Before this, we covered seasonings and sauces that are safe for toddlers and which should be avoided. Now, we are going to explore which beverages are healthy and unhealthy for toddlers.
Drinking healthy beverages is essential to make your toddler stay hydrated throughout the day. However, certain beverages are good for your toddler’s health.
Let’s discover which beverages are toddler-friendly and which aren’t together, shall we?
Healthy Beverages for Toddlers
Water
Drinking water is a must! Your toddler needs to drink at least 1-4 cups per day. Drinking enough water has many health benefits for your toddler’s health. It helps to keep your toddler hydrated and improve his blood circulation. Plus, it also promotes his digestive health.
Breast milk
Your toddler can drink breast milk. It contains many essential nutrients like protein, vitamins, and fat, which helps to improve your toddler’s digestion and immunity. Breast milk can also maintain a healthy weight gain.
Cow’s milk
Cow’s milk is great for your toddlers. It is rich in proteins, calcium, and vitamins, which helps to develop your toddler’s bones, teeth, and muscles growth. It may also improve the calcium absorption in your toddler’s body. Additionally, it can also promote healthy heart health and blood pressure.
Goat’s milk
You may give goat’s milk to your little ones. Goat’s milk has protein, minerals, fat, vitamins, carbohydrates, calcium, and potassium, which are great for your toddler’s growth. It is also low in sodium. However, you may need to consult your doctor as goat’s milk contains less folate than a normal child’s nutritional requirement.
Formula milk
Can I feed my toddler formula milk? Well, babies above 12 months old may have formula milk. I know some babies might refuse to drink breast milk. So, formula milk is a great choice to replace it. Formula milk can help to develop your toddler’s growth. Additionally, formula milk can also help to lower your toddler’s possibility of getting many infections. Such as diarrhoea, ear infections, ministries, and respiratory infections.
Barley water
Mummies give barley water to their toddlers as it is rich in many essential nutrients. It is a great weaning food and energy booster. Barley water can also help to cure diarrhoea and fever in your toddlers.
Coconut juice
Orange juice
You may include orange juice in your toddler’s diet as long as there is no added sugar in it. Orange juice is rich in vitamin C which can help your toddler’s teeth and bone development. It can also enhance your toddler’s immune system.
Soy milk
Your little ones can have soy milk too. Especially if your child has a dairy allergy and milk intolerance. Soy milk is a great source of calcium, protein, and vitamins. It can help to improve your toddler’s immunity and brain development.
Fruit lassi
Fruit lassi is a mixed fruit smoothie made with yoghurt or curd in Indian style. You may give fruit lassi to your child when he is as early as 8 months old. It is a great method to introduce a variety of fruits to your toddlers. From bananas and mangoes, to strawberries, all of which are filled with many nutrients. Additionally, it is very refreshing and healthy too.
Chamomile tea
You may include chamomile teas in your toddler’s diet as they are caffeine-free and soothing. They also have many nutritional benefits and may relieve your toddler’s anxiety and sickness. Chamomile tea is also a popular natural treatment for intestinal issues like gas, nausea, diarrhoea, and indigestion. This tea also has anti-inflammatory properties which can help reduce inflammation. It may also relieve your toddler’s cold and sore throat. It is also safe to replace sweetened beverages with unsweetened chamomile tea. Read here for more benefits and side effects of chamomile tea.
Moderation is Key
Yoghurt drink
Yoghurt drinks are safe to drink. They are a great source of good bacteria which can help to promote your toddler’s gut health. It can also enhance your toddler’s immunity. Nevertheless, yoghurt drinks might contain high sugar levels. So consume them in moderation.
Water chestnut juice
Your toddlers may drink some water chestnut juice as it is very nutritious and low in calories. Water chestnut juice is a great source of vitamin B, zinc, and potassium. But your child may experience digestion problems like bloating and gassing.
Tea
Your toddler may have some unsweetened tea in moderation. Tea contains flavonoids which are great for your toddler’s heart health and hydrating. It is also a great alternative to sugar-heavy beverages. Mummies may serve it warm or iced. However, it might lead to hyperactivity, teeth stain, and calcium deficiency. So, be careful with your toddler’s consumption. You may refer to this article to know more about the pros and cons of tea for a toddler. Just avoid black tea.
Lime juice
Your kids can have lime juice in moderation too! Lime juice is a great source of vitamin C and can help your toddler’s body to absorb iron and promote immunity. However, it has a high citric acid content which might lead to digestive problems.
Avoid At All Cost
Green tea
Your kids may drink green tea in limited amounts. Green tea has many health benefits for your toddler. It can help to promote your toddler’s oral health and combat flu. It contains antioxidants that help to promote your toddler’s bone density, immunity, and cognitive health. It can also prevent clogged arteries. Nevertheless, it also has many side effects. Especially for those who are sensitive to caffeine. Green tea might lead to hyperactivity, insomnia, high blood pressure, and anaemia. Plus, it can also cause stomach aches, nausea, burning sensation, and constipation. You may avoid giving more than 1 cup of green tea to your toddler.
Flavoured milk
Mummies should not give flavoured milk to her child until he is at least 2 years old. This is because those strawberries, chocolate, and other flavoured milk have added sugar. It’s best to just give them regular milk.
Coffee
Avoid giving coffee to your toddlers as it has high amounts of caffeine. Coffee can affect your toddler’s mood and make his anxiety worse. It can also lead to sleeping problems and high blood pressure. Additionally, coffee may also lead to dizziness, nausea, and stomach pains.
Milk tea
You cannot include milk tea in your toddler’s diet as it contains high sugar levels. This might lead to high blood sugar, diabetes, and obesity. Plus, milk tea is also a choking hazard as your toddler might choke on the pearls in it.
Soda
Your little ones cannot have soda as it is lacks nutrients and is filled with sugar, calories, and caffeine. The sugar in it will lead your toddler to diabetes and tooth decay. On another hand, your toddler can be obese due to the calories in soda too. Plus, the caffeine in it may cause stomach pain, nervousness, and sleeping problem.
Energy drink
You should not give energy drinks to your child as it contains excessive caffeine and sugar. This might lead to adverse effects on your toddler’s health.
Kids should drink healthy beverages!
Thus, you should only give healthy beverages to your toddler as it can affect his overall health. And make sure he drinks enough water daily to stay hydrated!
Sources:
- https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/infantandtoddlernutrition/index.html
- https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/kids-healthy-eating-plate/
- https://www.yummytoddlerfood.com/100-foods-for-toddlers/
Check out which grains and potatoes are safe for your little ones to consume and which aren’t here.
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