The best drinks for children are water and milk. Plain tap water is best to quench thirst.
Milk is an excellent source of calcium and other important nutrients. Calcium is important for children to grow strong bones and teeth. Reduced fat milk is the best choice for children over two years of age. It has less saturated fat and energy (kilojoules) than full fat varieties, but still has important nutrients such as calcium.
Healthy drinks for Infants (0-12 months)
Breastfeeding is the healthiest start for infants.
- It is recommended infants be breastfed until 12 months of age (or longer). Introduce solid foods at around 6 months of age.
- If an infant is not breastfed, commercial infant formulas should be used.
- Breast milk or infant formula should be the main drink in the first 12 months.
- Exclusively breast fed infants do not require additional fluids up to 6 months of age.
- For formula fed infants, cooled boiled tap water may be used if additional fluids are needed from birth.
- From around 6 months small amounts of cooled boiled water can supplement breast milk.
- Do not offer juices and sugar sweetened drinks. They do not provide any nutritional benefits.
Healthy drinks for Children (1-5 years)
At 12 months of age:
- Pasteurised full cream milk may be introduced.
- Low fat and reduced fat milks (skim milk and milk with 2 to 2.5% fat) are not recommended in the first 2 years of life).
- Plain tap water is preferred to quench thirst.
From 2 years of age:
- Reduced fat milks (with 2 – 2.5% fat) are recommended.
- Plain tap water is preferred to quench thirst.
Healthy drinks for School children (5-12 years)
- Healthy Drinks Poster
- Plain tap water is best to quench thirst
- Reduced fat milks (with 2 – 2.5% fat) are recommended.
- Soft drinks, energy drinks, flavoured mineral waters and sport drinks are banned for sale from school canteens in NSW.
Useful Links
Drinking water is the best way to quench your thirst. Even better, it doesn’t come with all the sugar and energy (kilojoules) found in fruit juice drinks, soft drinks, sports drinks and flavoured mineral waters.
Rethink Sugary Drink has partnered with LiveLighter to encourage Aussies to think twice about how much sugar they’re drinking.
Healthy Bodies Need Healthy Drinks Resource Package
