How much juice should a child drink?

The short answer

Toddlers aged 1 to 3 should have at most 4 ounces of juice a day, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).¹ That’s half a cup — a small glass, not a sippy cup refilled through the afternoon. Babies under 12 months shouldn’t have any.¹

The AAP’s limits get a little higher as children grow, and they always assume 100% juice, not “juice drinks” or “fruit drinks” with added sugar.

These are upper limits, not goals. A child who never drinks juice isn’t missing out. The AAP’s page on drinks says plainly that eating fruit is always preferred to drinking juice.²

Juice is a “sometimes” drink. The limit is a ceiling, not a daily target.

When can babies have juice?

Not until after their first birthday. The AAP says juice offers no nutritional benefit for children under 1 and shouldn’t be part of their diet; breast milk or infant formula is enough.¹ The AAP’s water guidance says the same: children less than a year shouldn’t drink any juice at all.⁴

If your baby is 6 to 12 months old and you’re wondering what else to offer, the AAP suggests 4 to 8 ounces of plain water a day alongside breast milk or formula.² We cover that in when can babies have water.

How much juice should a 1-year-old or toddler drink?

At most 4 ounces a day for ages 1 to 3, and that’s a maximum rather than a recommendation.¹ For a 1-year-old, the main drinks are plain milk (the AAP suggests about 2 cups a day from 12 to 24 months) and water.² Juice shouldn’t crowd either one out. See how much milk a toddler should drink for the full picture.

Two things matter as much as the amount:

• Serve it in a cup, with a meal or snack. The AAP says toddlers shouldn’t get juice from bottles or easily transportable containers that let them sip all day, because of the risk of tooth decay.¹
• Skip it at bedtime. The AAP says toddlers shouldn’t be given juice at bedtime.¹

Why is juice limited if it’s 100% fruit?

Two reasons. First, juice has more sugar per serving than whole fruit,³ and it’s very sweet-tasting and lacks the fiber found in whole fruit.² Whole fruit is the better choice.

Second, sweet drinks add up. The AAP says children under 2 should avoid foods and drinks with added sugar, and from age 2 it suggests aiming for less than 25 grams (about 6 teaspoons) of added sugar a day.³ The AAP says 100% juice can be a healthy part of the diet for children older than 1 in small amounts,¹ but “juice drinks,” fruit punch and similar drinks with added sugar are in a different category, and the AAP advises serving water and milk instead.³ For the bigger sugar picture, read how much sugar a toddler should have.

What does a day of drinks look like?

For a 1-year-old, a simple day might be about 2 cups of milk,² water with meals and snacks, and, if you choose to serve it, a half-cup of juice at most.¹ Ages 2 to 5 can have 8 to 40 ounces (1 to 5 cups) of water a day and 16 to 24 ounces of milk, which leaves little reason to fill the gap with juice.² If you’re unsure how to split a drink budget across the day, your pediatrician can help.

What should I look for on the label?

How do I cut back on juice?

If your child already drinks more than the limits, it’s very common, and it’s fixable. A few things that tend to work:

• Offer fruit first. Sliced soft fruit, mashed banana or cut-up berries give the same flavor with fiber. Cut round fruits such as grapes lengthwise into quarters for children under 4 to reduce choking risk.
• Make water the default. The AAP says plain water provides the hydration all of us need.² Keep a cup of water within reach.
• Pour less. Use a small glass so that 4 oz looks like a full serving.
• Don’t keep it in the fridge all week. If juice is a treat at certain meals rather than always available, there’s less to negotiate.

For how much water your child needs by age, see how much water a child should drink.

What about older kids?

Children 7 and older can have up to 8 ounces (1 cup) of juice a day. The AAP frames that as part of the 2 to 2½ cups of fruit recommended each day, so it counts toward fruit rather than adding to it.¹ The same logic applies: whole fruit first, and juice as the extra.

For tweens and teens, the AAP says to avoid soda, sports drinks and fruit drinks in favor of water and milk.³ For energy drinks, see energy drinks and kids.

When to talk to your pediatrician

Your pediatrician can also tell you what to give a sick child. Juice isn’t the right choice for dehydration — see can toddlers drink Gatorade for what to use instead.

Common questions