Tea...?

[bumblebee39]

To give DC tea? Very weak, very milky, no sugar?

Used to be the norm when I was a kid but don't hear of it now.

Can't really see that it's any different than hot chocolate/cocoa plus the benefit of no sugar.

Am I missing something?

Tia X

How old are DC? I think it can affect iron absorption in little ones. Why do you want to out of interest? Would warm milk not be more or less the same?

It's the caffeine. Tea has quite a lot. Not sure if it's as much as coffee but it does have some. Maybe use decaffeinated? You're right though, was definitely the norm when I was a kid. I drank tea from about the age of 3!

I tried to give mine tea but they hated it and still do as teenagers.

I think it's the caffeine content that makes people wary of giving it to young children. I think if they're old enough to make a cup of tea, they can have one of they want it.

Sorry yes decaf aged 5. Won't drink milk at all anymore and struggling to get her to have enough dairy.

I did think about giving her caffeinated as didn't have any decaf in before. Only dunk the tea bag so it's really flavoured hot milk.

Didn't know about the iron thing, but she eats lots of meat and green veg just not dairy.

Would they want it anyway? I remember the first cup of tea my grandma made me. I felt very grown up and such a part of the family but it was very sugary and milky and lovely. If it had been a weak, milky water I’m not sure I would have gone back for more.

Contains caffeine and inhibits the absorption of iron.

I remember my little sister having bottles of tea!

Caffeine. Can irritate the lining of the intestines. I have IBS and just one cup gives me pains.
I don’t see why they need it

Yes you have to keep an eye on your cuppa at mine or she'll have a cheeky swig... For some reason she just loves the smell and taste.

Is hot chocolate any better? Or do I need to look at ovaltine or something?

She hates the taste of milk now. As well she's even leaving the cheese strings and things she used to like and I'm very concerned about calcium.

She refuses cereal with milk as its "soggy" but used to eat it fine, hates porridge rice pudding macaroni cheese etc. Anything milk based or too cheesy. She won't even eat pizza anymore (or picks the cheese off).

why does she need lots of dairy? Is she veggie?

Could this be a sign of dairy intolerance going off it? Or is she just being picky?

Can still put away a ridiculous amount of icecream or fromage frais if left to her own devices (which she isn't but has on occasion done whilst being babysat)

Horlicks or Ovaltine as it's a malted milk drink with added vitamins even the chocolate version is better than normal cocoa

It's not lots of some days it's any
Usually breakfast is veggie (unless cooked)

Lunch can be depending on sandwich filling (egg mayo, tuna mayo, ham, or peanut butter)

Dinner is usually meat based such as bangers mash broccoli and carrots, chicken in sauce with rice and mixed veg, burgers in buns with salad etc.

so why does she need more dairy? It's obviously not her main source of protein and she's eating a mixed diet.

Sorry, I'm a bit confused.

My dd1 isn't a fan of dairy. She has milk on cereals and will eat cheese but it has to be melted on a meal, she won't eat a cheese sandwich or cheese on toast. She's fine and no intolerance just not keen.

My dd2 however is almost 3 and every time I have a cup of tea she runs over and says can you save me a bit. I save her a mouthful In the bottom, I wouldn't make her a cup of it though

She will drink it yes and asks for it regularly but only had it 5 or 6 times and mostly under the care of Ex when we were together.

He was always giving her things he "shouldn't" like sweets not on sweetie day or a biscuit while I was cooking dinner (so she didn't have a proper appetite) and things so wasn't sure if it was a "naughty" thing for her to have or acceptable.

I know decaf still has some caffeine but surely not anymore than hot chocolate which seems a more acceptable childhood drink these days.

I certainly don't want to be the dubiously motivated parent giving DC energy drinks before school, but also thought it couldn't harm occasionally.

Looks like a malted drink might be a good alternative (if she'll drink it).

My daughters have asked for cups of tea from around age 3! We give them roobios tea with milk.

Calcium?

Or will she be getting enough from a daily serving of greens (minimum sometimes 2 or 3), fromage frais sometimes and things like eggs, fish and meat?

I think it's just confusing when they go from being babies and living off milk to children not having any. Maybe I'm perceiving a problem that doesn't exist?

Is roobios better than decaf? Thanks, never had it just caffeinated or decaf X

I think her diet is fine. You can always give her a supplement, I think that would be better than tea, but maybe check with your doctor?

How about a children’s multivitamin with calcium instead?

When I was young in 70s/80s, you used to see children in pushchairs drinking milky tea from their baby bottles (presumably some with 2 sugars too)

I think I will let her have one on occasion but not make it a regular occurrence,

I certainly wouldn't want her "needing" caffeine like I do in the morning to get going.

I give her hot chocolate sometimes and tea the way I make it (milky, weak and unsweetened) seems healthier than that tbh.

Will give a malted drink a go too and just keep offering dairy with meals even if it gets declined.

I wasn't a massive fan of dairy as a kid and didn't suffer massive deficiency or anything, I had cheese melted on stuff, hot chocolate or tea sometimes, and ate lots of hummus as I recall....

Maybe she'll get a taste back for it? I certainly did...