Citrus Fruits for 15 Month Old

[Aussiegirl777]

I can't seem to find much information on this so I'm interested in what others do with their toddlers.

My DS only drinks water and milk. I would like him to start eating citrus fruits but don't want him to have a whole orange, grapefruit - mainly because I have heard it isn't good for their teeth. He does have about 3 mandarins a week.

This morning I squeezed the juice from a quarter of a ruby grapefruit and put it into his sippy cup with a little water.

My questions is: Is citrus fruit fine for a 15 month old? Is it fine to give it in juice form? The more healthy fruits and vegetables that I can introduce him to the happier I am but I'm just not sure if oranges and grapefuits should wait.

[RhiChiChi]

Never heard of waiting for citrus fruits.... unless the information has now changed, as it can ;P Can you call a MCHN and check with them?? I cant see an issue with your DS eating three mandarins a week

[Aussiegirl777]

I will mention it to my health nurse next visit.

I'm not concerned about the 3 mandarins. I'm more thinking about adding grapefruits and oranges on top of the mandarins. With regards to stripping enamel from their teeth, how much citrus is too much?

[Frangipani Lou]

I think eating citrus fruits would be fine, especially if he drinks water with it which will rinse his mouth. The juice may stick more o teeth and would offer less fibre than fruit pieces but is probably fine as a sometimes drink watered down to a ratio of 1 part juice to 5 parts water.

[Olive]

I wouldn't add citrus to water, that's constant acid around teeth all day, I'd give citrus fruit then rinse mouth with water, and never brush teeth just after eating citrus fruit!!!

[Aussiegirl777]

Yeah Olive that's what I did. I put it in his cup and then when he'd drunk it I switched it with a plain water cup. Good suggestion about not brushing teeth. I wouldn't have thought of that.

[PumpkinZulu]

We've given DD mandarins for ages, and at about 12 months started sharing my breakfast grapefruit with her. She loves it, I give her segments and she chows down. Then she has a bowl of cereal, then a cup of water to get all the gunk off her teeth