Is Giving A 13-month-old Juice At Every Meal & No Milk Healthy?

Every parent knows that toddlers can be picky eaters. The first two years of their lives are spent experimenting with new eating schedules and foods, and trying to determine how best to pack their needed nutrition into a few meals per day. After 12 months of age, they may start to develop their own preferences and tastes, and this can mean that they prefer juice over other drinks. However, there are some nutritional considerations you need to keep in mind when providing drinks to your 13-month-old.

Dietary Requirements

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, your 13-month-old should be given four dairy servings per day, which is the equivalent of 16 oz. of milk. You may substitute some of these servings with yogurt or cheese if your child simply doesn't enjoy the taste of milk. Since juice tastes sweet, it is often easy to get your child to drink it, and 4 oz. of juice can be considered one of the five needed servings of fruits and vegetables daily.

Limiting Milk and Juice

Children can be picky eaters regardless of what you do as a parent, or how diligent you may be about introducing different food options. However, filling up on calories from milk and juice can also reduce the amount of foods your toddler will eat. The University of Michigan Health System recommends limiting juice intake to 4 to 6 oz. daily as too much juice can lead to diarrhea and bloating. You should limit milk intake to 16 to 24 oz. daily in order to help prevent an iron deficiency, according to KidsHealth. Always consult your physician about how much juice or milk your 13-month-old should be drinking each day.

Milk Nutrition for Toddlers

In addition to providing the necessary calcium and vitamin D to build strong bones, the fat found in whole milk contributes to the proper brain development and function in your child. Until the age of 2, you should give your child only full-fat milk for this reason. After that, you may make the switch to 2 percent or lower according to your pediatrician's instructions.

Juice Nutrition for Toddlers

Although juice may count as a serving of fruit, it's not a good idea to encourage meeting daily recommendations with juice only. This is because juice is high in natural sugars and calories, and your child will be missing the natural fiber found in whole fruit choices. You should ensure the juice you're feeding your toddler is 100 percent juice or 100 percent juice from concentrate. The University of Michigan Health System suggests diluting your child's juice gradually until he becomes accustomed to quenching thirst with water alone.