Stop Giving Fruit Juice To Children Under 1, Pediatricians Say

WASHINGTON (CBS) – The American Academy of Pediatrics has a message for parents of very young children: No more fruit juice.

The group has said for years not to give fruit juice to children under 6 months, but now it is advising against fruit juice for children until they turn 1.

The recommendation is backed by growing evidence that fruit juice is linked to obesity and tooth decay.

"Parents may perceive fruit juice as healthy, but it is not a good substitute for fresh fruit and just packs in more sugar and calories," Dr. Melvin B. Heyman said in a statement. "Small amounts in moderation are fine for older kids, but are absolutely unnecessary for children under 1."

The pediatricians are also telling parents not to give toddlers fruit juice at bedtime or in "sippy cups" because of dental health concerns.

Consumption of whole fruits is encouraged because they contain the dietary fiber that juice lacks.

Children between the ages of 1 and 3 should be limited to 4 ounces of fruit juice a day, the group says.