The Dangers of Giving Fruit Juice to Babies

In spite of warnings from the USDA, FDA, and American Academy of Pediatrics, the vast majority of parents choose to give juice to their infants, sometimes as early as four weeks of age. Unfortunately, many of these parents are misled by advertising and believe that this is a healthy choice for their babies, and some pediatricians even support this claim.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Here are just a few of the risks associated with giving fruit juice to a baby:

Indadequate Nutrition.

Fruit juice, although it contains some antioxidants like vitamin C, is nutritionally bankrupt compared to most solid foods. In general, it contains no healthy fats, no fiber, no protein, and no iron. Nutritionally speaking, fruit juice is not much different than sugar-water with some additional vitamins.

Whole fruit meals are preferable to fruit juices, and they are equally enjoyable for most babies. Pureed, mashed, or solid fruits are loaded with fiber, active enzymes, bioflavinoids, and antioxidants, and provide a number of valuable health benefits to infants and young children. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends at least two servings of whole fruit per day for children over one year of age, and states that no more than half of these servings should be obtained from refined juice.

Reduced Breastmilk or Formula Consumption.

Breastmilk is essential to a baby's proper growth and development, and formula is a viable option when breastfeeding fails. Breastmilk and formula contain all the essential nutrients necessary for the healthy growth and development of a baby through at least one year of age, and the AAP recommends against giving anything else prior to six months.

Many young babies who are given juice carry it with them in their bottles or sippy cups and sip at it routinely. This runs a serious risk of replacing breastmilk or formula in the baby's diet. Because it has so few of the nutrients that a baby needs to develop properly, a child who drinks juice in place of breastmilk is likely to suffer from malnutrition.

Harmful Additives.

Fruit juice often contains preservatives like sulfites, which are linked to allergic reactions, headache, nausea, and even impaired brain development, according to reports received by the Food and Drug administration. Many juices also contain artificial colors, flavors, and sweeteners, all of which have been linked at some point to learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and some forms of cancer.

High fructose corn syrup is also often found in fruit juices, even those marketed specifically to children. The dangers of high fructose corn syrup are vast, especially when it replaces natural fruit sugars, and it is known to contribute to childhood obesity and malnutrition.

Dental Decay.

The Americal Journal of Clinical Nutrition published an article in 1995 that showed a clear, obvious, and startling connection between juice consumption and pediatric cavities. Many children given juices develop early tooth decay, and the effects are the most severe in babies who are put to bed with a bottle or sippy-cup of juice at night.

The risks of dental decay and cavities can be reduced, but not eliminated, by only allowing children to drink juice long before bedtime, and brushing their teeth afterwards. Even still, the short-chain sugars in juice will feed the bacteria that cause cavities, harming the new teeth of young babies.

Abdominal Pain and Gas.

The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that some children have difficulty absorbing and digesting fruit juices, and this leads to symptoms of colic, gas, and abdominal pain in many children, especially those who are given excessive amounts of juice.

While the AAP contends that fruit allergies are unlikely early in life, many young babies have an intolerance to the difficult-to-digest sugars found in fruit juices. Lacking the enzymes in whole fruit, fruit-sugars found in juice may cause flatulence, diarrhea, and other discomforts.

The Bottom Line?

Do not give fruit juices to a baby under one year of age, unless specifically instructed to do so by your pediatrican. Juices provide no nutritional benefits over whole fruit and should especially be avoided by babies under six months of age.