Are juice drinks and fruit punch OK for kids?
Written from AAP, federal and National Academies guidance and checked against each source. Medical review by a pediatric registered dietitian is in progress. Updated November 2026.
Quick answer
No. “Juice drink,” “fruit punch” and most kids' pouches are sweetened drinks. Experts advise against sugar-sweetened drinks for kids under 5 and recommend no added sugar through age 10.12
Pick your child's age for a personal answer
By age
| Age | Verdict | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Under 12 months | Skip | No. |
| 1 to 4 years | Skip | The 2019 consensus cautions against sugar-sweetened drinks for ages 0 to 5.1 |
| 5 to 10 years | Skip | Skip. No amount of added sugar is recommended through age 10.2 |
| 11 to 18 years | Occasionally | An occasional treat at most. Water first. |
How much sugar?
Dashed line: the American Heart Association limit of 25 g of added sugar for the whole day, ages 2 to 18. Typical amounts, rounded. Brands vary.
Good to know
- A 6 oz pouch has about 14 g of sugar. Fruit punch drinks run 34 to 45 g per 12 oz.11
- A cartoon on the box and “made with real fruit juice” don't change the sugar.
- Check Includes Added Sugars on the label, or paste the ingredients into our label checker.
Try instead
Water with fruit slices, or a piece of whole fruit with a cup of water.
Have the bottle in your hand? Check it with the label checker.
Common questions
Are juice boxes healthy?
It depends on the box. 100% juice has natural sugar and should be limited to small servings. Juice drinks and fruit punch have added sugar and aren't recommended for young kids.