Juices for a Toddler

Updated on October 02, 2006
K.B. asks from Hattiesburg, MS
22 answers

I read somewhere once that apple juice and white grape were NOT the best juices to give a toddler. My question is what IS better? I dilute the juice no matter what it is but I'd like to give her something that isn't filled with sugar. THANKS..

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So What Happened?

ok.. here's what I found from What to Expect the Toddler Years..

The BEST juices are (from "What to Expect in the Toddler Years")
Orange juice
Papaya juice
Pineapple juice
apricot nectar
mango juice
vegetable juice (v8 splashers are great!)
& "other" 100% fruit juice/nectars w/ the exception of apple

Yup, apple is the worst It's because there are hardly any nutrients in that juices and there is a lot of sugar (well, in all juices). So the amount of nutrients they get doesnt outweigh the amount of sugar. They do say that appie juice enriched w/ vitamin C is better if they are going to drink apple.

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L.M.

answers from Atlanta on

I really dont think the type matters either just as long as it is diluted and not that often given . This is true as far as the 100% juice boxes are good ..

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J.

answers from Chattanooga on

If you are diluting it already does it really matter especially if you only give it occasionally? Buy 100% juice and look at the sugar content on the bottle. My boys are 3 and I still dilute their juice except when we are out and about we use 100% juice boxes. The real fruit is still better than the juice so as long as you are giving that I wouldn't worry too much about what type of juice.
32 yr old mother of twins.

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M.

answers from Nashville on

K.

I think that Juicy Juice is the best juice. It is 100% juice, although all jucie has natrually occuring sugar.

1 mom found this helpful
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N.

answers from Atlanta on

Hi, I give my 2 year old V8 Fusion. I water it down but it is 100% juice and is a full serving of Fruits and a full serving of Vegetables so I feel good about giving it to her.
Hope this helps,

N.

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S.H.

answers from Savannah on

If you give too much juice,more than 4oz a day,the sugar in the juice especially in apple will eventually rot her teeth.Try giving her juicy juice,there are many varities and no sugar added.Just continue giving her milk,water:with/without koolaid or crystal light addatitive,and juice throughout the day.more milk than juice and water to help her teeth grow strong.It works for my son,2,he has the best teeth:white and strong.

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M.C.

answers from Chattanooga on

My daughter is 2 1/2 and only drinks milk. Her doctor told me as long as she is getting her daily allowance of fruits and veggies, not to worry. Milk is good for the body!

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J.W.

answers from Atlanta on

Hi K.! I give my 2 year old the Tropicana Low-Acid orange juice. Another juice he really likes is cranberry. My toddler also LOVES water. I give that to him more than any juices. I use the Nursery water (which has the fluoride in it). Hope this helps!

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A.S.

answers from Memphis on

Our pediatrician recommended no fruit juice. He told us to feed our daughter lots of fruit instead. We are glad we took his advice, because now she is 5 and still drinks only milk and water. She doesn't even want koolaid or soda! (We do make sure she eats fruit everyday.) She gets plenty of sugar in her diet without us having to keep up with what she could be getting in sugary drinks. Good luck to you. No choice is wrong, just use your Mommy instincts!

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S.J.

answers from Knoxville on

ALL DR'S ARE DIFFERENT. MY SON IS 12 WEEKS AND THE DR SAID TO FEED HIM WHITE GRAPE AND APPLE GERBER JUICE, AND TO DILUTE IT.. IT IS FINE TO DO THIS THERE IS NO ADDED SUGARS.. ONLY A 100% JUICE.. JUICE GIVES YOUR CHILD A VARITY OF TASTE IF THEY ARE NOT OLD ENOUGH FOR BABY FOOD YET.. GOOD LUCK

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T.C.

answers from Johnson City on

I gave my kids the gerber juices diluted of course and after 1 I started with the juicy juice but /i have never heard anything about what the best or not the best I gave my kids any kind of juice I wanted the jucy juice does not have to be diluted just give it in moderation hope this helps

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C.B.

answers from Atlanta on

I always varied my kids juices. They didn't care for apple very much, so we mainly stuck with white grape or white grape plus whatever (many flavors available).

