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Original poster

Coffee as a treat?

60 replies

saturdaynightgin · 12/04/2019 15:30

Do you ever give your DC coffee as a treat?

Sat in a coffee shop with SIL and the people on the next table have bought their 3 DC (aged between 7-12ish) a coffee each. SIL commented that she’d never pay Starbucks prices for her son(11) to have a coffee, but she does let him have one at home when he’s feeling a bit tired or as a treat when he’s done his homework Hmm

DD is only 3 and hasn’t asked for coffee yet, but I’m almost certain I wouldn’t let her have one.

OP posts:
MyDcAreMarvel · 12/04/2019 15:31

Only as teenagers no younger.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 12/04/2019 15:32

There's a big age difference between your 3 year old and them. It's coffee not crackWink coffee will be probably be at the bottom of your list of things to worry about when she's older.

kaytee87 · 12/04/2019 15:33

3 and 11 is quite different though, no?

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AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 12/04/2019 15:33

Perhaps they ordered decaf? If it was I can't see the problem myself.

eddiemairswife · 12/04/2019 15:35

I've only heard on here that children should not be given coffee.

CMOTDibbler · 12/04/2019 15:39

My 12 year old loves a cup of tea or coffee. He even has the odd espresso. At 3 he wasn't interested, but only had milk or water anyway, and didn't even have juice/squash more than once a month max till he was over 9

Original poster
saturdaynightgin · 12/04/2019 15:39

I agree 3 and 11 is quite different.

As children, my siblings and I weren’t allowed coffee - this is probably why I see it as an adult’s drink, similar to alcohol I suppose.

I hope it is decaf for the parents’ sake - I can’t imagine having to deal with 3 kids all bouncing off the walls on a caffeine high Grin

OP posts:
Nousernameforme · 12/04/2019 15:40

I wouldn't give younger children coffee as they have more than enough energy as it is. My 15 year old drinks a coffee of a morning but thats about it.

Rufusthebewilderedreindeer · 12/04/2019 15:42

Two of my children have never had coffee or tea

One has had one cup of coffee when it was delivered to the table instead of the cold milk we ordered

They certainly wouldn't consider it a treat Grin

BackforGood · 12/04/2019 15:43

They could have had anything in there - lattes (so mostly milk), decaff (for most coffees), might have been a hot chocolate, or even a babychino type thing.

I mean, when my dc were that age, our budget wouldn't have run to it, but in terms of somehow damaging the dc, I think there is nothing to worry about.

Believe me, there's a lot of things you think you would / wouldn't do as your dc get older, but then life surprises you. Just think of all the pregnant people who say they are never going to {insert phrase of choice}..... use a dummy.... let baby take over their life .... let baby stay up / out of routine....drink anything other than water or milk..... ever eat anything that isn't wholesome....... etc.,etc.,etc Grin Grin Grin

Rufusthebewilderedreindeer · 12/04/2019 15:43

We THOUGHT we ordered...

Rockbird · 12/04/2019 15:44

No problem with the coffee but struggling to see it as a treat unless it's covered in whipped cream and laden with syrups.

JustAWaferThinMint · 12/04/2019 15:44

If you are out for coffee, it why would it be ok to pay for one for yourself at Starbucks but not a child who is old enough to like it as an occasional tr eat? Seems like a double standard to me.

SockQueen · 12/04/2019 15:45

I couldn't stand the taste of coffee till my late teens. Don't plan on offering it to DS (currently 2.5) for many years yet!

nutsfornutella · 12/04/2019 15:45

Are you sure it's not a hot chocolate? Or even the babycinno (frothed milk with choc sprinkles)

Out of my 3 over 12s, only 1 drinks coffee and tea. She drinks it less than twice a week.

mindutopia · 12/04/2019 15:47

I had decaf coffee with lots of milk and sugar when I was about 8-9. I probably would let mine have it (decaf!) occasionally at that age, but certainly nothing at Starbucks would be suitable and I wouldn’t give them real coffee until they were teenagers. That said by the time I was 15, I used to hang out at the coffee shop all weekend drinking endless coffees.Hmm

Original poster
saturdaynightgin · 12/04/2019 15:48

BackforGood I’m one of those already Blush

OP posts:
BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 12/04/2019 15:52

I would be surprised at a child considering it to be a treat tbh, it's quite a bitter taste for a child's palate. Mine would get hot chocolate or a soda as a treat. DD (aged 11) occasionally makes herself a weak, milky tea at home to dip her biscuits into, but would never ask for that in a cafe.

ExpletiveDelighted · 12/04/2019 15:54

Mine have had the odd decaff from about 8 or 9, I always have decaff too. They are more likely to have hot chocolate or a soft drink in a coffee shop though. Why would nothing in Starbucks be suitable? You can have decaff for any of the coffee drinks.

Original poster
saturdaynightgin · 12/04/2019 16:28

Hot chocolate seems more appropriate somehow - again, probably because of my own childhood

OP posts:
DerbyRacer · 12/04/2019 16:40

My ds is 10 and has started having hot chocolate in coffee shops as a treat. He doesn't want to try tea or coffee. I am wondering if I should have introduced him to decaf tea and coffee when he was younger as I don't think he will ever want to drink them now.

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 12/04/2019 16:43

Just thinking through the whole 'coffee as a treat' thing. I'm pretty sure that both my DC asked for a taste of my coffee, because I clearly love it. That often happens when I like something, but because my tastes are generally quite strong they usually don't like it (eg dark chocolate, strong black coffee, wasabi dressing etc). So if their only experience of coffee is a strong black americano then they are not likely to ask for one in a cafe. If I had been drinking some nasty sweet thing when they asked for a taste then they might have liked it and asked for it again. Some coffees, especially in Starbucks, are basically super-sweet, hot milkshakes with a bit of coffee added.

WitchyBollox · 12/04/2019 16:43

From very young teen (maybe 11 or 12 even) my nan used to make me milky coffee (so basically what is now a latte I guess). Just a spoonful of instant (not even proper coffee lol) and loads of milk.

My eldest DS (now 13) drinks tea regularly, has done for a year or so. Doesn't seem to have any problems with the caffeine at all, he drinks it very strong. Doesn't like the taste of coffee at all but I'd be ok with him having it now.

My two as toddlers loved going to Costa or Starbucks, they would have a babycino every time and loved it, they would ask me for a coffee lol. As they have got older they will have hot chocolate if we are in a coffee place.

EleanorOalike · 12/04/2019 16:45

I’ve been drinking “milky” coffee every day since I was tiny and frequently had coffee out in town with my Mum from age 6 onwards. Been drinking tea since I was a baby.

I don’t think I’d give it to my kids until they were in Y6 or 7 though.

Camomila · 12/04/2019 16:53

I think DC think anything is a treat if their parents like it.

I remember feeling so grown up when I started being allowed an after lunch espresso with the adults. I guess I would have been early teens?

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