Limiting Your Toddler’s Liquids
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What should my toddler drink? Is juice healthy or should I stick only to water? While toddlers need their daily cup of vitamin-enriched juice, there’s a limit to the amount they should have. The type of juice they should consume also bears thought.
If you’re thinking of limiting your toddler’s juice intake, there’s good news. There are ways you can ensure she eats her meals properly while also enjoying 2-3 cups of juice daily. The key word here is ‘balance’.
4 Ways to Limit the Amount of Liquid to Give a Toddler
1. Make the switch
If your child likes the bottle, she could overindulge in drinking juice. If the bottle is getting her tummy too full, switch to a small cup. You can start by offering her a little milk, water, or a water-juice mixture. Offer it to her with snacks and meals. Remember that the transition from a bottle to a cup might not be smooth sailing. You need to give your child time to adjust. Drips and spills are in store! While a sippy cup can make things less messy, it can become a habit, like the bottle.
2. Make the right choices
Your child now needs a daily dose of 2-3 servings of milk. This means that she can have another 2-3 cups of other fluids (more during the summer). In order to keep a track of how much she consumes, measure the cups of milk and juice-water mix in the morning. Introduce smoothies and other varieties of juices. Don’t worry if she doesn’t take to certain flavours quickly. There are a number of reasons that determine what she wants to drink: the weather, mood, her energy level and appetite are a few.
3. Be juice smart
Fruit juices might be your toddler’s favourite drink but try to introduce her to other liquids too. Apple juice can be loaded with sugar, so consider transitioning to white grape juice. You can also try out sugar-free orange, pineapple and papaya juice, which are packed with vitamin C. Some other fruit juices pack in vitamins A and D as well as calcium. Keep your child away from unpasteurised apple cider as it carries an E. Coli risk. Bear in mind that most commercial juices usually comprise only 10 percent juice and a truckload of sugar and calories. Choose wisely. The need to regulate fluid intake for 13-month-old babies and beyond is essential.
4. Water, anyone?
In the midst of all the bottled and packaged drinks available today, many of us overlook the importance of simple drinking water. If you’re not sure what juices are good for your toddler, let her have water. It can quench her thirst and is good for her system. Water is also good for the tummy and teeth.
What liquid do I feed my toddler? Now you know that fresh juices and milk should be at the top of your list. Concentrated juices are not beneficial to health in the long run. Instead, make the effort to prepare smoothies and freshly squeezed juice. The good old H20 should also be given every day.
