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Original poster

Children and coffee

84 replies

givemushypeasachance · 02/09/2024 23:55

What age would you think it appropriate for a child to drink coffee? And would it be different for a cup of Nescafé at home, or a pumpkin spiced latte from a coffee shop? Or an iced coffee drink?

I'm thinking back to my childhood where we only ever had instant coffee in the house but I was certainly drinking it by secondary school age. Drinking teas and coffees throughout the day was just normal. But it was only instant stuff and not downing drinks with the equivalent of a couple of espressos in. Do you have a set age rule for your kids?

OP posts:
Featherrrr · 02/09/2024 23:56

Mine have been allowed since 13.

Chrsytalchondalier · 02/09/2024 23:59

Given its so bad for you, I'd wait as long as possible, probably 14 or 15? Ita not a habit I'd want my DC to start

CherryValley5 · 03/09/2024 00:00

DD was eating the foam off my cappuccinos aged 2… Really though she started drinking real coffee around age 11/12 (iced lattes, only 1 shot of espresso so less caffeine). Her school is right beside a Starbucks so they all just naturally went there regularly.

She’s 20 now and would think I was joking if I offered her instant coffee🤣 We have a proper Nespresso machine at home and she’s a big espresso or flat white fan when out at cafes.

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CherryValley5 · 03/09/2024 00:02

Chrsytalchondalier · 02/09/2024 23:59

Given its so bad for you, I'd wait as long as possible, probably 14 or 15? Ita not a habit I'd want my DC to start

In terms of bad habits that teens get up to coffee is the very least of your worries..

ComtesseDeSpair · 03/09/2024 00:08

Whenever they decide they like the taste of actual unsweetened coffee - which probably isn’t going to be much before their mid-late teens tbh. I think I’d discourage a habit for shop-bought flavoured lattes - they’re so sugary and syrup laden and often as calorific as a meal whilst being nutritionally void. As an occasional treat fine, but I have so many colleagues who buy them as daily or twice daily regular “coffees.”

spikeandbuffy24 · 03/09/2024 00:12

Chrsytalchondalier · 02/09/2024 23:59

Given its so bad for you, I'd wait as long as possible, probably 14 or 15? Ita not a habit I'd want my DC to start

I mean on terms of so bad for you it's hardly up there with crack is it?
I'm sure coffee in moderation doesn't have any downsides. British heart foundation says moderate is 4-5 cups a day

If we listened to everything that was bad for us we would be left with water. Actually you can't drink too much of that so maybe air. Minus the pollution...

mononymous · 03/09/2024 00:23

I'm 54 and I had a cup of coffee with 2 sugars with my tea after school. I'm still here.

Icedblondeoatlatte · 03/09/2024 00:30

I remember having it at about aged 7-8ish? This was in the 90s

i wouldn’t let my kids have it until maybe secondary school? We drink proper espresso though

where my family are from they used to dip a sugar cube in espresso to feed to the kids if you were out for a special occasion (dinner where you order coffees after dessert, meals go on for hours). 🤣 the 90s was a very different time

Wishitsnows · 03/09/2024 00:35

We had coffee machines in school in the 90's for the kids!

Just4thisthreadtoday · 03/09/2024 00:45

I was 14 when I started drinking coffee (coffee & vogels diet!!).

DC went to a school that had a cafe, with a proper coffee bar, like Starbucks. Started out with the non coffee drinks, moved onto flavoured lattes at about 16 & now prefer Americano.

if it hadn't been for the school cafe, they'd have stuck to the non coffee drinks for a lot longer.

I wouldn't have been happy for them to regularly started drinking coffee before they did. I wouldn't have liked them feeling they 'needed' a coffee or drunk loads through exams.

they drink tea but prefer green or Jasmin

BobbyBiscuits · 03/09/2024 00:52

I drank milky coffee for breakfast from aged 2 onwards. It was always just instant. There weren't really coffee shops like Costa etc back in my day. So outside the house I would never have coffee until I was about 17. When I started working, and the coffee shops started becoming prevalent. I could always take it or leave it.
I think most UK parents would think secondary school age maybe. But in Europe children drink weak/milky coffee quite a lot I think.

