What Good And Bad Drinks For Your Baby ?

Here's the truth on your child's drinks and beverage options. Learn which ones are healthiest and which ones to limit or avoid and why.

Note: The information in this slideshow is for children ages 1 and older. Babies under 6 months should drink only breastmilk or formula. Infants 6 to 12 months can also have small amounts of water. Experts recommend that you wait until your child turns 1 to introduce cow's milk.

Water

You can't go wrong with safe drinking water. It hydrates, helps regulate body temperature, and helps prevent constipation and urinary tract infections, all without adding calories or sugar to your baby’s diet.

Coconut water (elaneer / nariyal pani)

Coconut water is a very healthy option for your toddler. It is a rich source of vitamins and minerals and is ideal in preventing dehydration because it replenishes the natural salts lost by the body through sweat or other fluid loss. It is a great drink to give your child if she has diarrhoea.

Note: Coconut water is not suitable for children with kidney problems.

Flavoured or enhanced water

You can make flavoured water by adding a little fruit juice to plain filtered or boiled water. Or you can add freshly cut fruit to a glass of water for a delicate fruity taste or freeze fruits and use them instead of ice cubes. Just be careful that the fruit pieces are not small enough to be accidentally swallowed or they could be a choking hazard!

Limeade (nimbu pani)

Limeade (nimbu paani) is a good source of vitamin C, which helps the body absorb iron. It is also very refreshing in the heat, especially with a hint of mint (pudina). But limeade tends to be high on sugar, especially if it is bought in the market. Market bought varieties might also contain artificial flavours and colouring, which are not good for your child. Check the list of ingredients at the back to choose a variety made from real fruit.

Fruit juice

Juice is an acceptable way to get one serving of fruit each day, but whole fruit is a better choice. Juice lacks fibre and contains less of some nutrients than whole fruit. Plus, children tend to fill up on juice instead of healthier foods. 

You can make the juice at home or buy it in the market. If you buy it, make sure the package says ‘100 per cent juice’ otherwise there might be more colouring and artificial flavours than real juice. Limit your child’s juice intake to 3/4 cup per day. (Children age seven and older can have up to 1 cup a day.).

Milk drinks

After your baby turns one, she needs to have about 350ml of cow's milk each day. This will provide her with essential protein, calcium, magnesium and vitamins B12 and B2 (riboflavin). You can give her milk based drinks such as milkshakes, almond (badaam) milk, smoothies, lassi or chhaach. If she doesn't like milk, give two portions of calcium-rich foods instead.

It is not a good idea to give your child more than 350ml of milk a day. If you do, it may cut her appetite for solid foods that have other essential nutrients like iron and vitamins.

Cultured dairy beverages, yogurt drinks, probiotics and prebiotics

Most of these products have the same nutrients as milk, but some aren't fortified with vitamin D, so read the nutrition label if you are buying a packaged version. Some are made with live bacteria cultures which may aid digestion and protect the body from harmful gut bacteria. However, there may not be enough bacteria in one serving to make a difference to your child's health. Flavoured varieties contain added sugar. You also need to check the 'use by' date and storage instructions especially in hot humid weather.

Vegetable juice

Vegetable juices are a good way to feed veggies to a fussy eater. Tomato (tamatar) or carrot (gajar) juices are usually the favourites. You can try different combinations of vegetables. Some vegetables do not have much flavour on their own. Adding them into the juice with other tastier vegetables is a good way of getting your baby to have them.

If you buy vegetable juice, choose a variety with as little sodium as you can find. Some packaged juices contain more than half of a child's daily sodium allowance in one serving.

Soy milk (non-dairy made from soya beans)

Soy milk is an acceptable alternative to cow's milk (especially for those who are lactose intolerant), but it contains fewer nutrients. If your child drinks soy milk as a substitute for cow's milk, his doctor may recommend a vitamin supplement. He may also be put on a calcium supplement, especially if he does not have any other form of dairy products.

Some soy milk brands are fortified with calcium and vitamins A, D, and B12. Soy milk contains no saturated fat or cholesterol and may be enriched with omega-3 fats. Flavoured varieties tend to contain added sugar.

Rice milk (non-dairy made from rice grains)

Rice milk contains fewer nutrients and less protein than cow's milk. If it is given instead of cow’s milk, your paediatrician will advise you on other ways of getting the vital nutrients in your child’s diet.

Most families make rice milk at home because it is not easily available in the market. If you do buy it, check that the rice milk is fortified with calcium and vitamins A, D, and B12. Sweetened varieties of rice milk contain added sugar. Be sure to check the 'manufacture date' and 'use by' date.

