For the first time, several agencies came together to create one set of consistent guidelines for what children should drink from ages 0 to 5. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Heart Association compiled research via a panel of experts and a scientific advisory to arrive at their recommendations.
They have a message for pediatricians and new parents. “It is critically important to establish healthy patterns in early childhood to prevent future health issues, like dental cavities or diet-related diseases like obesity and type 2 diabetes, and to ensure optimal development and overall health.”
You can see their full guidelines, summarized in the graphic below, at Healthy Kids Healthy Drinks.
1,000 Days, a nonprofit that helps parents understand childhood nutrition, has a brand new series of videos aimed at making the guidelines easy to follow (and adorable to watch). One area of confusion for parents is around whether or not “kids’ drinks” are safe. As 1,000 Days explains, “Just because it is a ‘kid’s drink’ does not mean that it is actually healthy for kids.”
