Food guide
Soda
Fizzy drinks have no place in a young child's diet. They are the largest single source of added sugar for children, many contain caffeine, and children under 24 months should have no added sugar and no caffeine at all.
How to serve at this age
0-2 years: Not recommended in any form, including diet and 'zero sugar' versions. Water and unflavoured milk are the recommended drinks for children under 5. Whole fruit is a better sweet option than any sweetened drink.
Nutrition
Sugar and water. Sugar-sweetened drinks are linked to tooth decay, excess weight gain and fatty liver disease in children. Diet versions are not recommended either - the long-term effects of sweeteners in small children are not well understood.
A note from the editors
Sweet drinks train the palate quickly - a child who gets used to them finds plain water harder to accept. Starting with water avoids that entirely.
Good to know
Avoid sugar-sweetened drinks for young children: they drive tooth decay and unhealthy weight gain and displace milk and food. Cola and similar drinks also contain caffeine, which should be avoided under 24 months.