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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not let DD(8) drink full sugar coke?

87 replies

Peaspleaselouise · 12/06/2018 20:55

Quite happy to accept if I am.

But I don’t see why there is a need to give these products to a child when they’re so bad for their teeth and general health.

If she was given one at a party and wanted it, I of course wouldn’t stop her, but to be honest I don’t think she’d like it much anyway as she mainly drinks water (over squash etc, by her own choice, as she finds it too sweet and doesn’t quench her thirst).

I am worried about the a) the fact I might be seen as too strict in this regard and b) I don’t want the situation where she craves and binges on stuff when she’s older a small a result of me being too strict with it now.

OP posts:
Thesearepearls · 12/06/2018 21:30

Both kids were banned coke and all fizzy drinks since birth. Also they were banned those J20 things

They are now 18 and 20 and only ever drink water with their meals and during the day (YAY)

Mind you, I'm not answerable for their drinking habits on their nights out :)

Ihuntmonsters · 13/06/2018 05:00

Why is that a cause for celebration? We didn't ban anything. At 19 ds drinks whatever he wants. Generally not pop because he is a student and thinks pop is too expensive, mostly lots of coffee and beer when he has the cash. dd at 17 drinks mostly tea and water, although she likes a glass of wine and is also partial to rye and ginger. I just don't understand why enjoying a can of pop every now and then is such a big deal.

BalloonFlowers · 13/06/2018 06:10

It's not the sugar I'm so fussed about as the caffeine.
Coke is a no from me where I can.
Fizzy stuff is for occasional meals out and parties (and when desperate to get a child with a high temperature to drink something). But it's lemonade ideally, and fanta as a second choice. No cond if I can help it.

starsuniteonceagain · 13/06/2018 06:19

The only time my 7 year old is allowed a fizzy drink is the odd fanta on holiday.

Domino211 · 13/06/2018 06:20

We haven’t let them have come yet (8 and nearly 10) but it’s the caffeine I’m more opposed to than the sugar. DS2 sleeps badly enough as it is without anything extra to keep him awake!

DS1 does have fizzy drinks like sprite occasionally, if we’re out for dinner or at parties. DS2 pretends he likes them but will have a few mouthfuls and then leave it.

Probably less than half their friends are allowed coke, most seem to be on same wavelength as us.

ThisIsNotARealAvo · 13/06/2018 06:27

My kids are allowed fizzy drinks when we are out and occasionally at home. Not coke or Diet Coke so much due to the caffeine but lemonade or Fanta. Usually the sugar free ones. So they probably have it a couple of times a month. They are 8 and 10 and their teeth are fine, as is their weight.

RoseMartha · 13/06/2018 06:36

I don't give my child sugary fizzy drinks at all. If she was given it at a friends house that would be okay for a treat but she is not a big fan of the bubbles. Occasionally she will have Apple or orange juice or a milkshake but mostly drinks water and chooses water over squash.

DeliveredByKiki · 13/06/2018 06:48

YANBU the one thing I’ve managed to keep away from my children is fizzy drinks and will do so for as long as humanly possible (they’re 6&9)

megletthesecond · 13/06/2018 06:52

Mine are only allowed it when we eat out (once a month) and at Xmas. Apart from that they don't have soft drinks. Water only at home.

BuggerLumpsAnnoyed · 13/06/2018 07:19

Lol at not letting your kids have sugar but let them chug arterficial sweeteners

TimeToDash · 13/06/2018 07:21

My two are still not allowed fizzy drinks, except fizzy water. Age 10 and 8. Awful stuff. YANBU

HRTpatch · 13/06/2018 07:24

My dcs never had fizzy drinks or squash...I never bought them as my dh and I didn't drink them. They are early 20s now and don"t drink them either.

Ginmakesitallok · 13/06/2018 07:31

Well mine are allowed to drink it - though the prefer irn bru

unintentionalthreadkiller · 13/06/2018 07:37

My 7yo is allowed one small coke if we are eg out for dinner or Sunday lunch. They don't really like it, more the idea of it and rarely finish it.

I would much rather they had full fat than diet though.

Knitjob · 13/06/2018 07:42

We don't have it at home but they are allowed when we go out.
One of my boys reacts badly to artificial sweeteners so I would rather they had the normal versions than diet or sugar free. You can see his behaviour changing right in front of you if he drinks diet coke and he's crazy for hours afterwards.

tenredthings · 13/06/2018 08:13

I would choose original sugar coke over fake sweetener max coke. Asparthamine and other sweeteners are really way worse for your kids health than sugar, though both are unhealthy.

Ohyesiam · 13/06/2018 08:17

Mine , 11&13 have coke on special occasions, when I drink bubbly so do they.

00100001 · 13/06/2018 08:20

YABU

Unless you bam here from ating sweets, pancakes, cereals, ice cream, fruit juices etc as well, then YANBU

Chocolatecoffeeaddict · 13/06/2018 08:23

I let mine have it. I always buy the sugar free versions though occasionally my eldest will ask for normal Fanta and I will let him have it. It's not all the time so it's not a problem.

treeofhearts · 13/06/2018 08:36

I wouldn't ban it but if it's just a case of never buying it and she never asks then run with it. I certainly would go with normal coke over diet or zero though as the sugar does less harm imo than the additives and sweeteners.

Original poster
Peaspleaselouise · 13/06/2018 08:43

Just for clarity, I don’t let them drink any fizzy drinks. So no diet coke, lemonade, Fanta or anything else like that either. The title is probably wrong.

OP posts:
Chathamhouserules · 13/06/2018 09:42

You'd judge me. I let my 6 and 10 year olds have coke occasionally. I let them have sweets cakes and biscuits too. They are doing OK. No teeth weight or behavioural probs. And they enjoy it. Just like I enjoy wine and choc in moderation. If your dd doesn't like it , why are you worried?

Triskaidekaphilia · 13/06/2018 09:59

I was one of those kids who was only allowed fizzy drinks at parties so I did go off the rails on it when I had my own money to spend. I know a lot of people don't so I wonder if that's just down to personality types. In uni switched to coke zero when I realised it tasted the same and I was gaining weight with all the unregulated treats! I cut down to one can a day but the dentist wasn't happy because it was causing acid wear. She said she'd rather I ate something sugary as a treat because that can be brushed off and the acid kind of sticks on. I quit caffeine over a year ago so I rarely drink fizzy drinks any more, occasional small bottle of 7up or fanta. I think it was the caffeine that got me addicted tbh.

itstimeforanamechange · 13/06/2018 10:05

I wouldn't have it in the house because DS likes it and it's not a good idea to leave temptation in his way. But I drink it when I have migraines.

BUT if you are letting a child have cola at all, I'd say the fat type. We know what sugar does to you so at least you are making an informed decision to drink it. We have no idea what those horrible sweeteners do.

Generally I am in favour of all things in moderation. No need to be over the top with restricting things. The odd glass of cola or other fizzy drink does no harm.

itstimeforanamechange · 13/06/2018 10:06

As for acid wear, orange juice is the worst thing, according to my dentist.