Juice is not a healthy choice for infants under 1 year old. Although many parents give their babies juice as an occasional treat or supplement, too much juice may cause diarrhea and diaper rashes. It can also interfere with proper nutrition and affect oral health, according to pediatrician William Sears. If your child has developed diarrhea and a diaper rash, stop giving her juice and consult your pediatrician.
Infant Nutrition
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that babies should be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months after birth. Babies who are not breastfed should receive all of their nutrition and hydration from formula. Young babies cannot properly metabolize juice. After 6 months of age, babies should drink water, and children over 1 year of age can have cow milk. Most juices contain sugar that can irritate a child's stomach, and juice creates an artificial feeling of fullness that can interfere with a baby's appetite, preventing proper nutrition.
Diarrhea and Juice
Most juice contains fruit, which tends to loosen the stool. Large quantities of fruit might cause diarrhea. Additionally, the sugar in juice can irritate a baby's sensitive digestive tract, resulting in gastrointestinal upset. Many babies love juice when they first taste it. As neurologist Lise Eliot explains, human taste buds are programmed to seek out sweet foods. The fact that a baby enjoys something, however, does not make it healthy.
Diaper Rash
Diarrhea frequently causes diaper rashes because diarrhea irritates the skin and the yeast that causes diaper rash thrives in the moist environment created by a runny stool. Pediatrician William Sears explains that food sensitivities might also cause diaper rash. If the rash is concentrated around the anus, this can indicate a sensitivity or mild allergy to something in the juice. Talk to your pediatrician if you think your child's juice consumption is connected to her diaper rash. Your child's doctor may advise avoiding some fruits.
Giving Juice
Parents who want to give their children juice should wait until their children are at least 2 years old, according to Sears. When you begin giving your child juice, provide natural, unsweetened juices and watch for any signs of intestinal upset. The best juice for a child, Sears says, is a homemade fruit smoothie. These drinks provide children with outstanding nutrition without additives such as sugar and preservatives.
References
- "The Portable Pediatrician"; William Sears, M.D., et al.; 2011
- "Caring For Your Baby and Young Child"; American Academy of Pediatrics; 2009
- "What's Going On In There?"; Lise Eliot; 2000
- "Health, Safety and Nutrition for the Young Child"; Lyn R. Marotz; 2011
