to think that giving an under 3 anything other than milk or water to drink is terrible parenting?

[Dukketeater]

I even saw an 18 month old drinking coke from a can...

[BarbarianMum]

Suspect I'm not the right person to post on this thread. Cows milk was commonly known as baby poison in our house (after ds1 was found to be allergic to it). It never occurred to me to give it to ds2 and still find it slightly bizarre and alarming that people give it to small children.

[Jollyb]

Now once on a train I saw a toddler not only drinking coke (from a can) but also eating a packet of pork scratchings. I think OP would have self combusted.

[Misspixietrix]

I'd judge the powerade too to be fair to the PP who mentioned it.

[CoteDAzur]

I used to give DS some of my freshly squeezed orange juice when he was a baby (starting around 9-10 months, iirc). At 4, he still drinks orange juice when I squeeze some. Similarly, he tasted everything we now eat as a baby and enjoys eating most foods now.

I believed the baby nutrition extremists (like OP) and didn't give DD any as a baby. Later on when I tried, she found the taste very acid and hasn't touched it since. Similarly, I waited to introduce "adult food" to her according to the various ingredients' strict guidelines of the time. She has not developed an appreciation for those tastes, and doesn't like eating "adult food" now.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it, OP. Then tell us which DC I was a "terrible parent" with

[Melonbreath]

I also gave dd a Greggs sausage roll for lunch yesterday. And a scotch egg last week.

[monicalewinski]

I'm actually going to be completely serious now,in the vain hope that op has just made a knee-jerk comment.

I gave my boys juice from a few months old - it was very diluted and weak, just a flavour to the water really (as I suspect most people who's children drink juice do). Also, it is fresh fruit juice (not diluting squash) which is worse for teeth (can't remember why exactly - think it is v high in acidic stuff and sugars but not entirely sure) but I was also advised to give my kids this as small babies when they were constipated.

As for coke at a young age, it was recommended to me by Dr and nurses to give flat coke to my kids following d&v bugs because it is full of sugars and other stuff which gives them stuff their body needs at that time (not gallons of it obviously).

And 'cows milk' is just 'milk' in our house, I don't feel the need to label the animal it came from (and certainly don't find it bizarre or alarming that children under 3 drink it .

[monicalewinski]

Also meant to say, it doesn't matter if they are drinking fruit juice/diluting juice/coke or eating greggs or McDonald's, so long as it's not all day, every day.

[YoureAShoe]

I thought the title said under 1 and I came on here all like YES I agree! And then I re-read. YABU but I hope you already know that now!

[pinklady1107]

my two, although now a touch older have never drunk squash or juices, through their own choice I add. but drank water and milk endlessly so on Saturday nights they always have a very small glass of fizzy - does that make me an awful parent to teach them treats are treats and have their place and to use self control?

[Nocomet]

Having had evil food poisoning on holiday I can vouch for Coke(not flat, because I hate flat Coke it's too sweet) and crisps as a recovery diet.

It's not that far off rehydration salts, tastes far nicer and is readily available in any resort that sells dodgy pawn soup.

[Misspixietrix]

Oh nocomet this is why I refuse to order to shellfish etc when out. Sounds horrid :( Funnily enough my dear GM recommends proper coke afterwards too. Something about needing the co2 in your gut to rebalance? .

[Lillavilla]

What an odd thing to say .

Both dc have been drinking cold camomile, peppermint and reddish tea from about 12 months. Can you why that is 'terrible parenting'?

However, I agree that giving young children carbonated or sugary drinks is very bad for their teeth and is not recommended.

[Lillavilla]

*redbush not reddish

[aquashiv]

Dead right why dilute the whisky.

[sherbetpips]

Kind of agree, not the over the top statement but the reality of giving a child something that is bad for them that they don't know exists. I always figured the longer I could keep DS away from sugar the better. Rotted his teeth with fruit instead. If only my parents hadn't fed me Chardonnay so early on....

[sherbetpips]

Nocomet yes warm Coca Cola is a good replacement for rehydration salts - doctor told us that on holiday too after gastroenteritis. Not cold though.

[Misspixietrix]

sherbetpips my DD had that recently. Was awful looking after her she was so poorly. :( will have to remember the warm coke trick for any future (god forbid) tummy upsets.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

I'll join the bad parents here!!

Mine mainly have water but have orange juice once a day with breakfast. Occasional squash. They drink whatever's going at kids parties like everyone else does and when ill they drink fruit tea and honey.

No cows milk here they drink alternatives instead

Sue me

[Misspixietrix]

Im on it Giles . .

[penniespigsandpewter]

I agree op. When ds turns 3 we'll (gradually) introduce coke.