Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

2 year old having cup of tea at nursery

363 replies

Pumpkinsoup22 · 02/03/2019 09:46

My dshas just moved out of baby room. When I collected him the other day was told he'd just had a cup of tea and biscuit. I assumed they were role playing and really meant water or milk. However the staff member said no real tea. AIBU to think this isn't really appropriate for 2 year olds.? Before this I've never had any concerns at all with the nursery.

OP posts:
EssentialHummus · 02/03/2019 09:47

I expect it’s milk with a teabag wafted over it.

lottielady · 02/03/2019 09:47

Is your child going to nursery in 1976?

PandaSky · 02/03/2019 09:47

Was it a one off? Was it very weak/milky?

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 02/03/2019 09:51

I'm guessing cambric tea - nobody is going to give a toddler proper tea.

WhiteDust · 02/03/2019 09:52

DON'T PANIC OP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
We (my siblings and I) drank weak, lukewarm, milky tea out of beakers when we were tiny and we are still alive!!! 37.41,46 and 48 years later!

BreastSideStory · 02/03/2019 09:53

I’m failing to see the issue? My son loves a cup of tea in the morning (mostly milk, dip my teabag in it)

Limensoda · 02/03/2019 09:53

Never heard of children being given tea at nursery. I was in nursery in the early 1960s and it would never have been offered to toddlers at nursery even in those days although lots of families gave tea to their young children.
I was surprised when my 6 year old grandson had a drink of tea at a football match recently.

FudgeBrownie2019 · 02/03/2019 09:53

I don't know if it's true but my Mum always said real tea reduces your body's ability to absorb calcium so shouldn't be given to children. If it's proper tea I'd just ask for him to not have any next time.

Doghorsechicken · 02/03/2019 09:53

Both my little cousins drank tea at that age, I’m not sure what the problem is. They wouldn’t have given it to him scalding hot.

BreastSideStory · 02/03/2019 09:54

nobody is going to give a toddler proper tea
Why not? The tiny amount of caffeine in it wouldn’t do any harm (may even be decaf!) There’s more caffeine in chocolate than a dip of a teabag

MissB83 · 02/03/2019 09:55

Mine has cocoa type stuff at nursery (he's 1). I think it's fine!

user1493413286 · 02/03/2019 09:57

I wouldn’t be happy about that; it’s very old fashioned and not something I’d let my 2 year old have

CouldBeAnyoneReally · 02/03/2019 09:59

My dc have been drinking decaf tea since they were toddlers. It’s just a drink Confused

Rootvegetables · 02/03/2019 09:59

The tannins in tea actually inhibit iron absorption. I don't think I'd like my 2 year old having it everyday, also seems totally unnecessary really, why not warm milk or squash. I don't think I'd mind as a one off tea party role play but not part of the routine.

BreastSideStory · 02/03/2019 09:59

@FudgeBrownie2019 I’ve never heard of it affecting calcium absorption, it can affect the body’s ability to absorb iron but if would have to be consumed in large quantities

Samind · 02/03/2019 09:59

Yeah my siblings and I drunk tea when we were babies too. We all still love it 🥰 I've dropped the sugar though 😂 it was my mother who gave it to us!! I appreciate the difference between care giver and facility but it was never a strong brew like I'd have now. It actually made me smile reading your post.

JustDanceAddict · 02/03/2019 10:00

DS loved tea as a toddler. It was milk w a tiny bit of tea in. We had a builder in at the time who drunk it by the bucketload so he was copying him. He still likes tea at 15 now!!

Karwomannghia · 02/03/2019 10:00

My 2 year old likes to dip a biscuit in my tea, is that bad? Should I not let her? It’s yorkshire tea, quite strong.

Original poster
Pumpkinsoup22 · 02/03/2019 10:00

Was it a one off?

No they said it's most days.

OP posts:
Hellohappy · 02/03/2019 10:00

I wouldn’t like that at all. I wouldn’t give a 2 year old a cup of tea at home (still don’t in their teens.) I can’t see why they would do that and it must be a lot of faff for the staff compared to giving them water.

mogtheexcellent · 02/03/2019 10:03

Dd loves tea and has done since she was 1. Warm milk with a quick dunk of my used teabag. Cant see the fuss.

I drink umpteen gallons a day and kids have pretend tea sets so excluding young ones from the actual drink would be a bit weird. I mean you don't get wood wine bottles and glasses do you?

Original poster
Pumpkinsoup22 · 02/03/2019 10:05

The tannins in tea actually inhibit iron absorption. I don't think I'd like my 2 year old having it everyday, also seems totally unnecessary really, why not warm milk or squash. I don't think I'd mind as a one off tea party role play but not part of the routine

Exactly this. The cynical part of me thinks it might actually be certain staff who fancy tea and biscuits.

OP posts:
LettuceP · 02/03/2019 10:05

I don't understand why they'd give them tea. What's the point? Surely they'd just give them milk, water, squash etc. I would definitely tell them I didn't want my dc having tea at that age so don't give them it again please.

newlyfrugal · 02/03/2019 10:07

I don't see the problem really. Just tell them you don't want him drinking tea.

Mumshappy · 02/03/2019 10:07

Never heard of this happening before at a nursery. Just say you would prefer an alternative to be given if your not comfortable with it. Never given any of mine tea.