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The effects of added sugar before age 2Research shows that nearly half of all 7- to 8-month-olds have already had some type of dessert or sweetened drink. Although you might think a little sugar doesn’t hurt, introducing sweets this early can shape your little one’s taste preferences. Now is the perfect time to expose your baby to a variety of healthy foods to help them develop a taste preference for them. If sweet drinks and foods are readily available to your little one, they're going to prefer eating those, and there won’t be any room left in their little stomach for the nutritious foods you want them to eat. Think your child will be deprived if you don’t give them all the tasty foods with added sugars? Think again. Until they’ve had the sweetened foods and drinks, babies and toddlers don’t know what they’re missing. If your child already has sweets, it’s not a lost cause, but it’s still important to reduce their intake as much as possible. Simple swapsThe food industry makes it really difficult to find foods that aren’t made with added sugar. Even foods that are considered healthy, such as whole-wheat bread, have some added sugar. That’s why it’s so important to avoid foods and drinks that are packed with added sugar. Here are some recommended swaps to limit your baby or toddler’s added sugar intake:
Why juice still counts when we’re talking about added sugarEven though 100% fruit juice doesn’t technically have any added sugar, it still has as much natural sugar as soda has added, and it lacks the dietary fiber found in whole fruit. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no juice before age 1 because juice consumption in babies can lead to:
Talking to family and caregivers about added sugarWhile you may not allow your child to have food and drinks with added sugar at home, it can be challenging to make sure other people in your child's life follow your lead.
Don’t ever feel as though you’re the “mean parent” for not allowing foods and drinks with added sugars. Your little one needs you to keep them healthy from the start. When can I start giving sugar to my baby?The first government dietary guidelines for infants and toddlers, released Tuesday, recommend feeding only breast milk for at least six months and no added sugar for children under age 2.
When can I start giving salt and sugar to my baby?Try not to add salt to your baby's foods when they are under 12 months. After 1 year, you can include a small amount of salt in your child's diet.
Is it OK to give sugar to babies?- experts advise no added sugar for infants and little to no added sugar for children 12 to 24 months old. Added sugars are sugars and syrups that are added to foods during processing or preparation or later at the table. They can be natural sugars, like honey, or artificial sweeteners, like high-fructose corn syrup.
Why is sugar not recommended for babies?Children who are fed diets high in added sugars are more likely than children with lower sugar intakes to have a number of negative health consequences as they develop, including childhood obesity, cardiovascular disease and tooth decay. Diet from birth to 24 months also shapes long-term food preferences.
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