The Effects of Sugar on a Baby

Sugar affects babies from the time they are in the womb. While it is not acceptable for a mother to smoke or drink during pregnancy, she can safely consume some sugar. Once a baby is born, sugar is commonplace in breast milk and fruits; however, consumption of excess sugar can have negative health effects. Although sugar can serve as a natural remedy for babies experiencing constipation or pain during immunization shots, parents should be leery of the amount of sugar their babies consume.

During Pregnancy

• When a woman consumes sugary foods during pregnancy, it is absorbed into her bloodstream rapidly. A mother's blood sugar can impact her baby's size and health. Taking in excess sugar can cause the fetus to grow too large, resulting in complications during childbirth. Excessive sugar consumption results in the pancreas having to work extra hard to produce enough insulin to regulate the mother's blood sugar, leading to gestational diabetes in some cases. Although gestational diabetes goes away after pregnancy, it is bad for both the mother and child. Even if the mother does not have diabetes, high blood sugar can cause babies to be born with low blood sugar and high insulin levels. These problems can lead to obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes for children later in life.

Constipation

• Sugar can affect babies by eliminating constipation. Sugar draws fluid into the baby's bowls, softening the stools and relieving constipation. The sugar can come in the form of fruit, fructose, sorbitol or sucrose. Brown sugar or corn syrup can be added to a baby's formula to relieve constipation. However, when possible, water is recommended over sugar. Increasing fluids can decrease constipation just as well as sugar, without causing a spike in the baby's blood sugar.

Immunizations

• Sugar has proven to relieve the pain experienced during immunization shots for babies between one and 12 months old. Sugar water before the immunization shots seems to lessen the pain of the needle's sting. Babies who receive sugar water prior to the shots tend to cry less and in some cases, not at all. Adverse effects are not reported when sugar water is given prior to the shots.

Overall Health

• Sugar should not be given to babies under one year of age. Babies get the natural sugar they need from breast milk and fruit. Other forms of sugar have no nutritional value for babies. Sugar is bad for a baby's oral health and teeth. A baby's teeth are much more vulnerable than an adult's. Even sugar in diluted juices can promote tooth decay.