Lpm. Petter et al., IS WATER OUT OF VOGUE - A SURVEY OF THE DRINKING HABITS OF 2-7-YEAR-OLDS, Archives of Disease in Childhood, 72(2), 1995, pp. 137-140
Objective-To survey the drinking habits of young children with referen
ce to the consumption of plain water, and to estimate the proportion o
f a child's recommended energy intake contributed by drinks. Design-A
prospective survey. Setting-Health centres, mother and toddler groups,
and infant schools in and around Southampton. Subjects-39 preschool a
nd 66 infant schoolchildren. Interventions-Parents kept a diary of all
drinks consumed by the child over 48 hours. Parents were interviewed
with a questionnaire about the drinking habits of their child. Main ou
tcome measures-The type of drinks and volume of fluid consumed over 48
hours; the proportion of a child's recommended energy intake consumed
through drinks. Results-72.5% of the preschool group and 50% of the i
nfant school group never drank plain water. Squash was by far the most
frequently consumed drink. 15% of the preschool group consumed just u
nder 50% of their recommended daily energy intake in drinks. Conclusio
ns-Young children consume large quantities of squash which constitutes
a substantial energy supply. It is possible that they are conditioned
at an early age to the sweet taste of drinks that may be of no nutrit
ional benefit to them.