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My SIL given 2 or her sons coffee on a daily basis (one is 7 and the other is 10) since they were about 5 and i don't know why it drives me insane. I just consider coffee more of an adult drink, but she says its no different then giving them a can of soda. What are your takes on giving coffee to children?
If its lightly sweetened and a good portion milk, I would argue its better than soda, its just unusual because its something we consider an "adult beverage"
At least with lightly sweetened and milk you are getting less sugar and some calcium. Also coffee does have antioxidents. you can also brew it to control the caffiene in it.
Even a small cup of weaker black coffee I think is better than a can of regular old coke.
@allieluvs21: I don't have kids but no I wouldn't give my children coffee. Then again, I wouldn't give them soda either. I didn't have soda as a kid and I grew up fine. My mom gave me coffee as a kid but she's half Cuban... and they roll a little differently haha.
Coffee has more caffeine than soda...
Also, I think 7 and 10 is too young to regularly drink coffee. On special occasions, it's understandable (my younger cousins like a "special" starbucks drink every once in a while, but even those drinks are more sugar and milk than actual caffeine).
ETA: I'm not that big on giving soda to children, either. I think it should be a "once in a while" drink, too.
I don't think that it's really any different then giving your kid a can of soda. I voted a sip or 2 mainly because I wouldn't give my kids an entire can of soda on a daily basis either.. but I don't see the harm in an every now and then thing. It isn't like caffeine is alcohol.
Doesn't coffee have more caffeine than a soda? My oldest can't stand the smell of it and the 2yr old has stuck his hand in it (cold) and said "yum!" I wouldn't offer it and I don't share mine. I know I get shaky like a speed freak when I have too much, so I wouldn't know what was "too much" for a child...
I would NEVER give my son coffee. I havent even have him pop yet. I think thats absolutly crazy! I have never even heard of parents doing that before.
I'm going to say no, but I don't plan on giving my children soda regularly either.
@lefeymw: very interesting observation, didn't think of it quite like that. She gives them expresso with milk and sugar and wonders why her youngest is CONSTANTLY bouncing off the walls
DS get's limited caffeine... whether it be coke or even chocolate.
He definitely doesn't get coffee ever though b/c it's caffeine content is MUCH more than a regular can of soda.
Here's a chart of caffeine content for common drinks
Maybe you could show your SIL that caffeine content in soda is NOT like caffeine content in coffee
Personally, I wouldn't do it. But when I was younger (like...really young) my grandma would give me a cup at her house. I don't even remember my first cup of coffee.
We drank coffee as kids. And by coffee, I mean mostly milk, some sweetener, and a bit of coffee. I agree it's better than soda- but I'm not sure if I would offer it to my kids. We started drinking it on our own around age 10-13.
@allieluvs21: IT can vary widely, but a shot of espresso typically has less caffeine than a cup of drip coffee, of course its easier to drink more than a shot of espresso (which has more caffeine per volume) and (assuming not dark roast or starbucks) this is about equivalent to a soda (~35 mg per serving)
http://coffeechemistry.com/index.php/News/Caffeine/caffeine-content-in-espresso-vs-drip-coffee.html
Sounds like the kids needs no caffeine and it doesnt matter if it comes from soda or coffee or chocolate. And for that matter, really limit the sugar.
My son has been drinking DECAF coffee since he was old enough to ask for it, and regularly wants it with breakfast. But caffeinated coffee is off limits (he's 3 and knows that caffeinated drinks are for grown ups); I intend (to the extent that I can control) to limit caffeine until he's a teenager... we'll see how that goes, though!
@maureen9004: I wouldn't mind it when my kids got older 14, 15 about to go into highschool, thats fine with me
I remember my mom used to let me get the decaf coffee samples at the grocery store - I'd load it up with cream and sugar, and there was barely any coffee left lol.
The consideration that would most prevent me from giving my kids coffee is not wanting them to develop a tolerance for caffeine at a young age. I barely even drank coffee in college, because black tea was enough for me unless I was pulling an all nighter. The sleeplessness that law school requires meant I developed a huge coffee addiction, and now, as an attorney, I can't function without at least 2 cups a day. I wouldn't want them to reach that point in their teens!
When the kids are at my house (because i can control what they have for that limited amount of time) coffee is OFF LIMITS completely, funny this is their Father does NOT like the fact that their mother gives it to them, but she does anyway
I was given coffee by my grandmother since I was about 4 or 5 but it was always coffee with milk. My dad also taught my sisters and me how to make mochas and cappuccino at a fairly young age as well and would always take as to this small Italian coffee/ice cream shop by our house. I've heard that coffee stunts growth but I'm 5'5" and at that I'm taller than both my mom and grandmother, almost as tall as my dad and my sisters are a bit taller than me. I never had any bad reaction to the caffeine (I was always an A, B student at school with AP classes and I'm actually a very quiet person) and I don't ever now. I'd probably let my kids at least try it and see how they react to it. I rather them drink coffee than soda as it doesn't contain as much sugar and coffee is more natural.
