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Is It Safe To Give Sweets To An 18 Month Old?

Posted on Mon, 15 Dec 2014

Question: Hi XXXXXXX

Can we give little sweets to my 18 months old daughter??
Like one ladoo..or one sweet a day..I read somewhere that sugar intake in toddlers will decrease their immunity

Pls advise

Answered by Dr. Arun (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
better avoid giving daily

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Thanks for writing to us.
Usually the recommended sugar intake in toddlers is 170 calories which comes to 4 teaspoons of added sugar everyday.
Average XXXXXXX laddoo contains 270 calories which is way above the limit.
It is better to restrict sweets, as you may add sugar to other food items like milk.
If you are not giving any added sugar in other foods then maybe half laddoo can be given.
But be cautious and limit the total sugar including sweets to 170 calories or 4 teaspoons.

Too much sugar does decrease immunity. It can lead to various adult problems like obesity and hypertension later when child grows up.
Wishing your child good health. Regards Dr Arun

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju

Follow up: Dr. Arun (27 minutes later)

Thanks XXXXXXX

The reason i have asked u abt the sweets is below..

From two weeks she has reduced her food intake and now she just takes few spoons of food. She starts running away the moment she sees that we are feeding her. Previously she used to have breakfast, mid-mrng snack, lunch at 12:30, whole fruit like mosambi or banana at 2:30, then half apple, curd rice at evng 5, egg/omlette at 6:30, dinner and again if she is hungry she used to eat little bit of fruit before gng to bed. Now she just has half breakfast, 5 spoons for lunch and 5spoons for dinner and in between half fruit.

She is active and plays well though

Is this normal in toddlers??

Answered by Dr. Arun (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
yes it is normal

Detailed Answer:
Yes it is normal for toddlers to play around and it becomes difficult to feed them than before.
Don't worry. But don't fall for sugar trap.
Intake will improve soon.
If child is active and playful no need to worry.
Add oil or ghee to each feed.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju

Follow up: Dr. Arun (4 hours later)

If she doesnt eat how will she get the energy/vitamins required for her growth or atleast for her day to day play. How can I provide required nutrients if she doesnt eat. I tried soups/fruit juices/milkshakes but she is not interested. Are there any veggies or fruits which she should be eating. Wont she become deficient? Doc has suggested kidicare syrup. But she had it only for a week. She spits it out when we give the syrup.

Answered by Dr. Arun (24 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
try different flavours

Detailed Answer:
Toddlers tend to be very choosy at this age.
But don't worry. As long as baby is active and playful it means that nutritional requirements are being met.
You need to try various foods in different flavours. Whatever you eat can be given to the child in softer form.
Try zincovit syrup along with iron supplement like trifer drops 1ml daily.
Deworming with albendazole 200 mg single night dose will be helpful.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari

Follow up: Dr. Arun (19 minutes later)

I am trying to give what all curries that I prepare for ourselves. Can I also feed fresh home made veggie chutneys in milder form?

Is the dosage for Both zincovit and trifer drops is 1ml? We have given bandy syrup for deworming with a gap of 2 weeks as per the advice of our doctor.

Answered by Dr. Arun (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
yes you can

Detailed Answer:
Yes you can give home made veg curries.
Zincovit syrup 5ml. Trifer 1 ml
Deworming should be done 6 months after last one.

Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju