I often see a lot of mothers asking questions about whether or not they can drink something for their little ones, such as whether they can drink water, drink juice, drink honey water, etc.
Just last month, Healthy Eating Research convened the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and the American Heart Association. Authorities and other agencies have issued a recommendation guide for baby drinks under 5 years old, which lists which are best for babies under 5 years old and which are not suitable for babies.
First, the baby under 5 years old is suitable for recommending only four kinds of drinks.
Let’s take a look at the drinks recommendations for babies of different ages:
0 to 6 months of babies: only need to drink breast milk or formula, especially pay attention to newborn babies within 6 months can not feed water, because breast milk and formula can fully meet the baby’s water and nutrient needs.
6 to 12 months old baby: In addition to breast milk and formula, you can try to add some water to your baby after starting to add complementary food. You only need to drink a few mouthfuls per meal.
A baby between 1 and 2 years old: You can start to drink whole milk, and then the water can basically “let it open”. You can drink a little juice, but it is best to have 100% juice without extra sugar. In fact, it is a healthier choice to eat fruits directly.
2 to 5 years old: milk and water should be the main drink for your baby. It is best to choose a little fat for the baby over 2 years old, such as low-fat milk or skim milk, and then the juice can be slightly drinked, and also pay attention to control the amount.
In general, in fact, this recommendation guide recommends that there are only four types of babies under the age of 5: breast milk, formula, water, and milk. Let’s talk about it in detail:
1, breast milk
Needless to say, the benefits of breast milk can provide your baby with rich nutrition, strong immunity, and “saving money”! Therefore, it is recommended that mothers with conditions should try to breastfeed their babies as much as possible.
Many mothers may also want to know: So how old can breastfeeding be? AAP recommends that if you have the condition, your mother insists on breastfeeding until the baby is 1 year old to provide the best nutrition for the baby. After the baby is over 1 year old, he can continue to breastfeed. The mother can decide according to her own needs and the baby’s needs.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that breastfeeding takes longer, and it is recommended that it lasts until the baby is 2 years old! So as long as there are conditions, mothers will be assured of breastfeeding their baby.
2, formula
Both breastfeeding and powdered milk have their own advantages, and there is no need to insist on one. Mainly depends on the specific situation of the mother, the best for herself. Whether using a bottle for formula feeding or breastfeeding directly, each choice can suit different needs.
So if you can’t breastfeed your baby because of various factors, you can also choose formula feeding.
The biggest advantage of formula feeding is that it can alleviate the burden on the mother. For example, you can give the feeding work to “teammates” or other family members, and then the mother can have more time to rest and interact with the baby.
Another advantage of formula feeding is that it is more convenient to control the baby’s milk intake, and mothers do not have to worry about diet and medication affecting the baby’s milk.
3, water
The problem of feeding the baby to the baby has been shared several times before, and once again stressed: no special circumstances, the baby within 6 months does not need to feed water.
The first reason is that it is not necessary, because the water in breast milk and formula can fully meet the baby’s needs. Second, there is a lot of risk in water feeding, such as affecting the baby’s interest in breast milk and formula, and serious possibility Causes poisoning in water.
After the baby has started to eat complementary food for 6 months, you can start to feed the baby a little water, but before the baby is over 1 year old, it should be based on breast milk or formula. Drinking too much water may affect the baby’s drink. The amount of milk, which in turn affects the baby’s nutritional intake. In the case of normal baby drinking, the amount of water you drink per day is about 2-6 ounces. You don’t need to pay too much.
After the baby is over 1 year old, the complementary food will gradually replace the breast milk or formula to become the main source of nutrition for the baby. At this time, the basic drinking water can be used normally. Generally speaking, a 1-year-old baby recommends drinking 1 cup of water a day (about 8 ounces or so). Then, for every 1 year old baby, the amount of water should be increased every day. For example, a 2-year-old baby recommends drinking 2 glasses of water a day. About 16 ounces), a 3-year-old baby recommends drinking 3 glasses of water (about 24 ounces).
4, milk
AAP recommends that babies between the ages of 1 and 2 start drinking fresh milk (whole milk). After 2 years of age, babies can drink low-fat or skimmed milk.
Some mothers here may have questions: Does it mean that the baby must drink milk after the baby is over 1 year old, and the breast milk and formula must stop?
This is not the case. AAP recommends that the baby change to full-fat milk after the age of 1 year. It is mainly because the baby around 1 year old has basically started to eat complementary food, and can get rich nutrition from more food, so this time Not so much need for nutritionally complete breast milk or milk powder.
Of course, this does not mean that the baby after the age of 1 must completely change the milk, stop breast milk or milk powder. After the age of 1 year, the baby will not drink the whole milk, breast milk or milk powder. No matter which one you drink or what you drink at the same time, as long as you meet your baby’s nutritional needs, it is ok.
For juice, AAP and other authorities hold “reservation opinions”. It is recommended not to give your baby before the age of 1 and to give it to your baby after 1 year old, but also pay attention to the best choice of 100% without adding sugar. Pure juice, then pay attention to the amount of control.
AAP’s advice is: 1 to 3 years old baby should not drink more than 4 ounces of juice per day, 4 to 5 years old baby should not drink more than 6 ounces of juice.
Second, which ones are not suitable for babies under 5 years old?
In addition to the above recommended beverages for the baby, AAP and other authorities also emphasized that it is best not to drink these babies under the age of 5:
Flavored milk: Flavored milk may contain a lot of sugar, and its nutritional value and health are not comparable to pure milk and fresh milk.
Plant-based milk: Plant milk is not recommended for babies under 1 year old. Because almost no vegetable milk can match the milk (except soy milk). Therefore, unless the baby has special circumstances can not accept milk, such as milk allergy, lactose intolerance, etc., it is not recommended to use vegetable milk instead of milk.
Toddler milk: Although there are many brands that have milk powder for babies over one year old, in fact, their nutritional value is not much higher than milk or breast milk, so there is no need to buy it.
Caffeinated drinks: Adults drink caffeine drinks mainly for refreshment, but caffeine drinks are harmful to the baby and may cause lack of sleep, irritability, nervousness, headache and attention. Concentration and many other issues. At present, international authorities have not studied the safe intake of caffeine in children, so it is best not to give your baby a drink like coffee drinks, tea drinks, sports drinks, etc.
Sugar-sweetened beverages: Sugary drinks such as milk tea, carbonated drinks, and sugared juices are not only bad for your baby’s health, but may also cause your baby to have a preference for sweetness, which can lead to tooth decay. Eating habits are also prone to become unhealthy, so it is best for parents to avoid giving their baby a variety of sugary drinks.
Today’s sharing of baby drink advice for children under 5 is here! In terms of nutrition and physical health, the baby needs a simple drink. Breastmilk/formula, water, and milk are enough. Other juices, flavored milk, and vegetable milk have no special circumstances. Give your baby a drink.
