My 5-month-old seems to be interested in trying new foods. I’d like to offer him juice, but I’m not sure if he's ready and, if he is, what type of juice drinks to give him. Any suggestions?
- Michelle

It's best to wait until after babies reach 6 months of age before offering juice. Even then, many pediatricians recommend against giving babies juice often, since it adds extra calories without the balanced nutrition found in formula and breast milk. Drinking too much juice also may contribute to excess weight and tooth decay, or cause diarrhea in infants and toddlers.

When giving your baby juice, follow these tips:

• Serve only 100% fruit juice, not juice drinks or powdered drink mixes (which are sweetened).
• Limit the quantity of juice to no more than 4 fl. oz. (60-120 ml.) per day.
• Offer juice in a cup, not in a bottle.

Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: August 2010