Fruit juice has always been disguised as healthy, but unfortunately, it’s not the best option for children, especially babies. The American Academy of Pediatrics released a new set of guidelines highlighting that fruit juice for children younger than 1 is not recommended. They are also recommending sharply limiting juice consumption for toddlers and older children.

ABC News Chief Women’s Health correspondent, Dr. Jennifer Ashton explained why to Good Morning America. “While some 100-percent juice can be O.k., in general, it doesn’t pack the nutritional punch that a lot of parents think it does,” explains Dr. Ashton. The big difference is in the amount of fiber that juice has, which is really important for gastrointestinal issues, which if you want to get the benefits from fruit, you should always eat the fruit, not only the juice.

Take unsweetened apple juice, for example, it has 114 calories, 24 grams of sugar, and no dietary fiber, while a medium apple contains 4 grams of fiber, explains the doctor.

Here are the full recommendations:

• Intake of juice should be limited to, at most, 4 ounces daily for toddlers age 1-3. For children age 4-6, fruit juice should be restricted to 4 to 6 ounces daily; and for children ages 7-18, juice intake should be limited to 8 ounces or 1 cup of the recommended 2 to 2 ½ cups of fruit servings per day.
• Toddlers should not be given juice from bottles or easily transportable “sippy cups” that allow them to consume juice easily throughout the day. The excessive exposure of the teeth to carbohydrates can lead to tooth decay, as well. Toddlers should not be given juice at bedtime.
• Children should be encouraged to eat whole fruits and be educated about the benefits of the fruit as compared to juice, which lacks dietary fiber and may contribute to excessive weight gain.
• Human milk or infant formula is sufficient for infants, and low-fat/nonfat milk and water are sufficient for older children.
• Consumption of unpasteurized juice products should be strongly discouraged for children of all ages.
• Children who take specific forms of medication should not be given grapefruit juice, which can interfere with the medication’s effectiveness. In addition, fruit juice is not appropriate in the treatment of dehydration or management of diarrhea.

“We know that excessive fruit juice can lead to excessive weight gain and tooth decay,” co-author Steven A. Abrams, MD, FAAP said. “Pediatricians have a lot of information to share with families on how to provide the proper balance of fresh fruit within their child’s diet.” The Fruit Juice in Infants, Children, and Adolescents: Current Recommendations was published May 22nd.