I know 3 different moms personally that gave their kids apple juice because it is healthier than soda, etc. And when their children went to the dentist at 3 years old for the first cleaning, all 3 kids' (all different families) teeth literally crumbled under the pressure of the brush. The apple juice is VERY detrimental to the tooth enamel.

What about giving your daughter water. It's the healthiest thing she can drink, and starting her now would be a good habit for her in the future. I drink Dasani bottled water (because it's so convenient to just grab a bottle from the fridge and go) but to give some variety, I really like the Crystal Lite individual packs - lemonade is my favorite, but they have about 4 different flavors.

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L.L.

answers from Knoxville on

In my opinion Juciy Juice is the only juice that is 100% juice. And it isn't filled with loads of sugar. As for the flavored water that someone else mentioned. Most of it is made with Splenda and that isn't safe for little ones tummy!!!!

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T.C.

answers from Athens on

If you want to give her juice get the sugar free versions, it is better for her and will not cause her teeth to begin to decay before they come in either. If you can afford it, then get a juicer and make the juice for her yourself. And you shouldn't give her more than one per day. That in and of itself is one fruit serving for her. Other than juice give her water, and not what they call a 'sugar' bottle, that is a bad idea, as it will rot her teeth as well.

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D.S.

answers from Athens on

I give my son Juice and they have all kind of variety's. I still but water in my son juice too.
DES

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M.G.

answers from Memphis on

Apple Juice is one of the things that peds recommend to give to children that are constipated, along with bananas and something else...I can't remember the other right now. they call it the bar or bab diet...This will definatly make your child run off...especially in the summer. I wouldn't recommend apple juice. Have you ever heard of jungle juice? That is a water downed juice and its cheap. They have sugar free Koolaid too.

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Z.L.

answers from Memphis on

I've always heard that it's the percentage that matters with fruit juice. Basically, unless it says "100% fruit juice" on the front of the bottle, don't give it to your daughter. Those are filled with added sugars, whereas the 100% juices have natural sugars in them. I haven't heard anything about a specific type of juice being better/worse for toddlers, though.

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L.W.

answers from Atlanta on

i was told that a toddler only needs 4 oz. of juice a day and can get that from the fruit servered with meals. i have always had to watch my daughters sugar intake. it drives her and me crazy. i diluted her once a day juice - 1/2 water, 1/2 juice. all the 100% pure juice has more sugar than i prefer. my ped. said juice is not necessary if you are serving the right amounts of fruit and he prefers water. my daughter is 5 and will drink as much water as i will give her. i drink my 8+ glasses of water a day and she likes to copy me.

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L.H.

answers from Memphis on

The thing about the apple juice is the acid. They can drink it. As long as it's not out of a bottle or at night. You just have to make sure you brush her teeth at night. I had the same problem with giving my daughter all that sugar. But you have to think of your choices, everything has sugar in it along with a lot of other things. So I suggest going to wild oats and they have all natural juices, what I use. They have a little of sugar in them and it the best I have been able to find.

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R.R.

answers from Atlanta on

we give our son fruit h20. it is flavored to taste like peach, strawberry and etc, but it does not have the sugar like juice, but they still get the juice satisfaction but with water. our son really likes it...

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L.O.

answers from Nashville on

K., My doctor said 100% juice is fine. It should be given during day hours. Just make sure to brush their teeth at bedtime.

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S.E.

answers from Atlanta on

Hi.

My oldest daughter had a unirary tract infection when she was about 20 months old so I started giving her diluted cranberry juice only. I only gave it once a day and she had water for the rest of the day. I still do it and both my daughters (now 5 and 3) are fine with it. I buy Northland or Apple and Eve brands because it's NOT juice cocktail (which has a ton more sugar). Ive also heard that apple is no good.

By the way, now I only like diluted juice too. All juice is sugar but cranberry is good for cleaning out your system.

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B.

answers from Augusta on

Milk is great for toddlers they should still get a good amount of it. But as far as juice goes I've given both my kids apple and white grape juice and they have done fine, gerber has apple , white grape , and pear in their juices for toddlers. I just buy the big bottles of juices with no sugar added, Juice is going to have fruitose or fruit sugers in them no matter what.

oh and the constapation diet is BRAT
Bananas, Rice , Applesauce, Toast

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