Major health groups weigh in on what young children should drink

Four leading health organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Heart Association, just released their first consensus recommendations for what children under the age of 5 should drink. The groups suggest that young children only be given breast milk, infant formula, water, or plain milk. At the same time, they advocate against any kind of beverage that includes added sugars, including chocolate or strawberry milk, as well as low-calorie or caffeinated beverages. Plant- or nut-based milks also aren’t part of the new guidelines, as these drinks don’t offer any unique nutritional value over regular milk, the groups say. Children as young as 9 months can learn their preferences for flavors, preferences that can last a lifetime. “That’s why it’s important to set them on a healthy course,” AAP expert Dr. Natalie Muth said in a statement.