What Should Preschoolers Drink?

The best drinks for preschoolers - and for kids of all ages - are milk and water. Whenever possible, discourage your child from drinking soda and other sugary, calorie-dense drinks as thirst-quenchers because water or milk will do the job just as well.

Preschoolers should consume 2 cups (480 milliliters) of milk (or equivalent dairy products) every day. If your child doesn't like plain milk, try adding a touch of flavoring, such as chocolate or strawberry. The little bit of flavor may make a big difference and it won't add a significant amount of sugar. But avoid premixed chocolate or strawberry drinks, which often contain considerably more calories, sugar, and fat than milk you flavor yourself. And limit juice - which has a significant amount of sugar - to no more than 6 ounces (180 milliliters) a day.

Soda Gets in the Way

Soda is commonly served to children, but this carbonated drink has no nutritional value and is high in sugar. One study found that one in eight preschool children drank 9 ounces (270 milliliters) or more of soda a day, which is 110-150 empty calories. That's 10% of a preschooler's daily calorie needs.

Preschoolers should not drink any soda because it can get in the way of good nutrition. For instance, a 4-year-old needs 800 milligrams of calcium, which is the amount in about three glasses of milk. A child is unlikely to drink enough milk if soda - regular or diet - is available.

In addition, it's easy to drink too much soda, and children are more likely to drink increasing amounts as they get older. In older kids and adolescents, drinking soda has been linked to excessive weight gain and other problems, including tooth decay.

Caffeine and Kids: a Bad Mix

In addition to the calories and sugar, soda often contains caffeine, which can have negative effects on kids. Most parents wouldn't dream of giving a preschooler a cup of coffee, but they may routinely serve cola and other drinks that contain caffeine. For children, the effects of caffeine are similar to those seen in adults. Too much caffeine can cause:

• jitteriness and nervousness
• upset stomach
• headaches
• difficulty concentrating
• difficulty sleeping

And because preschoolers are not very big, it doesn't take a lot of caffeine to produce the effects. Caffeine also acts as a diuretic - something that makes a person urinate (pee) more. For young children, especially on hot days, this can contribute to dehydration.

To avoid giving your child too much caffeine, be sure to read nutrition labels on food and drinks. In addition to colas and some other soft drinks, caffeine is found in chocolate, coffee ice cream, and iced tea drinks. Although the United States has not yet developed guidelines for caffeine consumption in children, Canadian guidelines recommend that preschool children consume no more than 45 milligrams of caffeine a day. This is equivalent to the average amount of caffeine found in a 12-ounce (360-milliliter) can of cola or four 1.5-ounce (45-gram) milk chocolate bars.

Reviewed by: