Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

About giving a baby/toddler tea?

130 replies

WannabeNigella · 30/03/2011 17:00

I have heard a few people mention it over the last few months at baby groups etc and I'm a bit miffed?

Why would you give a baby/toddler tea? I'm talking anything between 10 months to under 2yrs in particular. Even if it is decaf, why?

I just can't think of a reason, apart from a selfish one, such as maybe you want them to have some with you cause you're having one. Even in cold weather, what is wrong with warm milk or some sugar free Horlicks etc if you really must.

I just don't get it, or AIBU and you're about to flame me and my 4yr old and 18month old are "missing out"

OP posts:
Happylander · 30/03/2011 20:02

My DS has a little bit of tea every now and then. I don't see the harm in it myself. It is a drink that has been around for centuries and I think a whole lot better than giving horlicks.....can't understand why the hell you would give a baby/toddler horlicks myself.

GotArt · 30/03/2011 20:15

Maybe not a baby, but DD and I have green tea or peppermint tea together occasionally. She really likes it. Started giving her green tea at a year old.

Asteria · 30/03/2011 20:19

I would far rather my DS had a nice brew, with real sugar in it, than some sugar free crap that is full of chemicals.

Chulita · 30/03/2011 20:20

DD (2) finishes off my dregs just cos she likes using my cup, I don't see anything wrong with it - it's decaff and has far less ming in it than squash. I don't specifically make her any but I've got no worries with her having some of mine. Horlicks is not for babies I'd have thought.

Vallhala · 30/03/2011 20:23

Can I just explain something please.

Peppermint drink is not tea. Nor is cammomile drink. |Or decaffienated liquid masquerading as tea. Or green stuff.

Please do not insult genuine tea-drinkers by claiming otherwise.

Thank you.

As you were.

:o

ShinyMoonInAPurpleSky · 30/03/2011 20:27

I was exclusively given tea in my bottles instead of milk from a couple of months old because I couldn't keep milk down and was hospitalised twice for dehydration. My mum was at her wits end until my nan started spoon feeding me some very milky tea. They never told the health visitor though :o

I still can't drink milk on it's own now because it tastes vile imo but I love a cuppa! I still don't like it strong and strangely (well dh thinks so) I find it can help me get to sleep instead of keeping me awake...I think I must have developed a resistance to the caffiene.

I haven't offered ds any yet though and he's 8 months, despite my mum telling me how much he'll love it!

ShinyMoonInAPurpleSky · 30/03/2011 20:29

Gemsy83 I didn't know that...when I was a child we were always given a cup of tea with dinner! Could there be a link with that and why whenever I'm ill I crave sprouts....Confused

Chulita · 30/03/2011 20:33

I love the word masquerading

kitkat1000 · 30/03/2011 20:34

i don't think there is anything wrong with it as such i just don't like encouraging adult drinks - my dd ages 4 and 6 haven't tried fizzy drinks ever or hot drinks yet and i'm not going to offer them. They have always drank water and whilst i will buy them juice outside, i wont buy it for the house. As a result, they will always ask for water all the time. As they get older i'm sure that'll change but i'm keen to stick to basics for as long as possible - plus i kind of hope the water counteracts the chocolate they love - juice is the worst thing for teeth! Tea and coffee nowhere near as bad - i just don't like the idea of hot/warm drinks for kids.

Gemsy83 · 30/03/2011 20:35

There was a study a few years back about elderly residents who had tea with meals being anaemic.

Halogen · 30/03/2011 21:17

I gave my daughter both tea and coffee as a toddler because she wouldn't drink milk on its own. Not warm, not cold, not with chocolate powder, not with honey. And she wasn't keen on cheese or yoghurt either. Tea was at least getting some calcium into her and I made it very very milky.

ShinyMoonInAPurpleSky · 30/03/2011 21:18

Halogen are you my mum? [runs and hides and switches of all phones in case you are and have read my other threads about you!!! :o]

raffle · 30/03/2011 21:57

I started to give PJ tea when he was poorly one time. He refused all food and threw up all his milk. A weak tea seemed to be all he could keep down. He loves it now and has a cuppa at least once a day. He's 2 and a half.

I'm not remotely concerned about this.

SingingSands · 30/03/2011 22:02

My DS has been drinking tea since he was about 18 months. In a tiny little mug that is probably supposed to be an expresso cup...

It's not bad for him. It's not an "adult" drink. He likes it.

Anyway, go back a couple of generations and we were all raised on tea. What's changed?

Bubbaluv · 30/03/2011 22:05

I give DS a cup of "Tea" to stop him whining while I have a cup. His tea consists of warm milk with my used tea bag dunked for a second or two just to change the colour.
DS2 will happily slurp up the dregs of my cappuccino no matter how bitter.
So long as it's only every now and again I don't see a problem.

PurpleCrazyHorse · 30/03/2011 22:07

DD drank my lukewarm tea dregs at 18mo, she just picked up the mug, sat down (as she's well trained to do with drinks Grin) and had a swig!

Tee hee Sands, DD also likes a dribble of tea in one of DH's espresso mugs. She thinks it's just the right size for her.

I neither encourage nor discourage. She currently only drinks water, cows milk and orange juice (but only from a carton with a straw!), so don't think the odd bit of tea is a problem.

BombayBadonkadonks · 30/03/2011 22:09

Both of mine (2 & 4) love a nice cup of tea...very milky tea!

Youngest doesn't like milk and it is a good way of getting him to drink it.

Bubbaluv · 30/03/2011 22:12

Is anyone here who is giving their DC tea NOT English?

mitochondria · 30/03/2011 22:20

I was given tea from a young age. I have done the same with my boys. Very weak, milky tea, and from a cup, not a bottle. They don't get their own bag, just mine dunked. And always Yorkshire Tea, of course.

My grandparents don't seem to drink anything else - I've never seen them drink water. Just gallons and gallons of tea.

It is a generational thing, I think.

Interesting to see others who don't see it as a big deal on this thread. Last one was all very much "you give a toddler TEA - shock horror!"

exoticfruits · 30/03/2011 22:32

It really isn't a big deal-I'm sure that it is much better than a fizzy drink at that age. I can't see a toddler drinking gallons of the stuff!

harecare · 30/03/2011 22:41

I had tea from a very young age and still drink it incredibly weak and milky. My DDs have tea with breakfast. Really it's just hot water and milk with a slight tea flavour. I know that tea is bad because of iron, but DD1 (nearly 4) has a slight tea flavour so it's still creamy colour. DD2 (18 months) doesn't have any actual tea in her tea, it's just hot water and milk.

doley · 30/03/2011 22:43

I drank tea as a child (weak ) and so do my children ~even the 2 year old !

I am very healthy ,so are my kids .

There are antioxidants in tea ...I actually like to think it does them some good :)

charmum3 · 30/03/2011 22:44

gosh no tea it prevents them from absorbing iron, and its horrid hot chocolate warm milk not tea or coffee

monkeyjamtart · 30/03/2011 22:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mitochondria · 30/03/2011 22:57

I don't think the iron thing is an issue, mine eat meaty-iron as well as veggy-iron, someone upthread has already pointed out that tannins don't prevent absorption of this.
They're not drinking the stuff like I do (very very strong).

Swipe left for the next trending thread