WIBU to say no to Pepsi for 6yos?

[FatalCabbage]

6th birthday party, high street restaurant. Guests ordering drinks.

My child quietly, while he thinks I'm not listening, orders "coke please". I am listening, and say absolutely not, but nice try. He settles for Fanta.

Another child also politely tries to order coke. I veto that too; he has Fanta too.

It's not the sugar or the fizz (although I know neither of those is good, it is after all a party) but the caffeine. My 6yo hasn't had coke before, as far as I'm aware, and since caffeine sends me absolutely doolally I'm not keen for him to try it either.

Was I unfair? I have previously served coke at 11th birthday parties, ie to 10- and 11yos, but six is sooooo much younger physically.

And if I was unfair, was that to both children or only one, in which case which? I know I was a bit precious but did it matter?

And no, not McDonald's. Knife and fork

I give my 2 year old fizzy drinks - including coke and pepsi. Not every day but I certainly don't refuse him it, especially at a party. It doesn't send him hyper. He's active, chatty, healthy, growing and hitting his 'milestones, has a regular routine and is kind, sensitive and caring little boy. I'm not saying he is special, extraordinary or anything like that, quite the opposite. Just 'normal'.
YANBU for refusing the drinks. It's personal choice - likewise with any food and drink.
BUT if I listened to every scientific research about the dangers and health risks of every food and drink, I'd be dead from starvation because I wouldn't eat!

AuntieM - I've just done a search for info regarding blood oxygen and can't find anything from a reputable source. Can you remember who published it?

I think you got the balance right.

One thing I will definitely take from this thread is that I should have made the options clearer. I said "fizzy pop" meaning Fanta or 7UP "or squash or water or milk", and they all gave me a firm look at the idea of water or milk.

Next time I will remember to be clearer.

Next time, she says. Not bloody likely.

My dad worked for Pepsi and I don't have a filling or a weight problem, I let my kids have the odd coke from a young age, and lemonade with dinner most days, I am more anti artificial sweeteners than anti sugar....

No YANBU, luckily for me my DC hate the idea of fizzy drinks but I rarely let them have anything other than water with a meal out as they would be full up on juice or milk and wouldn't eat much of the food.

I don't think DD had fizzy drinks at parties when she was 6, but parties she went to were either at soft play, church halls or people's houses.

I certainly never gave her fizzy drinks when she was two, but can't remember when she started having the odd fizzy drink.

DD is now 13 and buys the odd fizzy drink when she is out. She is skinny and has no fillings and I hope it stays that way. We don't generally keep fizzy drinks in the house, except for tonic water for my gin and occasionally lemonade for Pimms. I never keep Coke in the house.

Fizzy drinks are much worse than dilute fruit juice for teeth because the CO2 is acidic and causes dental erosion (wearing away the enamel).

Luckily DD will happily drink water, even though given a choice she prefers Coke.

I wouldn't allow coke, but I wouldn't allow Fanta either.

YANBU. My DS didn't have fizzy drinks until he brought his own when he was in high school- DD1 (12) has never had them and I certainly won't buy them for her. If she buys them with her own pocket money eventually so be it but she won't get them off me.

In restaurants they have a fruit juice between them and I water it down.

Children don't need caffeinated drinks- party or not. That's like saying its cruel not to let them drink alcohol "because it's a party"- peer pressure is the same.

Sorry I meant to add about DD2 (who is 8)- I meant she and DD1 share, DS is an adult so makes his own decisions.

Sorry loxely no I just looked too it 'might' be related to the bohr effect but the science is beyond me...

AuntieM as there appears to be no well documented evidence (which I am sure there would be if it was a major issue) I won't worry about oxygen levels then.

I wouldn't have given fanta or coke to a 6 year old but that's just me.

Squash is a treat these days?

How grim.

Orangegina is much healthier than fanta.

My kids (4&6) aren't allowed coke. ..I said they can when they are 10 (guess youngest will be 8.5!). 7up/lemonade is allowed. Its the caffeine here too as I am sensitive to caffeine/additives/preservatives and could be followed. ..

I actually think most of you are completely bonkers!

sweets once a week and limit smoothies by letting the precious little things drink through a straw. squash is a treat on advice from the dentist, allowed if friends are coming over

Your poor children! Everything in moderation is ok, your children will not die if they have a small fizzy drink and a few sweets every now and then!

My children have never needed treatment at the dentist and shock horror I occasionally allow them crap.

All that's gonna happen is, your precious children will rebel and drink copious amounts of coke when they go round to their friends!

Get a grip ffs!

My grandsons are allowed high juice sqash diluted with sparkling water as a treat at home and apple tango, fanta or lemonade in a cafe. The 7 year old has had coke at a friend's house and the 5 tear old tasted his cousin's Pepsi and declared it 'yukky!'

Mine are 9,7,5,3 and 2 we have all manner or squashes some fizzy drinks as well as water and milk. I wouldnt let them drink a fizzy drink all day every day but I don't think they would chose that. Sometimes they ask for water, sometimes milk, sometimes squash or water and sometime the ask for fizzy drinks.

None of them have a weight problem, they have regular dental checks and so far no fillings or problems so I think they are doing ok.

I would have let them have coke at the restaurant BUT if you don't want them to OP then it really is up to you there is no unreasonable or reasonable about it!

I'm not certain that people appreciate quite how much sugar is in a can of coke. 35grams, that's 7tsp. It rots your kids teeth and allowing that is cruel IMO. Yes, good brushing will mitigate the effects but only if it's really good, most adults can't brush well enough to prevent the effects of their poor diets so children have even less chance. One glass with a meal isn't a show stopper but every day and with sweets?

I'm sorry, but did you try and tell someone else's kid what they could and couldn't have? If that had been me you'd have been wearing the drink, who do you think you are?

And fanta, sprite, ginger beer, San pellegrino all have the same amount of sugar in.

She was hosting the party, Mama (I think), so shouldn't really have given free choice at all if so many things were off limits...

this stuff 34g of sugar