The earlier children are educated over the health trap of soft drinks the better, says Kiama dietitian Rebecca McPhee.
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A University of Sydney study found primary and secondary school students are five times as likely to be high consumers of sugar-sweetened drinks if these drinks are available in their homes.
The study found alarming levels of soft drink consumption in school-aged children.
"If children are introduced to it at a young age they soon expect all drinks need to be sweet," McPhee says. "It's not just the obesity problems, but also vitamin deficiency and dental problems."
Mt Pleasant mum Charise Orvad, a fitness instructor and family day carer, says her childhood habit of drinking plenty of water has flowed on to her parenting.
"It's so important that they learn about drinking water," Orvad says, adding that her children Lili, 9, Stella, 7, Scarlett, 5, and Oskar, 3 always sleep with a water bottle next to their bed.
"I add lime or lemon to my water and we'll also have apple," she says of drink alternatives.
"My girls will ask for lemon when they see me having it.
She says her children aren't often exposed to fizzy drinks, but will have a glass on special occasions.
"Those soft drinks are so addictive and toxic for you and it's hard once you're in the cycle to break out of it," Orvad says.
McPhee says parents are finding it hard to fight the soft drink battle as marketing is making the drinks easily accessible and affordable.
"Even though diet soft drinks are calorie-free they still have artificial sweeteners," McPhee says. .
"I promote water, water and water," McPhee says. "The earlier the education the better.
"It comes down to water and healthy eating - it's following the 80/20 rule; 80 per cent of the time we eat healthy and 20 per cent is for our treats."
McPhee also suggests that fruit can be added to flavour water to make it a more fun drink.
University of Sydney study lead author Lana Hebden says information needs to be made available to parents on limiting access to sugary drinks at home.
"Consumption of these drinks has been associated with body weight gain in youth, dental caries in young children and elevated blood pressure, insulin resistance and lower bone mineral density in adolescents."