Both the foods and the drinks you offer your toddler are important in helping her to grow up healthy. Find out what drinks to serve, how much and when.
What drinks should I offer?
• Breastmilk. Continue to breastfeed until 24 months of age.
• Water. Offer room temperature water during the day and more often when the weather is hot or your child is very active. Ensure that the water is well treated by boiling or filtering. Try and avoid bottled water as some of this water may have very high mineral content that may be too much for your toddlers’ system.
• Milk beverages. From 12 – 24 months, serve (3.25% fat) milk. Do not serve skim milk. After 24 months, switch your toddler to the milk beverage that the rest of the family drinks. Rice, potato and almond beverages – even fortified ones – are not substitutes for milk. Offer 500 ml (2 cups) of milk over the course of a day but don’t provide more than 750 ml (3 cups). If your toddler fills up on milk, he won’t be hungry for other healthy foods he needs.
• Juice. Too much juice leaves less room for healthy food choices. It can also cause tooth decay. Limit 100% juice to 1 cup a day if at all.
• Avoid sweetened beverages. Toddlers do not need sugary fruit punches, drinks, beverages, cocktails or soft drinks. These take the place of healthier foods, may cause tooth decay and do not help children grow well.
