Sugar Under Age 2: Recommendations vs. Reality

A common concern for new parents is knowing how to navigate the hot topic of sugar in their baby’s and young toddler’s diet. I remember how excited I was when I heard the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025 recommending ‘no added sugar under 2 years of age’. I thought, “Finally some guidance around this topic from the DGAs,” and also, ‘I’m a dietitian. I can do this! I can make everything homemade and sweeten foods with natural sources like fruit and dates’.

Have you ever tried avoiding ALL added sugars? It’s nearly impossible! Sugar is added to many everyday foods like sauces, breads, crackers, dressings, marinades, baby foods, granola bars, cereals, prepackaged and convenient foods, etc.

Between the exhaustion from making ‘special’ foods free of added sugar and the guilt of sugar inevitably presenting itself, I started to question whether this recommendation was really all that helpful. Parents who can’t afford or don’t have time to make the ‘no added sugar’ version are just as good of parents as those who can. There’s no doubt this topic is incredibly nuanced and we’re all just trying to do what’s best for our children. I’m here to provide more context to the issue so you can make an informed decision.

Added vs. Natural Sugar

Sugar goes by many names including high-fructose corn syrup, honey, agave, cane juice, molasses, etc. From granulated sugar baked into recipes to maple syrup on top of pancakes, any sugar that is added to a food during preparation or processing is considered an added sugar. Many foods contain added sugar for reasons like preservation; viscosity, texture, body, color, browning capability, and/or to help improve the palatability of some nutrient-dense foods. 

Naturally occurring sugar, on the other hand, is found in foods like fruit, vegetables, milk, and yogurt.

Many people don’t know this, but your body doesn’t have a preference whether it be an orange or high-fructose corn syrup because they’re equally used as fuel. No matter the source, all sugar breaks down into the same chemical structure, glucose. The difference is that when you eat a food with naturally occurring sugars, you’re also getting all of the nutrients that come along with that food. With milk, for example, you’re getting protein, fat, calcium, vitamin D and other important vitamins and minerals that nourish your body. Added sugar provides the carbohydrate and energy, but lacks the other nutrients. This explains the reasoning behind the DGA’s guidelines.

Why ‘No Added Sugar Under 2 Years of Age’

According to the DGA, ‘Infants and young children have virtually no room in their diet for added sugars. This is because the nutrient requirements for infants and young children are quite high relative to their size, but the amount of complementary foods they consume is small. Complementary foods need to be nutrient-dense and not contain additional calories from added sugars. In addition, low- and no-calorie sweeteners, which can also be called high-intensity sweeteners, are not recommended for children younger than age 2. Taste preferences are being formed during this time period, and infants and young children may develop preferences for overly sweet foods if introduced to very sweet foods during this timeframe.’ 

The Nuance of Added Sugar

While the intention behind the DGA guideline is to promote health, I suggest we remember it’s a guideline, not a rule. It could be argued that feeling relaxed and guilt-free about sugar and allowing it as a fun part of family memory-making is healthier than the alternative. Food is about so much more than just nutrition and health encompasses physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. Forbidding a food is never the answer. That black-and-white approach to sugar only leads to fear and anxiety that lasts beyond the first and second year of the child’s life. Ultimately, you get to decide how this guideline aligns with your family’s values.

The Knowledge to Nourish Approach to Sugar Under Age 2

It is totally normal to like sweet foods and enjoy them. Demonizing and making sugar forbidden is a sure-fire way to create obsession about it and end up eating more than feels good. If you want your child not to put sugary foods on a pedestal so they can eat without guilt and stop when they’re satisfied, stop using it as a reward. Making sugar a regular, normal part of their diet takes the emotional charge out of it so everyone can relax and they trust their body to tell them when and how much. Building this relationship with sugar can start between one and two years of age when they become aware that dessert is a thing and that people eat them! This is when you might want to start offering them.   

Key Takeaways:

• Remember that sugar isn’t evil or ‘bad’, but that little ones have small stomachs and can only take in so much in a day
• Try to optimize their intake with nutrient-dense foods that aren’t mostly added sugar
• No soda or sugary drinks in the bottle. If you offer juice, look for 100% fruit juice and offer it in a cup
• Don’t go on a guilt trip if they get some added sugar in their diet
• Added sugar doesn’t negate other nutrients in food 
• Once they become aware of dessert and you’ve decided it’s the right time to include them into their diet, intentionally offer them alongside meals and snacks

If you need more guidance on how to handle sugary foods with your child and set a foundation for a healthy relationship with these foods, seek guidance from an Intuitive Eating Registered Dietitian like myself! For more support you can join my free Facebook group or fill out an application for 1:1 nutrition coaching.