Written by Editorial Team
A baby’s proper growth and health are of utmost priority to any parent. We strive to do our best for them, and this includes food. But babies may not always eat what we offer them. They don’t get attracted so much to home-cooked meals as they are to packaged juices. This makes us wonder if packaged juices are a decent option? Can you give packaged juices to your baby since they seem to love them so much?
The product packaging, labelling, and advertising for most packaged juices seem to indicate that they are healthy and full of added vitamins. But how authentic is this information? Can such juices be given to babies, and if yes, in what quantities? This article answers all these questions and many more.
In This Article
Packaged juices are readily available in the supermarkets and labelled as 100% fresh fruit juices. While it is glamorous to look at the health-packed juices, the sugary coating has a few more things to be noted down the line before choosing them over fresh juices.
Remember that the 100% fresh fruit juices you see in supermarkets are highly processed. So, the remaining nutrients will be minimal at the end of all the processing. All the added sugars create more health issues for your little one. Preservatives and chemicals add to the list of disadvantages.
Think about how you make fruit juices at home? – Wash the fruit, cut it, and squeeze it, and your juice is ready. When it comes to packaged juices – Wash the fruits, cut them, squeeze them, remove the oxygen, and use artificial flavors to flavor the juice and pack them.
The oxygen is removed from the fruit so the juice can stay fresh for more than a year. This makes the packaged juice artificial even if the label says, “no artificial colors or preservatives added.”
Even the highest quality packaged juice, which says, “100% fruits, no artificial flavors added”, is not as same as the original state. So, think about the low-quality ones. Aren’t they just a high volume of sugary water?
It is not surprising to know that the Indian Academy of Pediatrics has suggested that children under the age of two years should not be given fruit juices – either fresh or packaged. This is because they contain more calories and sugar, which are not required for babies or toddlers.
Further, several pediatrics in the country have also given timelines and conditions for drinking fresh juices. The following are some of the points worth noting.
Yes. Packaged Juice can be very harmful to your baby. Here are a few reasons.
If you are planning to feed juice to your little one, make sure to keep the following points in mind.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has suggested that fruit juices do not provide any nutrition to children under one year of age. Juice should not be a part of their diet. So, if your little one is younger than 1 year, consider giving only milk.
A few additional points.
The following are some of the best vegetables and fruits that can be given to babies. Remember to wait till your baby is older than a year before giving these to your munchkin.
Always introduce the vegetables in boiled form. Once the baby becomes comfortable with the food, you can introduce the combination of two or more vegetables and fruits – for example, Apple and carrot, apple and banana. The Orange and grape juices are rich in Vitamin C and can protect children from cold and flu.
So, to sum up, can you give packaged juices to your baby? Definitely not at least until they turn one year old. Even toddlers must be given juices in moderation as it can fill the stomach quickly and lead to malnourishment. If you feel that your kid is falling below the growth curve as a result of drinking juices excessively, you may need to see the pediatrician for a further course of action.
Yes. Most of the packaged juices are pasteurized. They are pasteurized to ensure that the juices are fit for consumption.
Certainly. For babies who are less than one year old, the digestive tract is still growing. Juices can harm their digestive system and cause diarrhea.
No, you cannot give a baby fresh juice at least until they are a year old. Beyond that, talk to your pediatrician before giving juices to your toddler.
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