I don't think kids should have coffee or pop. Even chocolate shakes are pushing it. I'm not worried about their growth being stunted, but the caffeine can have less than desired effects on kids.
I would give mine a sip or two of mine if they asked. I remember eating the foam off my mom's when I was younger (and thinking how disgusting it was, but "wanting" to like it).
I drank coffee as a kid, not everyday but every now and then. Everyone kept saying its going to stunt my growth and I grew to be 5'9 haha =]
When I was 16 I was coaching a U-13 girls soccer team, and during a tournament I took them to DQ in between games. I was totally horrified when they all wanted ice-caps instead of blizzards! I thought it was the craziest thing ever, and I was still a kid myself! Haha. I admit, I totally judged their parents for a brief moment thinking "Why on Earth do 12yos know they like coffee?"
Also just remembered that I had beer years before I had coffee. How messed up was my upbringing? :P
My parents wouldn't even let us drink decaf until we were in our teens. We weren't really allowed to have caffinated soda, either, and non-caffinated soda was a special treat.
I didnt have my first taste of coffee until I was 13 or 14 I think. And I wasnt really allowed soda growing up either. I think I'd apply the same rules for my kids. As an adult I dont even really drink soda or ever really crave it, so health wise, it was a good habit to form - treating soda as a "special" treat item instead of everyday drink.
@allieluvs21: That's interesting. Why does she give it to them, if her son is bouncing off the walls and their father doesn't agree with it?
I don't think I ever had coffee until I was in my tween years. Like maybe 12+. And then it was just a treat sometimes, my mom would mix hot chocolate half and half with coffee. Or at a coffee house I was allowed to get a small mocha with only a half shot of espresso.
@BrightGreen: lol not messed up. I think the same is true for me. My parents let me have sips of their drinks pretty young. Starting around the same time as I was allowed to have my own (mixed) coffee I was also allowed to have an occassional mixed wine with dinner when my parents had it (like a few times/year). My mom would mix white wine half and half with sprite or fresca for me. With alcohol particularly I think there is something to be said for allowing kids to have it (a little bit) and more so into their teen years so it isn't "the forbidden fruit." I've never cared much about drinking... I mean I do drink but never to get drunk... and I swear its because I never got why drunk = cool. I enjoy alcohol for what it is not to get hammered.
@CorgiTales: I 100% have to agree with you. My parents allowed us to have small amounts of watered-down alcohol with dinner for special occasions and things and neither my brother or I got in any trouble with alcohol or "partying" when we were younger. So many people frown upon it, yet like you said, it takes away the "forbidden fruit" factor.
I never liked coffee until I was in college and started working at Starbucks. If my kids asked for a taste, I'd give them a sip of my coffee, but I don't think I'd make it a regular thing. As it is, our daughter's only 1.5 years old, so I'm more concerned about her burning herself than having caffeine, at this point.
ETA: I should add that my mom often made me drink straight black coffee when I was having an asthma attack, as a kid, so I guess for me, coffee always seemed more like medicine than a treat.
I don't drink coffee or tea. My fiance loves tea. Anyways, growing up my dad wouldn't just give us coffee but if we were thirsty (before people carried water bottles) we'd ask for a drink. He'd say "you can have a drink of this but you're not going to like it." Sure enough, we didn't like it b/c he drinks his coffee black (no sugar, milk, creamer). And not unsurprisingly, neither my sister nor I drink it. If I had a kid, I'd say "you may drink but you're not going to like it" b/c I don't see the purpose in sugaring our drinks up. My fiance doesn't sweeten his teas.
EDIT: Not saying your going to do this but others have suggested to show her that coffee has more caffeine than soda. Sure it does, but none of us are the parent. I think a lot of us believe we need to intervene on other people's parenting when we all should mostly just stay out of it (unless of course of serious bodily harm).
I said a sip or two, but this comes from my experience as a child. My brother and I did not drink soda for the most part, but we both had ADHD, so if my brother (who also has aspergers) was particularly "spazzy," my mother would sometimes give him a small amount of coffee to slow him down. For most children however, I wouldn't give them either coffee or soda except in small amounts as a treat.
I wouldnt give my son coffee. I do consider it to be an adult drink, but thats just me. I am also one of those paretnt though that doesnt let their child have soda and most of the time I water his juice down a bit. Im weird idk.
I'd give my child a sip or two if they wanted to try it.
I give my kids sips every now and then my little one LOVES anything mocha but she does not get more than 1 or 2 sips but my oldest doesnt like the taste but she has had sips too.
I volunteer at a middle school sometimes and a lot of the girls drink coffee. I guess if I had to be up around 6am for the school bus, I might need a little help, too.
My grandmother used to give me a 1/2 cup of coffee in the morning. Not every single day, but it never made me go nuts. I'm not addicted as an adult. All I drink is water and a small cup of coffee on the nights that I work (3 nights a week). Oh, and I have a cup of coffee when I have a migraine. It helps so much.
Now would I give my child coffee? Nah. I don't see the need for it for a young child.
@RayRayFurious: Lol, yes. I still don't know how I used to do that. If I wake up that early, if with a good night's rest, I feel like a zombie the rest of the day.
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