Almond milk (non-dairy made from crushed almonds)

Almond milk contains fewer nutrients and less protein than cow's milk but almonds are rich in several vitamins. If almond milk is given instead of cow’s milk, your paediatrician will advise you on other ways of getting the vital nutrients in your child’s diet.

You can make almond milk at home by blending blanched almonds and water. If you find it in the market, check that it is fortified with calcium and vitamins A, D, and B12. Sweetened varieties of almond milk contain added sugar. Be sure to check the 'manufacture date' and 'use by' date.

Coconut milk beverages

Coconut milk beverage contains fewer nutrients and less protein than cow's milk, so it's not a good substitute. To make the most of this beverage, choose a brand that's fortified with calcium and vitamins A, D, and B12. Some varieties have a bit more saturated fat than low-fat cow's milk; others have less. And while health claims have been made recently for the fat in coconut oil, there's no real evidence that it's particularly good or bad for you. Sweetened varieties of coconut milk beverage contain added sugar. Be sure to check the 'manufacture date' and 'use by' date.

Fizzy drinks and sodas

Fizzy drinks have no nutritional value. Most brands contain artificial colouring or flavours. They also contain high amounts of sugar or artificial sweeteners. Some fizzy drinks also have caffeine. None of these ingredients are good for your child.

Sweetened drinks

Cordial, syrups or other concentrates that are dissolved in water, flavoured drinks that do not specify '100 percent juice' or juice powders contain ingredients that your child doesn't need (sugar, artificial sweeteners) or already gets enough of (vitamins). They may even contain additives that could be harmful (caffeine, artificial flavouring and food colours). Sports drinks often contain extra sodium, which young children don't need.

Tea

Regular tea (green or black) contains antioxidants, which are beneficial, but the tea may also contain caffeine, which your baby shouldn't have. If your child is very fond of tea, give no more than 1/4 of a cup per day and make sure it is very weak. Ginger tea (adrak ki chai) is often given to help soothe colds and sore throats. You can make it with holy basil (tulsi) leaves instead of black tea leaves.

Coffee and cold coffee

Coffee also contains caffeine and often, when coffee or cold coffee is made for children, it has a lot of sugar as well. Store-bought cold coffee or coffee based drinks available in coffee shops and ice cream parlours also often have a dollop of ice cream or chocolate syrup. This makes the drink very high on calories with very few nutrients.

Energy drinks

These products have no nutritional value. Most energy drinks contain large amounts of caffeine as well as sugar or artificial sweeteners. Some contain herbs and additives that may not be safe for children.

Diet for a healthy breastfeeding mum

There is a lot of conflicting advice, traditional and modern, about what you should and should not do when you’re breastfeeding. Can you drink coffee? If you eat certain foods, will it give your baby colic? We dispel the myths about breastfeeding and diet and give you the facts. 

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Do I need extra calories when I am breastfeeding?

Yes, but your body is highly efficient at producing breastmilk from what you eat so you do not need to have a particularly calorie-rich diet. It's best to be guided by your appetite and to eat normal food when you are hungry. In other words, there is no need to add extra ghee to your food. Your body may have laid down fat stores during pregnancy, and breastfeeding can help to use up that fat.

There's no right answer about how many calories a day you should have. The amount you need to eat depends on your weight and how physically active you are. So let your diet be guided by your body so that you eat as often as you feel hungry. But it is important to eat foods that are rich in nutrients rather than food with a lot of fat or sugar content. These will give you calories but fewer nutrients. 

As you start to wean your baby, your calorie needs will gradually return to pre-pregnancy levels. Some studies show that if you breastfeed your baby, you may lose your pregnancy weight faster as compared to a mother who does not breastfeed. 

Breastfeeding usually gives you a big appetite. So if you don't feel like eating, it could be a sign that you need extra emotional support. Sometimes, women who have postnatal depression lose their appetite. If you're finding it a struggle to eat, see your doctor and talk about how you're feeling. 

What should I be eating now that I’m breastfeeding?

Think of breastfeeding as continued motivation to follow the healthy diet you followed during pregnancy. Focus on eating whole grains and cereals, legumes, fresh fruits and vegetables And go for foods that provide plenty of protine, calcium and iron (and, as always, an occasional treat is fine). 

Traditionally, breastfeeding mums are given a lot of dried fruit , ghee and sugar. These high calorie foods usually were meant to supplement the kitchery diet that mums traditionally follow after birth. If you are eating normal food, you can leave out the extra ghee and sugar. Dried fruits are extremely healthy and used in most traditional confinement foods. Try having them without the ghee and sugar by putting them in your porridge (dalia) for example or in some kheer. This way your relatives will be happy that you are eating the traditional ingredients but you will not be loaded with the high calories. If you must eat the laddoos or panjiri you can reduce the calorie count by eating smaller portions. Some recipes could work well with lesser quantities of ghee and for others you could use a healthier alternative such as canola oil.

