No juices, vegetable drinks or other soft drinks: up to 5 years old, children should only drink water and milk (preferably skimmed)

Water, milk, fruit juices or other drinks, what is best for children up to 5 years of age? Some new guidelines, drawn up by the major American pediatric associations, clarify this.

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Water, milk, fruit juices or other drinks, what is best for children up to 5 years of age? The new guidelines, drawn up by the major American pediatric associations, clarify this.

The main American health organizations have drawn up a document, especially useful for parents of young children, but also for health professionals, in which they specify, based on the most modern scientific evidence, which drinks they should take and which ones to avoid children up to 5 years of age.

Le lines guide, by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Academy of Pediatrics and American Heart Association, show that what children drink, from birth to age 5, can have a big impact on their health. as beverages make a significant contribution to dietary intake during early childhood.

The first fundamental drink is the breast milk (or the artificial one if you cannot breastfeed) and, once weaning has started, water. Subsequently (after 12 months) the cow milk while absolutely fruit juices are not recommended, sources of dangerous added sugars in the diets of young children, as well as flavored milk (for example strawberry or chocolate) and other sugary drinks or worse still containing caffeine or theine which, unfortunately, are found on the market for the most little ones.

Summarizing the indications of the experts. Children depending on the age group should drink:

• Infants up to 6 months: small children only need the breast milk or a formula for babies.
• Children from 6 to 12 months: even these babies should rely on breast milk or infant formula to meet most of their daily nutritional needs. Breast milk and / or infant formula also provide all the fluids a baby needs during this time. Once solid foods are introduced, a couple of sips of water can be added during meals, which also helps children develop the ability to drink from a cup and learn to appreciate the taste of water.
• Children from 12 to 24 months: in this age group, children should drink 1 to 4 cups of water a day to get enough fluids. This can vary based on how active they are, whether they drink more or less milk or drink fluids from foods such as soups. According to American pediatricians, these babies can also be introduced to pasteurized whole milk rich in protein, calcium and vitamin D (in a dose of 2-3 cups per day). As they approach 2 years of age and eat more solid foods, they need less and less milk. If you really can't do without it, they can take no more than ½ cup of 100% fruit juice but the advice is to prefer fresh fruit.
• Children 2-3 years: these children must drink 1 to 4 cups of water a day (this always varies according to the activity performed and the other foods they eat) then skimmed milk or lean (2 cups per day) to help them limit calorie and fat intake and thus promote proper weight. Also in this case, half a cup of 100% fruit juice is allowed per day.
• Children 4-5 years: here the quantity of water rises up to 5 cups a day and as always it can vary. As for milk, this should always be chosen semi-skimmed or lean and the recommended amount is 2 and a half cups a day.

What children up to 5 years should not drink

In all age groups the following should be banned:

• Flavored milk
• Fruit juices, fruit or fruit flavored drinks
• “Transition” or continuation formulas
• Vegetable drinks such as those made from almonds, rice or oats (not sufficient to replace cow's milk in terms of nutrients except for some soy drinks with added minerals and vitamins)
• Beverages with caffeine
• Low calorie sugary drinks and those sweetened with stevia, sucralose, or other low calorie sweeteners
• Sodas
• Sports or energy drinks

In short, the basic concept is clear: we must avoid accustoming children to the sweet tastes (and artifacts) of fruit juices and the like. But what do you think of the banning of alternative vegetable drinks to cow's milk?

Read also:

• 100% fruit juices have the same amount of sugar as Coca Cola
• Sweet and carbonated drinks: consuming them as children puts the heart at risk when grown up
• Too much sugar in baby fruit juices, better to make them at home
• Too much sugar in baby food, the EU says stop