Q – Should I put juice into a sippy cup?

A – Although nutritionally better than pop, juice still has lots of natural sugars that can cause decay.  If juice is given, it should be consumed quickly and not sipped on throughout the day.  Putting juice in a sippy cup or bottle encourages sipping and periodic drinking.  The more frequently your child is exposed to a sugar source throughout the day, the more likely cavities will develop. If a sippy cup is used, do not let the juice be drunk beyond snack or mealtime.  Use water or milk if your child would like to sip on a beverage in a sippy cup or bottle during playtime. The sugars in milk are less likely to cause decay and so it is a safer choice than juice.  ‘Watering down’ juice does not make it safer for teeth.