Children and coffee

[givemushypeasachance]

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?

Caffeine causes aggression in children and adolescents. It's why you don't give them coffee or energy drinks.

My 2 were drinking decaf instant at home from about 8 or 9. As adults they still drink it but prefer water.

On a scale of water to Sunny Delight I couldn’t get remotely worked up about coffee

I have teens. They never drink coffee at home (instant or from the coffee machine) but they'll sometimes have a costa or Starbucks while out with their friends. So I guess for me the age is "as soon as you're old enough to go there on your own and buy it yourself"!

Yes caffeine and ADHD is complicated and depends on the individual but it can be really helpful for some.

It depends on their reaction, really, which you can't know easily.

I had to give up tea at work for a little while, and I happened to be tracking my sleep. The periods of deep sleep went through the roof after I stopped having more than my morning tea. I'm now very sensitive to caffeine, so only have two teas or one coffee max.

I don't have the best sleeper of my antenatal friends, but I do have the best sleep, and I sort of think the fact that they guzzle coffees all day doesn't help.

Costa does not sell coffee to any under 16-year old, DD was refused service when she tried to order for me while I was still in a different shop.

She blantly changed her birth year when she got herself a costa card.

I have drank coffee since before I can remember, I have 3 older DC and only one drinks it, I've never restricted it, they just don't like it

I had a patient at work, who I used to by a babyccino for, that he never drank much off. I couldn't afford it one day. And he kept looking longingly at my late so gave him a sip. He loved it. He was six. He was from eastern Europe and was used to having coffee. He had profound disabilities so, any fluid and calories were good. He as soo cute!

We used to have tea on guide camp (10-14year olds). In fact it was good for me as it was very slow waiting for the sugar to come round so I gave up having sugar in tea.

I had instant in hot milk from very young (and tea in a bottle) and am quite relaxed about caffeine. Dd1 sometimes joins in with a breakfast 'mocha' which is a scant teaspoon of instant in a hot chocolate when she goes camping with dh. Dd2 is 7 and has enjoyed the taste of coffee for years but only asks for a cup every now and then and again it's very mild and milky. As they get older, probably secondary age and they can go out by themselves it's not something I'm going to worry about, there are far worse vices.

I wouldn't let them drink a couple of cups of tea a day like I did but only because it stains teeth so much!

No it is not bad for you

I was drinking instant coffee at 7.

I drink several cups of coffee a day

Have managed to get into my 60s without any caffine 'side-effects', so let's not all get hysterical about whether or not it is 'bad' for you!

DSD (12) went through a phase last year of having a Starbucks a week with her Go Henry card but think she realised she didn't actually like the taste and was just doing it to try and fit in with the older kids at school so she hasn't bothered since 😂

Can't say - in the grand scheme of things - it's really something that's an issue tbh.

Google: Too much caffeine can cause issues such as increased anxiety, increased heart rate and blood pressure, acid reflux and sleep disturbance. Too much caffeine is dangerous for kids, and in very high doses, can be toxic. Caffeine is a stimulant that increases alertness.

All three of mine drink coffee. My son works in Greggs so he stops off most mornings at the branch near his school to get a nice coffee on the way in. He also has coffee on shift at the weekends. He wouldn't drink coffee in the house unless he was feeling really tired.

My 15yr old loves coffee. Makes herself a nice latte every morning before school. Her social life seems to revolve around various coffee ships.

My 13yr old will have an iced latte when out, but that's about it.

We only have Nespresso at home, no instant. I don't think they'd drink instant.

No problems with them drinking coffee - they don't drink energy drinks at all. It would be slightly hypocritical of me given I have two nice coffees a day!

WebMD: Too much water can lead to hypertension, headaches and death.

Google: Too much citrus fruit can lead to
Tooth enamel erosion
Stomach upset
Heartburn, headache, vomiting, and insomnia
Kidney Damage
Photo Reactivity (who knew?)

Johns Hopkins (and pretty much every other reputable source) Abstaining from coffee can increase your risk of heart disease, diabetes, liver disease, colon cancer, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's.

www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/9-reasons-why-the-right-amount-of-coffee-is-good-for-you

My 6 year old loves a decaf iced latte

Ds has been having a sip of my milky coffee since he was old enough to ask for one. Never really given it much thought. I mean he’s not knocking back espresso’s or anything (he’s 12 now) but if we go out and he fancies an iced latte I have no issue with that. All in moderation etc. At home he usually just drinks milk or water so I think the occasional bit of caffeine is fine. I think parents who say no to everything just make it more exciting and makes dc want it more.

We were given milky coffee at primary school in the late 1970s.

100g of chocolate covered raisins have 120 ml of caffeine.
100g of brewed coffee has 40 ml.

Do you let your children eat chocolate covered raisins?

@sashh

"100g of chocolate covered raisins have 120 ml of caffeine.
100g of brewed coffee has 40 ml."

And Red Bull has 30mg of caffeine per 100ml and I wouldn't support under 16 drinking it.

The figures on chocolate covered raisins can't be right with 100 g of milk chocolate containing only 20mg of caffeine. Dark chocolate is higher at 43mg.

Do your kids drink coke?
My kids can have it when they want but they choose not to but then we’re a caffeine free house as my husband is allergic to it.

I went to boarding school and a Sunday morning breakfast was milky coffee and hot rolls! The school had boarders from the age of 7 and they had coffee too.

15 maybe. None of mine did.

I certainly wouldn't encourage caffeine addiction at any age.

No caffeine is best.

I was having the odd milky coffee at home from about eight. My dad had a posh coffee machine and I used to love using it - if we had guests I used to make them all their fancy coffees 😂

I'm surprised people are saying ages like 15 or even older - surely at that age it's up to them what they drink?!

Whenever they are prepared to buy their own damn coffee.