Too much juice can cause your toddler to skip nutritious food and suffer from digestive upset. The American Academy of Pediatrics' Committee on Nutrition recommends that toddlers consume no more than four to six ounces of juice daily. If your child regularly consumes more than this, she may lose her appetite, experience tooth decay and have loose bowel movements.
Sorbitol
Sorbitol, a type of sugar often found in juice, is undigestible and pulls water from the bloodstream into the intestine, creating more watery stools. Cherry, pear, apple, peach and prune are high in sorbitol. Lemonade isn't high in sorbitol, but has significant amounts of added sugar. Lemon juice is also naturally diuretic, which can cause more urination.
Fruit Servings
Your toddler needs two servings of fruit daily. Whole fruits are a better option for fulfilling these needs because they provide fiber. If your toddler consumes more than six ounces of fruit juice per day, she might feel too full to eat solid foods that offer important nutrients. Lemonade and juice “drinks” and “cocktails” don't count as servings of fruit.
Strategies
Choose nutrient-rich juices, such as orange or grapefruit, when your toddler does drink juice. Citrus, raspberry, blackberry, white grape and strawberry juices don't contain sorbitol and may be less likely to cause loose bowels. Skip fruit “drinks” or juices with added sugar and high-fructose corn syrup. Lemonade offers little to no nutritional benefit because it's mostly sugar. Consider watering down the juice that you do provide to your toddler so that she doesn’t exceed the recommended servings, but is still satisfied by a sweet-tasting drink.
Complications
Loose bowel movements are'ot only uncomfortable, they can lead to complications. Loose movements make the rectum harder to clean, leaving your toddler vulnerable to rashes and irritation. Loose bowels can also make potty training more challenging, as your toddler may have trouble controlling and sensing urges. Also, toddlers who sip juice all day or fall asleep with a sippy cup or bottle of juice are susceptible to tooth decay.
