaper rash) And also that she's' not allergic to it. The best bet is just to stay with the apple, grape, and mixed fruit juices...

You know that all she needs is formula to keep hydrated and satisfied, at least until 1 yrs. old. Juice is just a treat anyways, she doesn't NEED that. And until she is off formula, she doesn't need water, unless it is a really hot day, it wouldn't hurt to put some in a sippy cup (even to practice with). So, don't stress about liquids. I still only offer my 4 1/2 yr. old milk (chocolate or white), juice or water. That is about it. And they certainly shouldn't have pop for many many years. The acidity + sugar isn't even good for adults! Good Luck!
~L. (Mother of 3 and dental hygienist)

water...

my daughter never liked juice of any variety.. but she loved water.

babies really arent supposed to drink much juice anyway.

24 oz of formula is plenty.. she gets lots of liquids in her baby food and cereal.

Baby does not need juice. It is very high in fructose which is sugar. Offering sugary foods or liquids just increases the chances that baby will prefer the sugary stuff and not want to eat the nutritious stuff (veggies and whole fruits), which of course increases the chance of obesity. In addition, sugary drinks do not hydrate at all.

The only time you should consider offering DILUTED juice is if baby is having real bowel issues and you need to get things moving ASAP. The increased sugar helps move the bowels.

Water. Water is best. Baby does not need anything besides water and milk (formula or breast). Water is the best source of hydration. Now that we are in summer, baby needs to be hydrated. If she is not breastfed on demand, then offering water will ensure baby stays hydrated. Water is the best liquid for ALL of us. It helps keep our systems free of toxins, hydrates, keeps our blood pressures stable, helps kidney function, and much much more.

Water. Water. Water.

Water was my answer, too! Totally agree- my daughter wasn't fond of juices either.

Hi E.,

I know it sounds really boring, but the best liquid of all is water. It's really all she needs.

But if you'd like to get a bit more adventurous than that, you might want to try vegetable juices, such as tomato, maybe carrot juice etc.

I'd also strongly encourage that you cut these at least 50/50 with water.

Introducing anything other than water can increase the incidence of cavities. So go sparingly and clear her little teeth.

Have fun with it,

S.

I am going to have to agree with the majority - WATER! Babies do not need juice. Water in a sippy cup was the only liquid offered to my children until they were weaned, and then it was milk in a sippy cup. We now only have OJ in our home, it is offered only at breakfast. Juice is a BIG tooth decayer and tons of empty calories. My only exception to this would be whole juice, juiced at home from organic fruit and no added anything.