Question: Can fruit juice give my baby diarrhea?

I’ve been wondering about this since Iyah is now a solid eater (she still doesn’t eat much though) and I thinking of giving her a bit of variety when it comes to what she eats and drinks. Luckily for me the internet always come in handy when it comes to finding the answer. So here’s what I found out…

Answer: Yes, too much fruit juice can cause diarrhea. That’s because many juices contain sorbitol, a nondigestible form of sugar. Excess sorbitol levels cause the body to try to dilute the sugar by pulling water from the bloodstream into the intestine, which causes loose stools. That’s how prune juice, which is high in sorbitol, works. Apple, pear, peach, and cherry juice are also fairly high in sorbitol.

Adults can’t digest sorbitol either, but baby’s bodies are smaller, so the effect can be more pronounced, especially if you give your baby too much juice. Keep in mind that until your baby starts eating solids (at age 4 to 6 months), you shouldn’t give him juice at all — breast milk or formula is all he needs.

Once started on solids, he can have fruit juice in a cup, but no more than about 4 ounces a day. More than that can ruin his appetite for other nutrient-rich foods and cause tooth decay. You can dilute his juice, if you want to make it last a bit longer, but between meals (when most “juice abuse” occurs), offer your baby water rather than juice.

Source: Babycenter.com