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Original poster

Giving my 3 year old a cup of tea every weekend..

146 replies

Mexicantahoe · 16/08/2021 22:30

My little girl is so great, eats everything, sleeps 7 to 7 uninterrupted.. Recently at the weekends she has shown an interest in my cup of tea, tea is the only thing I can manage first thing in the morning, I don't eat breakfast but at the weekend I sit down with her whilst she eats and I drink a cuppa.. I made her half a cup of weak tea last weekend and she absolutely loved it, I have mine with Oat milk so I don't add anything further to sweeten it.. Is it OK to give her 1 cup of reasonably weak tea at the weekends? Her teeth are also beautiful, straight and white with no plaque or cavities so I hope this isn't a slippery slope. It just was so lovely to see her really enjoying it. I'm pretty sure my first cup of tea was when I was very little too!
Is it ok or should I stop?

OP posts:
TheSmallAssassin · 16/08/2021 22:52

I'm sad that neither of my nearly grown up children drinks tea, so I'd go for it, I can't see any harm, really?

texasss · 16/08/2021 22:51

I used to make my toddler the odd cup of tea, half milk and water with a bag dunked in and out for effect. It made them feel very grown up and they grew out of it without gaining a raging caffeine dependency.

Thatstheway · 16/08/2021 22:51

My kids have all started the day with a cuppa since they were about 1. All grown up fine (youngest 15). My favorite time of day was sitting at the kitchen table after school with a pot of tea & packet of biscuits.

Original poster
Mexicantahoe · 16/08/2021 22:51

I think I might give red Bush a go. I think drinking tea probably makes her feel grown up. She has her own little mug as well :)

OP posts:
PieceOfString · 16/08/2021 22:51

The chemicals they use to decaffeinate tea are awful, not sure that's a better option myself.

NoNotYou · 16/08/2021 22:50

@Mexicantahoe yes it's fine to give her a cup of tea! Honestly, the way some people are going on on here! You'd think it was hard spirit you were getting her to try
It's a lovely bonding experience with your daughter, so bloody enjoy it!

Original poster
Mexicantahoe · 16/08/2021 22:50

@Bakewellisntjustacake

It's tea not heroin
😂
OP posts:
Fuckingfuckssake · 16/08/2021 22:49

My DD is very partial to a cup of redbush, she has one most days.

PieceOfString · 16/08/2021 22:49

Don't see what's wrong with doing this. Weak tea isn't going to have much caffeine and it's only at the weekend.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 16/08/2021 22:48

If nothing else, tea is a source of fluoride.

Which is probably why I've never had a single filling (it certainly wasn't good dental care as a child). It also encourages her palate away from everything being sweet.

You're not hurting her at all.

I used to have a tiny Mellow Birds coffee made with milk every morning at 11am at a similar age. Never did get a taste for fizzy or sugary stuff

MintyGreenDream · 16/08/2021 22:47

I do my ds 7 a decaf cuppa every so often

christyt114 · 16/08/2021 22:47

It's fine.

Magissa · 16/08/2021 22:46

When I was a child I remember giving babies bottles of tea was fairly commonConfused

Iagree Red bush tea is lovely no harm in that!

mistermagpie · 16/08/2021 22:46

My 21 month old has a cup of tea every day! I give her decaf, because the last thing she needs is anything keeping her awake, and it's mainly milk anyway but she loves it.

I friend of mine gave her kids decaf tea in a bottle which looked horrible but wasn't any worse I suppose...

Lavendersquare · 16/08/2021 22:46

My daughter has always loved a cup of tea, I use de-caffeinated tea and make it very weak, I think it's preferable to fruit juice or squash.

Kanaloa · 16/08/2021 22:45

Not that I’m suggesting you start making it a morning habit for your daughter! Just saying I don’t think it’s that harmful once a week.

Toddlerteaplease · 16/08/2021 22:45

Can't beat a cup of milky tea. Hence the username!

Kanaloa · 16/08/2021 22:45

If it’s one cup a week I really don’t see it doing any harm. I used to know a little girl who wouldn’t get on the preschool bus without her cuppa in the mornings. We’d show up to collect her when I was on bus duty and her mum would shout ‘wait a minute I’m just getting her tea!’ Then out she’d come looking like a 30 year old preschooler with a plastic travel cup of tea,

romdowa · 16/08/2021 22:44

My first sentence was asking for a bottle of tea 🤣🤣 I was raised on it. So I doubt one weak cup at the weekend will do any harm.

Bakewellisntjustacake · 16/08/2021 22:44

It's tea not heroin

MrsSkylerWhite · 16/08/2021 22:44

Our baby grandson loves tea so he’s given the occasional cup of decaf or red bush.

Original poster
Mexicantahoe · 16/08/2021 22:44

@Strokethefurrywall

There’s a picture of me having my tea out of a supply cup when I was about 18 months old! We were brought up on the stuff! No issues, it’s not like you’re giving her a full on mug of builders Yorkshire tea (or are you?) 🤣
Haha no.. That's my cuppa in the morning though which she tries to nick.. That's why I started making her one for herself so she stopped taking mine🤣
OP posts:
aworldofourown · 16/08/2021 22:43

Wow I thought tea was a very bad thing for children, due to caffeine. I know there's decaf now. Although I drank tea as a child, we loved dipping biscuits and drinking the tea. I have never given it to my children, they have shown alot of interest for tea and coffee as they see us drinking it but I have told them it's only for adults.

heyimadeit · 16/08/2021 22:43

Slippery slope OP.

She’ll be on crack next.

I drank tea as a child and I’m now 36 with no fillings (and in the west of Scotland too which makes me a modern day miracle 😂)

Enjoying little treats is what life’s all about. Enjoy your cuppas together - she’ll still hopefully be joining you for a tea when she’s all grown up Smile

Runkle · 16/08/2021 22:43

*but