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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:
Iggly · 31/03/2011 07:50

I thought tea was a bad idea for young ones because of the caffiene? That's why I don't give DS any (17 months)? I've got enough night wakings without him not wanting to go to sleep to deal with as well!

GwendolineMaryLacey · 31/03/2011 07:51

slashes = always. Bloody phone.

RitaMorgan · 31/03/2011 07:51

I've seen people collecting their kids from nursery with tea in a bottle - it's like mumsnet judgey bingo Grin

scottishmummy · 31/03/2011 07:59

skinit i think pricey over described "baby tea" is silly yes for lentil munchers and profligate spenders

and yes if the baby blanket is over priced, over described made by blind artisans in a commune for vague do-goodery then aye i dont liker that eithr

and similarly the god awful over priced badly knitted no harsh dyes,no nasty noises toys so oft loved by knitted brow mummies

Skinit · 31/03/2011 08:02

Lol SCottishMummy! Bring on the mass produced shite instead! Fruit Shoots and nylon all round!

scottishmummy · 31/03/2011 08:04

v-tech lights and noises 1st choice before any fair trade chuff.no brainer really

SeaShellsHasSandInHerShoes · 31/03/2011 08:06

Ds loved hot chocolate after playing in the snow this winter, but never gets it at other times.

Tbh I'm wary enough giving him extra caffeine or sugar as he is your classic hyper/on the go toddler and the thought of knowingly giving him caffeine Confused Grin

scottishmummy · 31/03/2011 08:14

LOL,that is ugly.can see that getting lost on purpose by me

grinningbee · 31/03/2011 08:16

My dd is 2 on Monday - where did that go???

She sees both myself and dh drink tea and coffee, so wants to do the same. And yes, she does have the odd slurp out of the cup too. Sometimes if she has a biscuit she'll run up to me and say "dunk dunk"

Isn't it natural for her to want to copy us?

If that makes me a bad mummy, I'll just add it to the list...

BrewBiscuitGrin

hester · 31/03/2011 08:34

dd1(5) has never tasted tea. dd2 (18mo) likes taking sips from my cup. As I drink it very weak and milky, and I am an infrequent tea drinker, I don't see any harm. It mainly happens at our weekly visit to playgroup.

We live in a very affluent area, though, and giving babies tea is definitely NOT the norm here. I have noticed raised eyebrows from other mothers. But I think that's just a class values thing and I'm already very comfortable with being the commonest mum in the room Grin

Sweetpea215 · 31/03/2011 10:12

organic baby latte LOL!

notso · 31/03/2011 10:35

Funnily enough I saw this in the supermarket and considered buying it for DC as an alternative to regular tea.

I don't mind mine drinking tea because I don't want them to end up like me drinking nothing but proper Coke from about 11-19, and if they are used to unsweetened tea then hopefully they won't take sugar as an adult like I do.

kreecherlivesupstairs · 31/03/2011 10:55

DD loves the idea of a cup of tea like her dad, but hates the taste of it. I don't drink tea and she won't even try coffee.
She is nearly 10 and only drinks juice or water. Pop is a special occassion drink.

RalphGnu · 31/03/2011 11:02

I went to pick my friend and her 15 month old the other day to go to playgroup. Her child was chugging down a bottle of coffee, 2 sugars and everything. My friend explained her son often has a bottle of coffee in the morning when they have to go out to stop him needing a nap because he gets grumpy and tired otherwise. She suggested I try the same with my 16 month old.
It's ok though, because she uses toddler milk in it so, you know, he's getting lots of iron and that. Hmm

whoneedssleepanyway · 31/03/2011 11:14

My DD2 has a cup of tea, (she is 21 months)...she started off wanting to drink my tea and I would let her have a few sips and she started trying to drink it (she seems to love it), so now I let her have her own, BUT we are talking waving a tea bag in some water for a couple of seconds and then mainly milk...where is the harm she probably has one a couple of times a week if that....

I seriously don't know why people get their knickers in such a twist about other people's harmless habits...I am sure we all have things we do that other people would raise their eyebrows at but in the grand scheme of things it really is nothing to get worried about....

mrsSOAK · 31/03/2011 11:20

I give my DD (19months) rooibos tea, usually when the weather is a little chilly.
I dont add milk to it and its caffine free.
We all drink it in our house. If she doesn't have that she will only have water or milk.
Each to their own I say.

diddl · 31/03/2011 11:38

"i don't think there is anything wrong with it as such i just don't like encouraging adult drinks "

Yes, I see it like that.
I never drank tea as a child & it never occurred to me to offer it to the children.

15yr old now occasionally asks for a cup when I make a pot.

Up until now it has been milk, water & juice.

13yr old still not interested in a hot drimk!

corydoras · 31/03/2011 12:55

Nothing wrong with a toddler drinking tea or coffee. I've been drinking the stuff since I was two years old and I'm fine. Both of my offspring have been drinking tea or coffee since they were toddlers and they are 15 and 20 now and they are both fine.

corydoras · 31/03/2011 13:06

£25 for that! They're having a larf.

JoyceBarnaby · 31/03/2011 13:39

I'd def rather my DS had a cup of tea than a sugar-free Horlicks - all kinds of nasties in that!!

I don't think tea is 'necessary' by the way - but it's not the drink of the devil, either!!

Halogen · 31/03/2011 14:45

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!!!]

No I am not! Not unless my four year old is on here, anyway! And she'd only type her name over and over again so probably not.

springbokdoc · 31/03/2011 16:27

Love this. I am sat here with my vry little one drinking cold rooibos tea. It's sugerfree, caffeine free and has antioxidants in it. beats me constantly giving him formula when he's thirsty (cf hungry). More to the point he loves it.

crazycanuck · 31/03/2011 16:47

I find it strange but it's purely because my mom wouldn't let me drink tea as a child, she called it an adult drink, and I guess I just carried that with me! Though if I think about it, as long as it's not consumed with meals (the iron thing) I can't see why it should be a bad thing. Though a friend of mine often recounts how she used to give her dd bottles of black coffee when she was a baby. That still makes me Hmm

princessparty · 31/03/2011 17:11

It's full of antioxidants