• The initial five years are crucial for children's growth and cognitive development, requiring adequate nutrition.

• The 2020-2025 US Dietary Guidelines recommend that children under two avoid added sugars and that those aged two and older limit their intake to less than 10% of their daily calories.

• Nonetheless, many US children surpass these recommendations, mainly through the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) such as soda, fruit drinks, sports drinks, and energy drinks.

• A study conducted using data from the 2021 National Survey of Children’s Health, which is a nationally representative survey, examined SSB consumption among children aged 1 to 5.

• It revealed that 43% did not consume SSBs, 36% consumed them 1-3 times per week, and 21% consumed them four or more times per week.

• Higher SSB intake was associated with older age, non-Hispanic Black ethnicity, lower caregiver education, lower household income, Spanish as the primary household language, fewer family meals, living in nonmetropolitan areas, and receiving government food assistance.

• These findings highlight the necessity for targeted public health strategies to reduce SSB consumption in young children.

• Interventions should be inclusive, taking into account the sociodemographic and household factors that influence SSB intake, and should aim to support children's optimal growth and development.

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