Too many sweety pies

HALF of babies from poorer Aussie families are consuming sugary drinks like fruit juice, fizzy drinks and cordial before their first birthday, driving up their risk of obesity.

A new study of 3000 children found they were also twice as likely to be given savoury snacks throughout childhood than those from wealthier backgrounds.

Deakin University researchers were shocked by the number of babies, aged 0-12 months of age, consuming sugary drinks when they should only be having milk or water. Lead researcher Alexandra Chung said they also found one quarter of children from wealthier backgrounds consumed sweet beverages.

Children’s tastes and dietary habits are established from an early age. In families from poorer backgrounds one in two children had consumed these drinks in the past 24 hours.