Is tea really that bad for toddlers?

[MilkyCoffeeAndSkinnySyrup]

I give my son a cup of tea in a beaker every morning, no sugar just strong tea and milk. He loves it and he doesn't have anymore after that! He eats well and drinks water throughout the day. He brushes his teeth every day too!

Everyone treats me like I am a stupid mother for giving him a beaker of tea? I remember when I was a child, all of us drank tea from a young baby right until adulthood and we all live to tell the tale! I still remember my Mum always giving me milky tea in my bottle and I loved it

Maybe I shouldn't do it cos of NHS guidelines, but I just don't see the harm? Is there anything associated with it that I really have to stop?

[MilkyCoffeeAndSkinnySyrup]

And I think it has to be far better than giving them milkshake and juice that's full of sugar!

[Aprilshouldhavebeenmyname]

Tea contains tannin which prevents dc's body from absorbing essential vitamins - which are much more important than a cuppa!!

[lizzlebizzle33]

🤔 I don't think it's that bad? Defiantly better than all that fruit shoot crap. Maybe he could have decaf?x

[AlbusPercival]

The main down side is tea makes it harder to
Absorb iron.

So make sure he is getting plenty of iron in his diet.

[Penfold007]

Tea (and coffee) affect the way the body absorbs iron. However, I doubt that one milky beaker of tea a day, not served with a meal is going to do much harm to a child eating a well balanced diet. Others may well disagree with me.

[MilkyCoffeeAndSkinnySyrup]

He eats a very good balanced diet! And he doesn't have it with a meal he mainly has it after his breakfast and then he will have a lunch, snacks and dinner. No issues whatsoever!

It's crazy that we all used to have it all the time when we was babies and now all of a sudden we can't? I suppose it probably does make it harder to absorb iron but depends on the quantity of it?

Fruit Shoot is AWFUL! Absolutely shit load of sugar! I can even taste it when I have a drop...! X

[anotherangel2]

I don’t understand why you don’t just give him milk or water. My toddler regularly asks for tea and I give her warm milk in her little expresso cup and saucer and this keeps her happy.