# Drinks

**What should our child drink?**

What your child drinks: only water and milk, juice within limits, soda and sports drinks occasionally, or no rules.

In short: Parents choose between 4 main approaches: Water and milk only; Juice within limits; Soda and sports drinks occasionally; Unrestricted. Evidence: well established. Guidance and evidence agree. The real question is whether you'll follow it. Best settled: toddler.

- Area: Food and eating
- Evidence: Well established
- Best settled: Toddler
- First published: 2026-10-03
- Last updated: 2026-10-05
- Page: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/topics/food-and-eating--drinks

## Drinks: what are the options?

1. **Water and milk only**: The child drinks only water and milk.
2. **Juice within limits**: Juice is allowed in small amounts.
3. **Soda and sports drinks occasionally**: Soda and sports drinks are an occasional treat.
4. **Unrestricted**: There are no rules about drinks.

## Drinks: what does the evidence say?

**Well established.** Guidance and evidence agree. The real question is whether you'll follow it. (Settled in direction)

AAP: no juice under 1; at most 4 oz a day at ages 1-3

Sources:

- [AAP](https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/139/6/e20170967/38754/Fruit-Juice-in-Infants-Children-and-Adolescents)

## What else is worth knowing?

Sugary drinks are a main source of added sugar for children. Water and milk are the usual recommendation for everyday drinking. The question is how firm you are about the rest.

## Questions to ask each other

- What do we want our child to drink every day?
- Are juice and soda ever okay, and when?
- What would we do at parties and restaurants?

---

General information, not medical advice. Two parents can each answer this and compare: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/explore?cat=food-and-eating&topic=food-and-eating--drinks