As long as they're pasteurised, they can be used once your baby is 1 year old. You can give your child unsweetened calcium-fortified milk alternatives, such as soya, oat or almond drinks, from the age of 1 as part of a healthy balanced diet.
Babies and young children under 5 years old shouldn't be given rice drinks, because of the levels of arsenic in these products. If your child has an allergy or intolerance to milk, talk to your health visitor or GP.
They can advise you on suitable milk alternatives. Children under 5 years old shouldn't have rice drinks as a substitute for breast milk, infant formula or cows' milk as they may contain too much arsenic. Rice tends to take up more arsenic than other grains, but this does not mean that your baby cannot eat rice. In the EU, there are maximum levels of inorganic arsenic allowed in rice and rice products, and even stricter levels are set for foods intended for young children.
Don't worry if your child has already had rice drinks. There's no immediate risk to them, but it's best to switch to a different kind of milk. See arsenic in rice for more information. Fruit juices, such as orange juice, are a good source of vitamin C.
However, they also contain natural sugars and acids, which can cause tooth decay. Babies under 12 months don't need fruit juice or smoothies. If you choose to give these to your baby, dilute the juices and smoothies one part juice to 10 parts water and limit them to mealtimes.
Giving fruit juice and smoothies at mealtimes rather than between helps reduce the risk of tooth decay. From 5 years old, you can give your child undiluted fruit juice or smoothies.
Stick to no more than 1 glass about ml a day, served with meals. These are not suitable for young babies. These drinks contain sugar and can cause tooth decay, even when diluted. For older babies and young children, these drinks can fill your child up so they're not hungry for healthier food.
Instead, offer sips of water from a cup with meals. Watch out for drinks that say "fruit" or "juice" drink on the pack. These probably won't count towards your child's 5 A DAY and can be high in sugar. Fizzy drinks are acidic and can damage tooth enamel so they shouldn't be given to babies and young children. Diet or reduced-sugar drinks aren't recommended for babies and young children.
Even low-calorie drinks and no-added-sugar drinks can encourage children to develop a sweet tooth. Tea and coffee aren't suitable for babies or young children. If sugar is added, this can lead to tooth decay. For information and advice you can trust, sign up for weekly Start4Life pregnancy and baby emails. You can find pregnancy and baby apps and tools in the NHS apps library.
Page last reviewed: 21 November Next review due: 21 November Drinks and cups for babies and young children. Solid foods and milk for your baby You should continue to breastfeed or give your baby first infant formula until they're at least 1 year old. It has the thumbs up from dentists and holds up to ml. Suitable for children aged four months and upwards.
It is also very easy to find if dropped under the bed due to the light. Very hygienic and easy to clean, which was a huge plus point, as previously we have had to regularly throw cups away due to mould developing and teats getting chewed. My seven-month-old learned how to use it effectively really quickly. Why we love it: Designed and made in the UK, the Doidy Cup teaches your baby to drink from a rim with its unique slant of the cup, without thrusting their head forwards.
The natural mouth action used is apparently the same as in breastfeeding and the cup is available in loads of bright colours, and our mum reviewer loved the stylish, modern design, but warned it can get messy! What a great idea!
It is easy for a parent to hold and let the child drink but it is not very suited to independent drinking with very young children as it just spills everywhere. It is very good value for money and it is definitely a cup I would buy and use. Why we love them: Recommended by dentists, these dinky cups aim to get little ones drinking from an open cup from day one. Suitable for use from four months to age three, each of the colourful cups holds up to 50ml and can be used for drinks, purees or even expressed breast milk.
Why we love it: The versatile Transitions Soft Spout Sippy Cup Set has been specially designed to grow with your child from four months to 12 months.
It has a training disk that can be set to slow flow and fast flow. NHS Choices. Oral Health Foundation. Zimmerman E and Thompson K Clarifying nipple confusion. J Perinatol. When it comes to content, our aim is simple: every parent should have access to information they can trust.
All of our articles have been thoroughly researched and are based on the latest evidence from reputable and robust sources. We create our articles with NCT antenatal teachers, postnatal leaders and breastfeeding counsellors, as well as academics and representatives from relevant organisations and charities.
Read more about our editorial review process. Choosing cups for babies and toddlers. Read time 5 minutes. Email Post Tweet Post. When should my baby start drinking from a cup? They recommend choosing an open cup, or a free-flow cup or beaker.
Open cups avoid the need for further transitions from bottle, to spout, to open cup.
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