Mother handing son orange juice
At Every Turn > Nutrition and Exercise > Kids and juice: Pediatricians provide new guidelines for parents
Tips May 23, 2017

Kids and juice: Pediatricians provide new guidelines for parents

Roxanne Kane, MD, Pediatrician

As busy parents, it can be tough to keep up with changing recommendations about what is — and isn’t — good for kids. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently released new recommendations relating to fruit juice and children and I think they’re worth paying attention to.

Stating that “fruit juice offers no nutritional benefit to children under age 1,” the AAP’s new recommendation is that fruit juice not be given to any child under 1 year of age. This expands their 2001 recommendation that advised against giving fruit juice to children under 6 months.

As a pediatrician, I fully support their updated guidelines. With the rising rate of childhood obesity and poor pediatric dental health, I encourage any steps parents can take to instill healthy habits at a young age. Good health habits as children lead to good health habits as adults.

Fruit juice is not a good substitute for fresh fruit

Some parents might be confused by this new recommendation as many people think of fruit as a healthy snack. And when consumed in moderation and in its solid form, it absolutely is. But when fruit is juiced, the fiber and protein are removed and what’s left is essentially sugar and water.

In a single eight-ounce glass of juice, your child is consuming the approximate sugar equivalent of two grapefruits, three medium apples, four oranges or more than a pound of grapes or cranberries. You wouldn’t give your child a pound of grapes to eat as a snack, would you?

Additionally, when it comes to dental health, all that sugar (not to mention the citric acid of orange or grapefruit juices) can have a damaging effect on your child’s teeth. Repeated and prolonged exposure to fruit juice can wear down tooth enamel and lead to cavities and tooth decay.

What parents need to know

The full recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics include:

  • No juice for infants under 1.
  • For toddlers age 1-3, juice should be limited to 4 ounces per day.
  • Juice should be given in a cup, not a bottle or “sippy cup,” which allows children to consume juice easily throughout the day. Additionally, toddlers should not be given juice at bedtime.
  • For children age 4-6, juice should be limited to 4 to 6 ounces per day.
  • For children ages 7-18, juice should be limited to 8 ounces per day.
  • Children should be encouraged to eat whole fruits.
  • Human milk or infant formula is preferred for infants, and low-fat/nonfat milk and water are preferred for older children.
  • Children who take specific forms of medication – ibuprofen, flurbiprofen, warfarin, phenytoin, fluvastatin and amitriptyline – should not be given grapefruit juice, which can interfere with the medication’s effectiveness. Also, fruit juice is not appropriate for the treatment of dehydration.

Children's Wisconsin knows that a nutritious diet and active lifestyle have a major impact on the health and well-being of children. 

 

 

View more articles from Roxanne Kane, MD

Related stories

How kids can safely use artificial intelligence Children's Wisconsin
Tips Aug 20, 2025

Rise of the Machines: What Parents Should Know About AI and Kids

Kate Bennett, DSW, LCSW Behavioral Health Consultant

What parents can do to help their kids use AI in safe and healthy ways.

How to identify and treat head lice in children Children's Wisconsin
Tips Aug 15, 2025

How To Identify and Treat Head Lice in Children

Sarah Mooney, MD Pediatrician

Lice are annoying, but they are harmless and do not spread disease.

Top 5 things parents should know about hand, foot and mouth disease Children's Wisconsin
Tips Aug 11, 2025

What Parents Should Know About Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

Cheryl Cameron, MD Pediatrician

Hand, foot and mouth disease is a mild but highly contagious viral infection that is common in young children.

Measles outbreak United States 2025 Children's Wisconsin
Tips Aug 08, 2025

Measles Outbreak Shows Importance of Getting Your Kids Vaccinated

Frank Zhu, MD Medical Director

The recent measles outbreak is a regrettable reminder to all of us of just how preventable this disease truly is when your child is vaccinated.

How to get kids to talk about the feelings Children's Wisconsin mental and behavioral health
Tips Aug 07, 2025

How To Help Your Young Child Talk About Their Feelings

Janelle Clark, LPC Behavioral Health Consultant

Children who find healthy ways to express their feelings are more likely to develop positive relationships with others, feel more confident and perform better in school.

Common newborn skin ailments Children's Wisconsin
Tips Jul 18, 2025

Baby Blemishes: Seven Common Skin Conditions in Newborns

Stephen Humphrey, MD Pediatric Dermatologist

Seven common skin conditions that affect newborns, how to treat them and when to see a doctor.

Building the Confidence Muscle: How To Help Kids Learn To Stand Up for Themselves Children's Wisconsin
Tips Jul 17, 2025

Building the Confidence Muscle: How To Help Kids Learn To Stand Up for Themselves

Jamie Radant, LPC-IT Behavioral Health Consultant

Teaching kids how to stand up for themselves is a valuable skill that will serve them well throughout life.