No added sugar before 2
What it is
No sweetened drinks, biscuits, spreads or sweets before the second birthday — taste preferences are being set now.
Always on
- Read labels on yoghurts, baby biscuits and cereals — 'no added sugar' on the front is not the same as the ingredient list.
- Fruit covers the sweet taste; whole fruit rather than juice.
- Agree it with grandparents and the gan before the first birthday cake conversation.
- Never use sweets as a reward or a comfort — that link is harder to undo than the sugar itself.
Why it matters
Under 2 there is no nutritional room for sugar, and early exposure shapes what a child accepts later. After 2, keep added sugar under about 25 g a day.
Related
Sources
- Added sugars and children — American Heart Association
- Free sugars and sodium intake guidelines — World Health Organization
- Dietary guidelines (Mediterranean pattern) — Israel Ministry of Health
Compiled with AI assistance from the public sources listed above. Not yet reviewed by a clinician — check anything important against the source, with Tipat Halav or with your doctor.