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Original poster

To think it's ridiculous....

12 replies

SlowCookedBrexit · 27/01/2019 23:41

I was at a friend's birthday lunch today, and her sil was going on about giving her toddler a bottle of tea. Apparently he won't drink milk or water, so tea it is. Proper tea, warm, a few bottles a day including before bed. I didn't ask if he took sugar

This is bonkers, isn't it? I like a cuppa myself, but a toddler? Surely it can't be good for him?

OP posts:

Thehogfatherstolemycurry · 27/01/2019 23:47

It's old fashioned, lots used to do it years ago but it's not something I'd give mine.

nocoolnamesleft · 28/01/2019 02:16

Impedes iron absorption.

HirplesWithHaggis · 28/01/2019 02:21

I'd think caffeine before bed wasn't a good idea, but if she's not complaining about poor sleeping patterns... it's not something I would do, but I've heard of much worse.

Justagirlwholovesaboy · 28/01/2019 02:26

It’s not life threatening and it’s her choice so how is it your concern?

Rtmhwales · 28/01/2019 02:28

My mum did this for me as I wouldn't drink milk. Apparently decaf and very weak tea with milk. I wouldn't give it to my own DS but I turned out fine.

Endofrelationship · 28/01/2019 02:52

Yes it's ridiculous and yes it's wrong. As said by a previous poster, it impedes iron absorption, plus if over 1 a bottle is terrible for the teeth. I'd say it's borderline neglectful to be honest. Different if it's a one off or once a day type thing.

And it's the tannins, not the caffeine that stops iron absorption, so decaf won't help that.

Buntybearbess · 28/01/2019 03:06

Me and my sisters were given tea in our bottle from being about a year old and it's not done any of us any harm. My sisters and my niece give it to theirs as well once they're over a year. It's just tea.

Buntybearbess · 28/01/2019 03:07

Instead of a bedtime bottle and very milky, no sugars.

Endofrelationship · 28/01/2019 03:29

There's lots of things that my parents did which "did me no harm". Doesn't make them right though.

DiddyLongLegs · 28/01/2019 04:47

Gosh I give my 3 year old a cup of very weak milky tea if he wants one when I have a cuppa - it's half milk with a bit of hot water and a teabag waved at it. This is probably what she made for her child, I wouldn't get my knickers in a twist about it tbh!

Endofrelationship · 28/01/2019 05:45

DiddyLongLegs there's a huge difference between a 3yo having the odd cup of tea and a toddler having tea in a bottle as every drink which is what the OP is saying. Obviously the odd one will do no harm, same as the odd froot shoot or piece of chocolate.

DiddyLongLegs · 28/01/2019 07:53

Yes Endofrelationship I understood the OPs post thanks, my point is that it's probably not strong brown tea and is just a way of getting some warm milk down a fussy toddler. I wouldn't personally give several bottles of tea, but each to their own, it doesn't sound like that much of a big deal to me.

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