If you are used to having aerated drinks to quench your thirst it is best to avoid these while breastfeeding. They contain just empty calories and no nutrition. You could instead substitute it with healthier drinks such as lassi, coconut water, butter milk, fresh fruit and vegetable juices or nimbu pani. 

Do I need to take vitamin supplements?

Yes. The National Institute of Nutrition recommends that breastfeeding mums take iron, folic and calcium supplements. You may also need supplements of vitamin A, zinc, vitamin B12 and vitamin C. 

It would be best to speak to your doctor before taking any vitamin supplements. If you do take supplements, bear in mind that it can't make up for poor eating habits. It is also important to eat a well-balanced, varied diet.

Do I need to drink extra fluids to help maintain my breastmilk supply?

You only need to drink enough to satisfy your thirst while you're breastfeeding. You may have been told that you should drink lots of water to keep up your milk supply. Actually, drinking lots of water, or indeed going a bit thirsty, won't affect the amount of milk you make. Your body is good at regulating its reserves to make sure it keeps your milk supply going. 

It's a good idea to have a drink nearby when you are breastfeeding, though. While you are feeding, your body releases the hormone oxytocin, and it makes you feel thirsty. 

If you're worried about whether you're getting enough to drink, keep an eye on the colour of your urine. If it is pale-coloured, you're getting plenty to drink. If your urine is dark yellow or smells strongly, it may mean that you are dehydrated, so you should drink more. 

Are there any foods that I should not eat and drink?

You can eat everything in moderation. However it is possible to that some types of food and drink that get into your milk may unsettle your baby's tummy. She may have colic or gas that makes her cry. Every mum and baby is different, though, so there are no hard and fast rules about what to include or leave out of your meals.

If you think a particular food has affected your baby, you could try cutting it out for a few days to see if it makes a difference. It's thought that vegetables such as cabbage (patta gobhi), cauliflower (gobhi), broccoli (hari gobhi) and onions (pyaaz), as well as cow`s milk eggs and chocolate can cause colic symptoms. Read more on foods and drinks to avoid when breastfeeding.

Some mums swear that hot or spicy dishes. upset their baby but this is not true for all mums and babies. As you get used to breastfeeding, you will get a better idea of what suits your baby. 

If you want to cut out a food that is important for your own health, your doctor may refer you to a dietitian. She’ll work out how you can have a healthy diet without it. This might be the case if, for example, you are a vegetarian and you want to cut out dairy produce. 

Can I drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes when I am breastfeeding?

Research indicates that it is best to stay away from caffeine,alcohol,fish high in toxins such as mercury, nicotine and drugs. These substances can pass from your blood into your breast milk and to your baby.

The amount of alcohol in your blood usually peaks 30 to 45 minutes after you have drunk it. You'll need to allow four hours for your body to be clear of one unit of alcohol. Drinking lots of water, resting, or expressing your milk after you have had a drink and then throwing it away (known as pumping and dumping!), won't make your body get rid of the alcohol any faster. 

If you want to have an alcoholic drink when you are breastfeeding, it's best to feed your baby first and have a drink afterwards. Four hours later, when it's time to feed your baby again, the level of alcohol in your blood, and therefore in your breastmilk, will be so low it's unlikely to affect your baby. Bear in mind, though, that if your baby is newborn, she may need feeding more often than every four hours.

If you can plan in advance, you could express milk for a few feeds before having your drink so that you are sure that by the time you start feeding again, your body has cleared out all the alcohol.

Can I lose weight when I am breastfeeding?

Yes if you’re healthy. It is wise to lose weight gradually by combining a healthy, low-fat diet with moderate exercise. 

Rapid weight loss may be harmful for your baby because it possibly releases toxins (normally stored in your body fat) into the bloodstream. And these contaminants can end up in your milk.

Keep a tab on your weight gain. And, remember to reduce your calorie intake when your baby switches over to solid foods.

But you will only get to your pre-pregnancy weight once you have stopped breastfeeding and fully weaned your baby. This is because your breasts are heavier with breastmilk and with additional fat cells that help in the production of milk. 

If you do decide to cut down slightly on your food intake, wait until at least two months after your baby is born. Limiting what you eat in the early weeks of lactation and over a long period of time may reduce your milk supply.

Can I have herbal remedies?

You can drink most herbal teas when you are breastfeeding. Herbal teas which use ingredients you might cook with, such as, fennel, camomile and peppermint, are thought to be safe to drink. 

Herbal medicines, however, are a different matter. These should not be taken while you are breastfeeding. Although remedies such as these are readily available, we can't be sure they're safe for your baby. 

You may also be offered traditional drinks prepared with specific herbs. Check with your doctor before including any herbs in your diet.