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AIBU?

To give cup of tea to 4yo?

151 replies

maisybobbins · 17/05/2017 23:19

DS asked to try my tea couple of weeks ago so I let him, not for one second thinking he'd like it. Wrong!! So now he sometimes asks for his own cup and I make him one, really weak, lots of milk, honey in. DH caught him this morning having mug of tea with his breakfast and went absolutely spare at me saying DS is far to young at 4, that it's such an unhealthy drink etc. So really? Is it?

OP posts:

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maisybobbins · 20/05/2017 23:11

Soste DS has never had a coke. DD had one age six and she was sick. Mummy is the only one knocking back the fizz in our house.

But great news.... They both loved the redbush tea!! No honey needed either. Thanks to all pps who suggested.

OP posts:

GoodEyebrowDay · 20/05/2017 07:49

anon still on page 1 but, honey is a free sugar and apples' sugar is still combined with the fibre. They are COMPLETELY different things

Sostenueto · 20/05/2017 07:46

My gdd has had tea since she was a year old. She is in the top 10% of the country academically and she loves nothing better than a lovely cup of brew as she calls it. She did not have coca cola till she was 10 years old. I see toddlers drinking the stuff all the time. Do you know that the livers of children cannot process coca cola till they are 7 years old? Did you know there us arsenic in it? So a cup of very milky weak tea does no harm to your children but all that pop you give them will.

SuperBeagle · 19/05/2017 23:22

I think the worst part about tea is what it does to your teeth. It stains like no other. It's far worse than coffee.

gleam · 19/05/2017 23:15

It's not just sugar. My tea habit has contributed to my anaemia too.

Jenniferturkington · 19/05/2017 22:47

My 4 yr old loves a cup of tea. TBH my biggest concern in usually the safety of her holding a fairly hot mug as she doesn't like it Luke warm!

I'm happy that the health risks of a milky sugar free brew are minimal.

wakkapaca · 19/05/2017 22:34

Omg I give my 1 year old a rare cup of tea but it's literally half milk half water and the tea bag spends about 30 seconds in there. She loves it and it's never hurt her.

Increasinglymiddleaged · 19/05/2017 20:08

There isn't a sight that makes me cringe more than that of a toddler running round (usually in just a vest) with tea in a baby bottle
Really hate it

I can't say I have ever seen that in my life

maisybobbins · 19/05/2017 19:22

I have today bought some red bush. Not drunk it myself since pregnancy but I was hooked then. Looking forward to offering them tea tomorrow!

OP posts:

IndigoWendigo · 19/05/2017 18:22

Red bush tea is naturally decaff and sweeter than plain tea. Perhaps try that?

BackforGood · 19/05/2017 15:55

There must be millions of us of quite advanced years, who have had tea since toddler hood, before decaf was ever heard of

Indeed, and we also travelled everywhere in cars without seatbelts even, let alone car seats. We also grew up with people smoking all around us, and we also got lots of sunburn as skin care wasn't really thought about.
The list could go on and on, but it doesn't mean that once we know better it makes sense not to heed that advice.

nigelsbigface · 19/05/2017 13:35

Tea and coffee reduce iron absorption.They don't totally prevent it.you would have to drink tonnes of it for that.If that were the case most of the British isles, as a nation of tea drinkers would be riddled with anaemia surely?
The odd cup of tea is fine. I had it all the time, yes, even with sugar, as a child and I'm fine, I don't even have any fillings.
A bit of honey is also fine for an active child.Just make sure teeth are cleaned and all will be well.

DavetheCat2001 · 19/05/2017 13:11

My great Auntie used to give us sugar cubes to munch on as a treat

I remember drinking tea with sugar in from a sippy cup so must have been fairly young.

We let our two have a small mug of milky, weak tea on a Saturday morning as a treat (6 and 3)..no sugar though.

Btw I have great teeth and no fillings!

mirime · 19/05/2017 12:42

PaganMolloy my grandad used to give me mashed banana with sugar and evaporated milk. Loved it.

DS used to drink 'tea' when he was a bit younger, but my tea is ridiculously weak anyway (I just dip the bag in), so I'd pour a small amount of mine in his cup then top it up with water and milk. I'm sure the amount of caffeine in it was minuscule. I think he just wanted what I was having.

NoCapes · 19/05/2017 12:37

There isn't a sight that makes me cringe more than that of a toddler running round (usually in just a vest) with tea in a baby bottle
Really hate it

CesareBorgiasUnicornMask · 19/05/2017 12:33

My DS(2) has just demanded I make him a 'cuppy tea' after his lunch. He's loved it since he first nicked some of mine at about 13 months and now we have a box of decaf in the cupboard for him and he has a very milky cup every few days. He loves sitting in bed with DH and I all drinking our morning cuppas .

Increasinglymiddleaged · 19/05/2017 12:25

sugar in tea is revolting, I really don't get it

paganmolloy · 19/05/2017 12:15

Meant to add, both my kids (12&13) love a cup of tea but they don't have sugar in it. Have no idea why my Mum put sugar on everything and am amazed my teeth are in such good nick. She even used to sprinkle sugar over a mashed banana for me . A post war generational thing I guess.

Increasinglymiddleaged · 19/05/2017 10:36

I was started on tea early. I now drink around 10 cups a day and I've wrecked my teeth from the sugar.

But the problem is sugar not tea

gleam · 19/05/2017 10:34

I was started on tea early. I now drink around 10 cups a day and I've wrecked my teeth from the sugar.

I decided I didn't want this for my kids and never pushed it on them. They (all adults now) can take it or leave it. Same with coffee.

Rioja123 · 19/05/2017 10:14

Offer it without the honey, I'm sure it won't be as appealing then.

estheryakuma2000 · 19/05/2017 10:12

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Hoppinggreen · 19/05/2017 09:12

If you are sticking a load of honey in then I would argue that he doesn't actually like tea at all.
If he will still drink it unsweetened ( decaf) then fine

sleepingdragons · 19/05/2017 09:05

If it's just the ritual of drinking tea and being like mummy that he likes then branch out and get herbal teas, which could be good for him.

(Googl to see if they're suitable for kids. No Valerian!!)

Get him to help choose some in the shop.

paganmolloy · 19/05/2017 08:57

If it's any consolation my Mum gave me tea and coffee heaped with sugar from as early an age as I can remember. I'm fine. I've weaned myself off the sugar in both (though that took until I reached my 30s) but I enjoy a good strong coffee first thing then about 3/4 cups of tea the rest of the day, perhaps herbal tea in the evening. I have only two fillings and am perfectly healthy.
My brother who drinks tea (no sugar) like there is no tomorrow is also perfectly fine.

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