When your baby is 1 -3 years old, breast milk is the best drink. And you can add some baby formula for the hydration and nutrition if she/he needed. If you decide to keep breastfeeding, then your baby will continue to gain the benefits from this breast milk. Breast milk is valuable nutrition and disease protection for your baby. But due to some reason if the mother cannot be able to feed breast milk to her child. Then the baby needs some safe, healthy drinks. Let’s discuss some healthy drinks which will work best for a three-year-old child. Most child development experts agree that it is a great time when your baby is three years old to say bye-bye to the bottle and hello to drinking from a cup. You can give water and plain milk in a container to learn to take healthy drinks.
Best Drinks for Toddlers
Cow’s Milk
At this 3-year-old age, your child needs bone-building nutrients like calcium and vitamin D. cow’s milk is an excellent source of Vitamin D and calcium. Cow milk is suitable for babies as it is rich in the right amount of calcium, Cow milk also carries a high amount of protein, that is very helpful for your baby growth.
Water
When you notice your child feel thirsty, you should always offer water first. Water is necessary for various vital processes in your child’s body. Water helps to maintain temperature regulation and organ function. Kids have more significant water requirements than because they have a rapidly growing body and a higher metabolic rate.
Coconut Water
Coconut water is beneficial for babies as it contains calories and sugar. It is a healthier choice than other soda and sports drinks. And also Coconut water has the right amount of many nutrients, including vitamin C, magnesium, and potassium. Which are essential for your baby. Coconut water is also beneficial when your kid is sick such as just after a bout of diarrhoea or vomiting.
Smoothies
Offering smoothies to your toddler is a delicious way to sneak fruits, vegetables. And this is the best idea to add other healthy foods into your child’s diet. You can give your 3 Year Old Child homemade smoothies rich in nutritious ingredients. Smoothies make excellent choices for children.
Plant-Based Milk
You can give your baby the unsweetened plant-based milk such as soy, almond and oat drinks. I will be healthy and an excellent alternative. Plant-based milk contains plenty of calcium, protein and energy. Unsweetened plant-based milk is appropriate to offer to infants as the main drink from 2 to 3 years of age. Soya milk is the preferred mostly recommended plant milk for toddlers.
Fruit Juice
You can offer 100% fruit juice to your baby, which provides essential vitamins and minerals. But make sure intake should be limited as per your child doctor recommended amounts for children.
Barley Water
Barley is an easily digestible food for your three years toddler, and it is non-allergenic. It is also making an ideal first food for your baby. You can prepare barley water recipe by adding a tablespoon of barley and water – simple and nutritious. This recipe is great for babies over eight months.
Carrot Juice
Carrot juice is a good idea to juice for your little one. It is rich in beta-carotene, iron, calcium and vitamins etc. This juice has a beautiful bright colour that attracts baby. You can start giving carrot juice for your six-month-old babies.
Dry Fruits Milk
Parents can make dry fruits milk at home. It can be prepared with homemade dry fruit powder or nuts powder.
Dry fruits milk has the goodness of nuts and dry fruits. Dry fruits powder milk is beneficial for your baby health, and it helps weight gaining in toddlers and kids.
Banana Milkshake
You can add banana to milk and blend it evenly and sever your baby. Kids love to drink Banana Milkshake. Kids like the banana flavour so much. It is best for weight gain for your kid.
Worst Drinks for Toddlers
You Should Not Give Sweet Drinks to Babies
Sweet drinks are not good for your baby health. Delicious drinks include: soft drinks, flavoured milk, sports drinks and energy drinks, cordial, tea are not recommend to your toddler. Sugary beverages can make your baby sick and lead to tooth decay and weight gain. And tea is not suitable for your baby and can weaken the baby’s blood.
Don’t Give Caffeinated Drinks to Your Baby
Caffeine may increase the risk of poor sleep to your kids, and also it may occur some other health issues such as nervousness, irritability, headaches, and difficulty concentrating. All caffeine-containing drinks should be avoided.
Soda: Soda is the most significant sources of refined sugar in kid’s diets and which is a significant cause of childhood obesity and tooth decay. Sodas drinks are often designed to attract your toddler’s attention. To avoid these types of drinks.
Benefits of Healthy Drinks for Kids
There are many benefits of healthy drinks for your child, such as:
- It keeps your baby hydrated
- Keeps constipation
- They contain natural sugars
- Certain fruits are rich in antioxidants which can build immunity
- Contain nutrients and minerals essential for your child’s development
The Bottom Line
For your children, a healthy drink is not just something rich in nutritional value, or it should be easy to digest. It should keep your baby energy levels up throughout an activity-filled day. And make sure that healthy drinks which you offer your kids should not include sugary drinks such as pop, fruit drinks, vitamin-enhanced waters, flavoured waters. Parents can provide a wide array range of healthy drinks to your children when they feel thirsty. Hope these best health drinks for kids give you fantastic idea for your little one.
Always remember that before preparing any health drinks for your kid, it should be recommended. Energy drinks which you give your baby, it should be suggested by your child doctor. You consult your child doctor and understand the nutritional needs of your child kid as per their age and also know first if they have any food allergies.
