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Babies should avoid fruit juice, American Academy of Pediatrics says

Posted at 6:31 AM, May 22, 2017
and last updated 2017-05-22 12:14:42-04

It's time to stop giving babies fruit juice, according to new guidelines from the nation's top pediatricians.

In the past, the American Academy of Pediatrics told parents to avoid 100 percent fruit juice for babies six months or younger, but the group toughened it's stance Monday.

New recommendations advise parents to ban fruit juice entirely from a baby's diet for the first year, over concerns that juice offers no nutritional benefits early in life. Replacing milk or formula with juice could prevent babies from getting enough protein, fat, vitamins and minerals.

The new report also restricts fruit juice for children of all ages.

Parents are advised to give 1 to 3-year-old children four ounces of fruit juice a day, six ounces for 4 to 6-year-olds and eight ounces for 6 to 18-year-olds.

Experts say juice has empty sugars and that whole fruit is more nutritious. 

This is the first time the group has updated it's guidelines on fruit juice since 2001.