AIBU Diet Coke at a party?

[early30smum]

DD (7) has just got back from a party. The only drinks put out for the kids were Diet Coke! She did get some water in the end, but the drink provided for each child was a mini can of Diet Coke!

AIBU to think this is a bit weird/uneccesary for a birthday party of 7-8 yr olds?

[extrabiotin]

I avoid kids threads for a reason. Guess? But sometimes they are so hilariously smug I cannot help myself.

But honestly a little diet coke. Get over yourself.

[Highalert]

Those parties sound like a bundle of laughs.

[Foxesarefriends]

Because flowery to call someone's parenting poor because of a fizzy drink is just mind blowing.

[Mummyoflittledragon]

It's best to offer a variety of drinks though as not all children like fizzy drinks. I'm sure the parent didnt think about this. As for giving Diet Coke as a one off, fine. I'd much rather Dd had the full fat version. She doesn't get that much either though.

[hoddtastic]

i wouldn't be impressed. diet coke is a shit choice (if the only choice avaialable) for kids at that age.

Mine don't have diet anything, on the seldom occasion they have something that isn't water or milk or fruit juice it's full sugar.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

Uptight and smug vs shit and irresponsible? Is that really the level of debate. Wouldn't it be nice to talk about parenting without all this fucking judgement?

Offer water, Diet Coke won't kill them? Fair?

[SaorAlbaGuBrath]

I don't think it's weird that Diet Coke was on offer at a birthday party, we often get a couple of bottles of generic fizzy stuff for our kids parties (caffeine doesn't agree with my kids, so it's not coke). I do think it's weird that that's all that was on offer though, purely because kids get sweaty and thirsty at parties and I wouldn't want to shovel them full of fizzy drinks. So water and squash alongside would make sense.

[flowery]

Um, ok then. Still can't see what's going to happen in a few years to change my mind and make me "cringe". We'll see!

[MagicMarkers]

Diet Coke has caffeine in it. I would be annoyed about this at a 7 year old's party. Children shouldn't be drinking a drink, which adults get addicted to.

Like MrsTerryPratchett, it wouldn't happen where I live.

[Highalert]

MN children only drink pure spring water from the mountains of smug.

[WaitroseCoffeeCostaCup]

I'm not super strict about food, but my 9 year old has never had coke. Why would she? I think it's weird to give children fizzy drinks.

[Foxesarefriends]

MN children only drink pure spring water from the mountains of smug



And filtered unicorn tears.

[NeedsAsockamnesty]

This is not worthy of an exclamation mark nor is it worthy of two

[NerrSnerr]

Do people truly believe that someone is a poor parent because they let their child have about 175mls of a certain soft drink? Do your children only eat and drink healthy food 100% of the time? Ignores my 2 year old who is eating cocktail sausages while she watches Wallygazam

[electrasy]

MN children only drink pure spring water from the mountains of smug.

This! While I wouldn't choose this myself, I couldn't get myself worked up about my 7 year old having 150ml of Diet Coke.

[scottishdiem]

"And incredibly poor parenting to offer something like that to a child."

I know - I had them in sandwiches as a child. I dont know if I can ever forgive my parents.....

[ptangyangkipperbanguuh]

I didn't realise 7yos came home from parties and either they or their parents judged the food and drink on offer. Blimey. Do those people bin the party beg sweets too? People have taken your children off your hands for a couple of hours, entertained them, and probably spent lots of money on them. Chill out a little maybe?

[Foxesarefriends]

I am tempted to advance search and check up on all you prefect parents brigade.
Let's hope that none of you formula fed eh?

[extrabiotin]

Kids no Coke, but lots of screens, netflix and whatever, and no interraction with anyone but THE SCREEN.

Oh the joy of knowing that your kids are not drinking Diet Coke. LOL.

[WaitroseCoffeeCostaCup]

Nope I didn't foxes.

[flowery]

My children don't eat healthily 100% of the time, no, and I said I thought it was poor parenting to offer ONLY Diet Coke to 7 year olds.

[Trainspotting1984]

There is very little caffeine in coke, diet or otherwise. However in my (and many parents) view it's an adult drink. I would rather fruit shoots myself.

[neweymcnewname]

Scottish see that must be why I've never much liked bananas - full of chemicals .
I think calling people bad parents for not getting angry about a child being given a fizzy drink, is a tad over the top! It was a 2 hour party, it was kind of the parents to invite the child and provide food, drink and fun - it's very ungrateful to pick and criticise.

Maybe diet coke is their child favourite thing and they said all their friends love it, or maybe the parents were busy keeping all those little kids safe, and forgot to offer water...

OP if your DC had fun, I'd put it behind you, and if it really bothered her a lot, maybe think about helping her to be a bit more adaptable so that she can let little things that aren't perfect go.

[FrustratedFrugal]

My parents were boringly health conscious back in the 1970s and my only chance to enjoy soda was to have some at someone else's party.

I did not develop a Coke habit in my later life

[early30smum]

Wow, I really didn't expect this to escalate like this. clearly I don't read mumsnet enough

I don't think giving your child Coke (Diet or otherwise) makes you a bad parent. Nor do I think only allowing your child water or milk makes you a good parent. I was just asking if others thought it was a bit weird to only offer Diet Coke at a party for 7-8 yr olds. I think the whole judging parents thing is awful. I am by no means a perfect parent.

This was never meant to be a debate about 'good' vs 'bad' parenting.