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

I was given tea in my bottle, didn't do me any harm!

my oldest (15) wouldnt thank you for a cup of tea ...however my youngest (12) is a tea fiend and has been since he was about 2, I blame his Nanny (Grandma) who looked after him while I worked and instilled a love of the afternoon tea and cake ritual! He has Tea with shock horror 1 sugar and has had this twice a day for as long as I can remember. By some miracle he's still alive, has healthy tea and sleeps well !! If they want tea give em tea

I was raised on tea (my earliest memory is drinking it from a sippy cup, sitting on the bottom of the stairs and swooshing it in my mouth, then my big sister clapped her hands over my blown-out cheeks and I squirted an amazing fountain of tea right across the hallway and into the front door!).

My two dc (8 and 10) now drink decaf tea maybe three or four times a day. and, sorry MN, I let them have a sip of wine or a bit of beer froth if they ask for it

To those who think they're too young for tea - at what age do you think tea is appropriate?

Sorry, should have said three or four times a week not day!

Back in the day small children were often given what was called "cambric tea". It was very weak tea that had mostly milk and sugar. The colour was such that it resembled cambric fabrice; hence the name.

Well both my children love a brew and they’ve turned some of their friends into tea drinkers. Either a cup (with saucer type size) or children’s mug. Put in half hot eyed and dip tea nah before it goes into my cup for a decent strength brew. Or if I’m making a pot (I’m loving loose tea in a pot now) I pour about the same but just after filling up the pot so it doesn’t properly brew. Then top up with milk. We go to church and there’s always tea and biscuits after. Used to be juice for the kids but mine always ask for tea and then the other kids have since followed suit. My eldest will put sugar into hers if left to her own devices where sugar is out but at home I don’t add sugar. It is also not decaffinated tea as I only buy what I would drink. They don’t drink it daily but do often request it a few times a week. Usually they ask for water and one often drinks milk. They sometimes have diluted quash but not that often as the bottle of squash I’ve got in my cupboard has been there the best part of a year. I don’t buy fruit juice or fizzy drinks at all.
I’ve drank tea as long as I remember. I hate squash and would always ask for tea when out.
They’ve also tried coffee and early grey tea from the grandparents but don’t seem to like those. I don’t drink either.

Both mine enjoyed a swig of tea when they were really little but aren't interested at the moment. I think that even with caffeine it's fine in moderation and better than the sweet sugary drinks marketed at kids.

Dd2 has always loved a cup of tea since she was a toddled. The key re iron absorption is moderation. I've always just dipped the bag in, weak tea isn't high in caffeine and is better than hot chocolate/ other sugary drinks.

Dd1 loved tea when she was young. My mum also used to dip her dummy in jam😂.

Mine's 2 next month and has been drinking tea since about 18 months. We have a cup of decaf tea and a rich tea biscuit together most mornings. My nan used to give me tea with condensed milk from about 4... I can't see it causing a great deal of harm.

My little boy loves tea. I've drank decaf for years so I don't mind letting him have a sip of mine here and there. Probably wouldn't offer him a full cup just yet. Without fail, if he ever has a biscuit while I am drinking tea he will come over and dunk it in!

Mine regularly have tea. They request it and I make decaf with milk. They don’t drink very much of it actually but I think they like to feel included in the tea rounds!

Dunking is a particular reason for tea drinking!

I grew up on milky tea - I used to call it "tilk". I'm still standing so I guess it's OK.

Why not try a fortified dairy alternative? Almond milk, oat milk, rice milk - all can come fortified, some flavoured, sweetened or unsweetened...

Or chewable calcium gummies plus vitamin D...

I think you're a bit hung up about sugar.

Sometimes having a strict 'sweetie day' and worrying about sugar intake can backfire, turning it into forbidden fruit.

It is more harmful in the long run to set up the idea that there are good and bad foods, and especially harmful to have rules that your ex loves to flout, 'sweetie day' being a prime example. Don't give your ex the chance to do this. Lighten up on the sugar front. There is more to feeding kids than ticking off the nutrition boxes. Be careful of the psychological effects and get to grips with any anxieties you may have.

My DD has had weak tea or rooibos since she was a toddler. Rooibos is a great drink to have IMO, way better than juice or squash...

Redbush tea with milk?
Banana smoothie?

I give ny littke girl weak tea like you. Read this article its reassuring closeronline.co.uk/family/news/dr-christian-toddler-child-drink-tea-bad-health-expert/

I give mine milkshakes every day, they can't get enough!
Full fat milk and a nice ripe banana in the blender, nothing else needed. The banana does need to be properly ripe though, brown splodges on it rather than greenish yellow.
I freeze bananas (without their skins) when they've gone a stage too far for eating and these make really good milkshakes too, especially for summer.

I sometimes add a spoonful of cocoa powder for a 'chocolate' milkshake - not too much or it does kill the natural sweetness of the banana and end up needing half a spoonful of honey

If you haven't already got one, get yourself a blender and get whizzing up bananas!

Lots of worrying!
Give her milky decaf as and when. Sounds sensible for calcium.
A yoghurt daily after tea.
Job done.

Well I never knew tea affected iron absorption’s.
We give our preschoolers roobis tea with milk.
Small sample size and on adult males (as usual!) not children but this article says that iron absorption was not significantly affected by roobis (but was by normal tea).
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/462276/

Really don't think a cup of milky rooibos or decaf will do much damage. Just don't leave it brewing forever for the tannins and it's best practice to make sure any multivitamins or particularly high iron are taken a distance in time away from tea as it can reduce absorption, but I wouldn't be concerned about it at all.

Both of mine loved weak milky tea from and early age. It doesn't seem to have done them any harm.

I was brought up on tea. Can't see the problem - keeps them hydrated and it's much better than fizzy drinks. Children often don't take in enough liquids.

As for the caffeine content - I'm sure you aren't giving her a constant supply of tea during the day! She will be fine - let her enjoy it.

My daughter has a rooibos tea most days.

I make the tea and then put enough milk in for it to be not burning.

She loves it.