As your baby progresses from bottles to sippy cups, deciding what drinks to give him or her can be a challenge. You're done with formula and breast milk, but your toddler may not seem ready for "big kid" drinks yet. As you're looking for drink ideas for a toddler, keep in mind that tiny toddler tummies fill up fast, so you may want to offer drinks after a meal to ensure that your toddler isn't filling up on calories from his drinks instead of from food.
Water
Water is the best beverage choice for thirsty toddlers, according to the Children's Hospital in Aurora, Colo. Water contains no sugar and no calories, so your child can drink as much as he wants without negatively affecting his overall diet.
Milk
The University of Michigan Health System recommends that toddlers get no more than 2 to 3 cups of milk each day. In most cases, pediatricians recommend giving toddlers whole milk, but in 2008, the American Academy of Pediatrics expanded its recommendation to switch to low-fat milk after a child's first birthday if the toddler is obese or has a family history of obesity. If you're a vegan family, or if your child doesn't like milk, you can also give your child calcium-fortified soy milk to drink, following the same consumption guidelines.
Juice
In general, it's better to give your child a piece of fruit than a glass of juice, according to the University of Michigan Health System, but if you give your child juice occasionally, make sure that you choose juice made with 100-percent juice and no added ingredients. Limit your toddler's juice intake to about half a cup per day since consuming too much juice can cause gas, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
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