Objective: High consumption of sugar sweetened beverages (SSB) has been implicated as a risk factor for dental caries. Children's dietary habits may also be influenced by those of their parents or caregivers. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between consumption of SSB by mothers and their children.

Methods: Children aged 6 to 24 months and their mothers were recruited from an Iowa WIC clinic as part of a longitudinal study on pediatric dental caries risks. Validated beverage frequency questionnaires were self-administered at baseline, two subsequent appointments (9 and 18 months), and over the phone during two follow-ups (4 and 14 months). Relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for children drinking SSB in relation to maternal intake. Analyses were stratified by age quartiles.

Results: Most mothers (86.4%), and 38.9% of children drank SSB once a week, at minimum. Intake of SSB increased significantly across age quartile (×2=56.27, p<0.0001). Among mothers who drank SSB, children in the oldest age quartile (28-53 months) were significantly more likely to also drink them (RR=1.17, CI=1.04-1.31), and children in the third age quartile (22-27 months) were marginally more likely (RR=1.11, CI=1.01-1.22). Results for the youngest age quartiles (6-15 months and 16-21 months) were not significant. Children of mothers who drank soda pop (regular or diet) drank, on average, a larger amount of soda pop than children of mothers who did not drink soda pop (2.73 oz/wk and 0.11 oz/wk, respectively. p<0.0001). Due to small numbers of children consuming other SSB items, power was limited to detect further differences.

Conclusion: Children may be more likely to drink SSB such as soda pop if their mothers also drink SSB. The maternal influence may be particularly important beginning around 24 months of age. (Supported by grant# R21-DE-015008.)

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