A panel of experts found that what children drink has a big impact on overall health and development.

Kids should drink breast milk, infant formula, water and milk in early childhood – and limit their fruit juice as much as possible.

Although the type of milk varies (breast milk, skim, infant formula, etc.) the experts agree most of what children need from 0-5 years is just milk and water.

Experts recommend no more than half a cup of juice a day (whole fruit is preferred) for children between 1-5 years old, and no juice for children under 12 months.

The recommendations, released Wednesday, broke down what children through age five should drink by age:

• 0-6 Months: Breast milk or infant formula.
• 6-12 Months: Breast milk or infant formula; small amounts of plain drinking water introduced once solid foods become part of diet.
• 12-24 Months: Whole milk and plain drinking water.
• 2-5 Years: Skim or low-fat milk and plain drinking water.

These evidence-based recommendations were crafted after careful review of existing domestic and international policy statements by experts from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the America Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and the American Heart Association.

Read more recommendations and panelist discussion in the full news story on U.S. News.

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