To think it's ridiculous....

[SlowCookedBrexit]

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?

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

Impedes iron absorption.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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!

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.

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.