Chrsytalchondalier · 03/09/2024 02:36

spikeandbuffy24 · 03/09/2024 00:12

I mean on terms of so bad for you it's hardly up there with crack is it?
I'm sure coffee in moderation doesn't have any downsides. British heart foundation says moderate is 4-5 cups a day

If we listened to everything that was bad for us we would be left with water. Actually you can't drink too much of that so maybe air. Minus the pollution...

Show quote history

OK so just because it's not crack it's ok. So many people get hooked on coffee then get headaches of they don't have enough, actually it probably is almost as bad a crack. It's like anything that's not good for you, why start it if you don't have to

CherryValley5 · 03/09/2024 02:48

Chrsytalchondalier · 03/09/2024 02:36

OK so just because it's not crack it's ok. So many people get hooked on coffee then get headaches of they don't have enough, actually it probably is almost as bad a crack. It's like anything that's not good for you, why start it if you don't have to

Show quote history

‘Caffeine is almost as bad as crack’

The most ridiculous, ignorant and naive statement I’ve ever read on MN, and that says a lot.

Chrsytalchondalier · 03/09/2024 02:52

CherryValley5 · 03/09/2024 02:48

‘Caffeine is almost as bad as crack’

The most ridiculous, ignorant and naive statement I’ve ever read on MN, and that says a lot.

Show quote history

Lighten up, I was being facetious

RawBloomers · 03/09/2024 03:02

I had milky instant coffee at home around 7 ish and Irish coffee (without the Irish!) around 9ish on the few occasions we ate out. Proper coffee as a regular thing probably didn't get into until 17/18, but it wasn't a very common drink. I had coke from the age of 7ish though and that has as much caffeine as real coffee.

My kids have had real coffee (and coke) on special occasions since about 7 ish. They're 15 now and I don't put any restrictions on the. They have coffee more often, but less than once a week.

echt · 03/09/2024 03:09

When they can drink it without sugar is a good age. Same for tea.

groovergirl · 03/09/2024 04:40

DD16 started drinking coffee at 15 and has maybe 3-4 cups a week, plus herbal teas. Quite a contrast to my young self, who was chuggalugging 8-10 cups of cheap, nasty instant from age 12. I've had a big caffeine habit ever since.

With hindsight, I realise what happened: High school started and all playground games (skipping, tag, monkey bars, handball) abruptly ceased. Banned! From Year 7 we had almost no physical activity during the school day. Some kids coped, but I became sluggish and unfocused. When I got home, unnaturally tired and wishing I could go out and rollerskate, I needed coffee and tea to get me through the long hours of homework.

I wonder how many others have started their caffeine habits in a similar way. If kids are asking for coffee it might be useful to find out how physically active they are at school, and whether playground games are allowed. And yes, it's hard to change the school culture, I know. I almost got suspended in Year 12 for organising a skipping game.

Guavafish1 · 03/09/2024 04:47

Weak tea and biscuits lovely as a child

i think coffee I started to drink in secondary schools ok for GSCE revision and then standard for college

CurlewKate · 03/09/2024 05:06

All bets are off once they're in high school.

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 03/09/2024 05:22

Chrsytalchondalier · 02/09/2024 23:59

Given its so bad for you, I'd wait as long as possible, probably 14 or 15? Ita not a habit I'd want my DC to start

That's is medically untrue. It can lead to dehydration if drink too often, though.

leafybrew · 03/09/2024 05:35

I hate to tell you all this - but green tea has caffeine in.

I know right!

I was also surprised on learning this fact. I'm sure it's a smaller amount than the very dangerous crack-like coffees out there; but thought this needed pointing out.

autienotnaughty · 03/09/2024 05:41

I never encouraged it I think eldest was around 17/18 and younger one doesn't drink it at all.

Mil use to give them a milky tea from age of about two tho🙄

leafybrew · 03/09/2024 05:44

Also note - I liked my MIL - rest her soul. Mine would also give the dog/s milky sweet tea as well as the kids.

windysocks · 03/09/2024 05:46

We were given sweet coffee after school lunch in the 70's. it came in a big steel jug and we had it in those school 'acroc' glasses, it was lovely

Bluemincat · 03/09/2024 06:32

If you're worried about caffeine just order decaf? I don't see the problem.