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Should my 5-year-old drink coffee?
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Marco
#1 Posted : Sunday, May 16, 2010 3:58:29 PM(UTC)
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My mother gives my 5-year-old son milky coffee to drink. Is that okay? At what age is it okay for children to drink coffee or tea with caffeine in them? I don't let him drink cold-drinks with caffeine in them, so I think the coffee is probably not good either? I think I first had coffee at the age of about 8, but my mother says I also had the milky coffee from about 5. I must also say it isn't that often because he only goes to her once or at most twice a week for babysitting. What does everybody out there think is okay?
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Guest
#2 Posted : Monday, May 17, 2010 10:07:35 AM(UTC)
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Coke also has caffeine in.
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Guest
#3 Posted : Monday, May 17, 2010 10:14:04 AM(UTC)
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I will only allow my children to drink coffee when they start high school. So around age 13. And even at that age I will encourage them to consider alternatives.
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Manda
#4 Posted : Monday, May 17, 2010 10:14:46 AM(UTC)
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I wouldn't worry about the bit of coffee he gets from his granny now and then so much. But what I worry about is when I see babies being given fizzy cold-drinks, which, as the previous guest said, also have caffeine and also a high sugar content. toddlers and little children should not be given highly sugared things, and also should be limited in their caffeine intake.

I would also ask you, does his behaviour seem to be affected by the coffee? Is he jumpy, or over-excited or naughty? If so, nix the coffee. Your mom must listen to you as his father in this.
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Guest
#5 Posted : Monday, May 17, 2010 10:17:05 AM(UTC)
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I have to ask, since it is your mom. Did you suffer any ill effects from coffee at an early age? I would say a cup a day is not an issue. I would not over do it though.
I think the preservatives etc, found in a lot of foods our kids eat can be far more damaging.
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Guest
#6 Posted : Monday, May 17, 2010 10:18:52 AM(UTC)
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Your child is babysat by granny once a week, and only then does the little one get cofee.
Two solutions:
1. look after your own child,
2. buy decaf coffee.
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camelthief
#7 Posted : Monday, May 17, 2010 10:37:46 AM(UTC)
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Coffee is not good for you and it is difficult to stop drinking it as an adult - so my view is it would be better to not start. My children have not been allowed to drink coffee. Now aged 12 and 15, they are not interested in doing so. They have the odd fizzy drink on weekends, which we try to limit as we are aware of the problems with these. There is more than just caffeine to worry about in coffee. Why give a 5 year old an addictive drug?

A key point also is that your mother should not give your child anything without your permission. The comment about looking after your own child is surely from someone who has not experienced the difficulties of juggling parenthood with other life essentials...like work.
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Guest
#8 Posted : Monday, May 17, 2010 10:53:45 AM(UTC)
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My Daughter is 3 and half and she loves her coffee on a Saturday morning, don't see a problem
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Guest
#9 Posted : Monday, May 17, 2010 11:20:24 AM(UTC)
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Not a chance! my son knows that coffee, and coke, and other such drinks are for big people only!!!!!!!

It is irresponsible to be putting caffeine into their little bodies!
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Guest
#10 Posted : Monday, May 17, 2010 11:29:56 AM(UTC)
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In terms of softdrinks, only Cola's contain caffeine. A glass of cola contains the same amount of caffeine as a cup of strong coffee.
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Guest
#11 Posted : Monday, May 17, 2010 11:50:47 AM(UTC)
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Honestly I would trust my own mother over a bunch of strangers on the internet. Call a doctor if you doubt her wisdom.
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hopefulmom
#12 Posted : Monday, May 17, 2010 12:04:51 PM(UTC)
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I don't think 5 is an appropriate age to introduce a child to any stimulant - be it in coffee or soft drinks.
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Guest
#13 Posted : Monday, May 17, 2010 12:16:10 PM(UTC)
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My little girl gets coffee and coke - in fact our Doctor told us to give it to her, because it does not make her hyper in fact helps her to relax - antihistamine's make her very hyper.

Everything in moderation is fine. And point of fact - tea has more caffine in it than coffee...
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Guest
#14 Posted : Monday, May 17, 2010 12:24:53 PM(UTC)
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bla bla bla blabla

will bo no harm
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WTF
#15 Posted : Monday, May 17, 2010 12:43:35 PM(UTC)
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Coffee is awesome. Not a day goes by without my Hazelnut Latte, Espresso and filter coffee. I have been drinking coffee since a baby. My gran drinks at least 3 cups a day - she is 97 and still stays on her own. So I would rather take her advice than some do-gooder, up-tight, doom and gloomers on this blog. Let him/her drink coffee - my 3 year old does and he loves it!
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Guest
#16 Posted : Monday, May 17, 2010 12:44:25 PM(UTC)
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Just a comment about Decaffeinated Coffee - DECAF is MORE HARMFUL than regular coffee because of all the chemicals used to remove/strip the caffeine and then left behind in the decaf coffee.

Also, if it's 100% pure coffee, instead of a cheap instant brand with chicory and other things added, it's better. It even has antioxidants, although this of course does not necessarily make it appropriate for such a young child and too much of anything is bad for you.
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Guest
#17 Posted : Monday, May 17, 2010 1:12:26 PM(UTC)
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my kidz are all grownup today and i gave them the odd cup of coffe once a while and i did not had problems with them
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ET
#18 Posted : Monday, May 17, 2010 1:25:38 PM(UTC)
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Im a granny to 6 grandchildren. The Oldest is 17 the little one is 3 months! I have never given any of them coffee, because I don't think its right. The chemicals in coffee, coke and other drinks should not be dished out to minors. If they ask for it and are givenShame on you the stuff at home, I would, but their parents must first give the green light!Shame on you
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Guest
#19 Posted : Monday, May 17, 2010 1:35:30 PM(UTC)
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Seriously, there are far bigger things to worry about than a cup of coffee a week or not...
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camelthief
#20 Posted : Monday, May 17, 2010 1:37:54 PM(UTC)
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How strange that people who answer this question with a view that is different to others get responded to with name calling. What great intelligent debate we have here! However I do not mind being referred to as a do-gooder just for expressing a view. I suppose such respondents are also those who don't use seatbelts for their kids and allow underage drinking in their homes.

The comment that tea has more caffeine is not relevant, the question was about coffee, not tea.
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