Breast milk or formula are the only drinks your baby needs in their first year of life. These drinks have all the right nutrients to help babies grow. (If your baby is 6 months or older, your doctor may also say it’s OK to give plain water.) What Drinks Are Not Good for Babies? Stay away from drinks and foods that are not safe or lack nutrients. Some drinks make it hard for a baby to grow. Other drinks cause cavities or an unhealthy weight. And some drinks can make a baby very sick. Too much fruit juice can also cause diarrhea, which leads to dehydration. Many juices (especially apple, pear, peach, and cherry) are also high in sorbitol—a non-digestible form of sugar. And when you have too much, these sugars draw more water into the lumen of the gut and this leads to looser stools. Babies shouldn't have: 100% fruit juice sugary drinks, like soda, sweet tea, sports drinks, lemonade, and punch drinks made with artificial sweeteners (often labeled “zero-calorie”) plain or flavored milk from cows, goats, or other animals plain or flavored plant-based milks made from soy, almond, oat, rice, or coconut drinks made with honey cereal or food in their bottle water (unless your baby is 6 months or older and your doctor says it’s OK) When Can Babies Start a Drink Other Than Breast Milk or Formula? When your baby turns 1, it’s time to offer whole cow's milk in an open cup or straw cup. If you have any questions about what’s safe for your baby to drink, ask your doctor. How much juice can toddlers and big kids drink? After 1 year of age it is recommends you stay under the following daily limits: 4 oz. a day for 1 to 3-year-olds 4-6 oz. a day for 4 to 6-year-olds 8 oz. a day or 7-year-olds & up Reference: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/babies-drink.html https://www.happiestbaby.com/blogs/toddler/when-can-babies-drink-juice https://www.unitypoint.org/news-and-articles/why-giving-fruit-juice-to-babies-is-a-bad-idea https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/139/6/e20170967/38754/Fruit-Juice-in-Infants-Children-and-Adolescents https://www.parents.com/when-can-babies-have-juice-7546504 https://www.mummycooks.com/blogs/advice/suitable-drinks-for-babies-and-young-children
