Juice Shouldn't Be Offered to Infants, Says Pediatrics Group

By Kelly Young

Edited by Susan Sadoughi, MD, and André Sofair, MD, MPH

The American Academy of Pediatrics has expanded its recommendation against offering juice to all infants 12 months and under because it offers them no nutritional benefit. Previously, the group advised against juice consumption in infants 6 months and younger.

Among the group's other recommendations, published in Pediatrics:

• When a pediatrician deems juice to be medically necessary in infants older than 6 months, it should be given in a cup, not a bottle.

• For toddlers, 100% juice (4 oz. or less) may be offered as part of a snack or meal.

• For children aged 4 through 6 years, consumption should be limited to 6 ounces a day; for those 7 to 18 years, the recommended daily limit is 8 ounces.

• For children with chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain, excessive flatulence, and bloating, clinicians should inquire about juice consumption.

• For children with poor or excessive weight gain, clinicians should recommend cutting all juice from the diet.