not to let my DS (13yr old) drink coffee?

[Limara]

Appreciate your thoughts....

Yanbu

My dc don't drink coffee or tea. Why start a caffeine addiction?

How do you know he doesn't when you're not there? Does he drink coke? I can't imagine being that controlling of a teenager's diet (assuming he's NT).

Do you let him drink coke? Can't see the difference tbh, though to be fair, mine are younger.

Might suggest a limited intake if you were concerned. Or a now and then thing, rather than regular.

Personally I don't think there's anything wrong with a 13 year old having coffee.

It doesn't mean she'll develop a caffeine addiction either.

She? He sorry.

I wouldn't care about this.

DD (14) has a cup of coffee in the morning with me. I don't think it's poison.

Pick your battles OP.

I let my nearly 12 year old have a coffee on Sundays, we usually have a pot going. I didn't let him in primary but figured now he's in high school it's time to start relinquishing some control, and am a firm believer in picking my battles!

My ds (10) and dn (11) both love coffee. I make it with just a spot of coffee powder and loads of milk and sugar. Can't see anything wrong with that, my Mum used to do the same.

Cross posted GOML

YANBU - it's not a good idea for children (and in this sense a 13 year old is still a child - very much still growing!) to have a lot of caffeine - here is just one site giving a few more details...

Might by why I'm only 5ft - too much tea/coffee drinking as a child/teenager!!

coffee

Why do you ask ... are you getting 'All my friends are allowed to!!'

DD has a coffee with her breakfats at the weekend. Sometimes in the week, I'll put on a pot of coffee after she's back from school and we'll have coffee and cake.

Breakfast, not breakfats.

Get him some decaff - everyone's happy.

< AncientStarlight I love your name! Not seen it before >

So the general consensus is that it's ok. Will re-think as I want to be fair

marialuisa, how does me asking this constitute 'being that controlling of a teenagers diet'?

It's hard to say exactly as it varies so much - but one cup of coffee has about the same amount of caffeine as about 3-4 cans of coke....

However, it's one of those things isn't it. If you just say 'no' and they shrug and move on I'd do it - but if you have loads of issues, then this is one battle I probably wouldn't put much energy into!!

I don't really get the whole "no caffeine" thing.
I let my DC's 6 and 2 have tea if they want it and I reckon by the time they're top juniors or at secondary school I'll let them have coffee if they want it.

At the moment they mostly drink water (and only get coke on our monthly Costco trip) so I suspect the occasional coffee will be all they'll want.

We'd look like massive hypocrits anyway if we didn't allow them coffee if they asked, both DP and I love a good cup of coffee (or tea)!

I'll save my "no you can't" speech for the big bad drugs.

I've never thought about it tbh. I've alway offered the kids a brew but they have always declined until fairly recently. DS (14) has started to have coffee on an occasional basis and usually in a social setting rather than at home. eg if we are at my nan's or in our friends home.

He prefers his secret stash of Monster Energy that he doesn't know that I know about!!

I expect he'll buy Red Bull and other caffeine drinks when he's out with his mates though. I think you're going to fight a losing battle here.

Save it for when it's vodka he's drinking.

The coke thing has never been an issue in our house, none of us drink it.

If you're worried about caffeine why not use decaff or have it very weak?

Does he drink coke? In which case he's already ingesting plenty of caffeine.

But in the whole I think you need to pick your battles. There are going to be plenty more substances he may want to try - if you've already fought ver coffee and banned it, how are you going to cope with thr other things? And is he even going tomention bthem to you, or respect your wishes if he's had to fight to drink coffee?

I started drinking coffee at the age of 9-10.

Not had any effect on me. No way. Not a jot.

ChippingIN your link says that caffeine DOES NOT limit growth.

Morloth- good point! So obvious I'm a little embarrassed