Juice
Usually introduced around 12 months
Prep warning
Juice is generally kept out of the diet before 12 months. After that, only 100% fruit juice in small, watered-down amounts. Juice and other sweet drinks given through the day or in a bottle bathe the teeth in sugar; offer them in a cup with a meal. Sweetened juice drinks and fruit-flavored drinks are best skipped.
How to serve by age
6-9 months
Juice is generally kept out of the diet at this age. Whole fruit, mashed or in soft pieces, gives the same flavor with the fiber and without the concentrated sugar of juice. Water and milk feeds cover what a baby needs to drink.
Offer the fruit itself instead: smooth purée, or soft finger-length strips that squish between two fingers.
9-12 months
Juice still isn't a routine drink before the first birthday. Soft fruit pieces remain the better way to give fruit's flavor, and water alongside meals covers thirst.
Small soft pieces of fruit, about ½ inch, or mashed. Keep drinks to water and milk feeds.
12-18 months
If juice is offered after the first birthday, the usual approach is only 100% fruit juice, a small amount, watered down, served in an open or straw cup with a meal rather than sipped through the day. Whole fruit still gives more with less sugar.
A small splash of 100% juice in a cup, diluted with water, with a meal. Not in a bottle and not as the main drink.
Key nutrients
Common questions
When can my baby eat Juice?
Most babies can try Juice from around 12 months, once they show signs of readiness. Check the prep and cut-size notes above before you start.
Is Juice a choking hazard for babies?
Juice is considered a lower choking-risk food when served in age-appropriate sizes and textures. Follow the cut sizes above and always stay close during meals.
Is Juice a common allergen?
Juice is not one of the major food allergens. Any new food can still cause a reaction, so keep an eye on your baby the first few times.
General informational content, not medical advice. Always consult your pediatrician about introducing new foods, especially if your baby has any medical conditions or family history of allergies.
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