2 year old having cup of tea at nursery

[Pumpkinsoup22]

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.

[wotsittoyou]

Perhaps lots of the other little ones in this particular group have tea at home and the staff are bringing that into the setting to help them feel comfortable.

I drank 150 cups a day (with three sugars) throughout my working class northern childhood, but I've never given it to mine because of the tannins/iron link.

If I was inclined to be very fussy about diet (I'm not), I'd be more concerned about the sugary biscuit than a little bit of weak tea. I couldn't get worked up about that unless I knew/suspected my child actually had an iron deficiency or an absorption issue. Otherwise, I'd mostly be focused on him enjoying the tea party and his time at nursery.

[MonstranceClock]

I wouldn't be happy with this at all! No need for it. But then I think tea is gross anyway.

[MrsBosh]

Former nursery nurse here.

It's easy to sort - tell management that he isn't to have it. Put it simply in writing and sign. Ask them to file this in his record, adjust his snack mat accordingly and pass this onto his room staff.
Parents can give dietary preferences - we had loads. Some actual allergies e.g. no peanuts as allergy. Some was 'no milk to drink, just water' or 'Alice doesn't like sausages, please offer alternative'.

Think it's quite weird myself!

[PH03b3]

All four of us are alive in our 30s and 40s and same for my husbands side. Its fine! You are mum though so you would be within your rights to request not to though

[Windingstreams]

$The medical advice in the article I thibk puts it all onto perspective... Even adults aren't mean to have tea with a meal. Maybe next we'll see a horrified thread because a patient was offered tea with their lunch in hospital.*

But adults don’t run the risk of permanent brain damage if they have low iron stores. This is why it’s of importance for children

[LaurieMarlow]

That article is piss poor. My small children eat eggs and fish all the time. What shit journalism.

[BabyDarlingDollfaceHoney]

The medical advice in the article I thibk puts it all onto perspective... Even adults aren't mean to have tea with a meal. Maybe next we'll see a horrified thread because a patient was offered tea with their lunch in hospital.

[imoffthedeependwatchasidivein]

I agree. I had the mirror take a thread of mine a few weeks ago and it was literally a non story. Honestly it was totally boring. And even lifting it from one website to another they managed to get a load of the details wrong!

[ShabbyAbby]

Oh ffs

Iron absorption is an issue apparently because children under 5 aren't "associated with eating foods like eggs and fish" what utter crap. We all feed our kids iron rich food surely? And they mentioned caffeine but not whether decaf was better!
I can't believe how lazy journalists are. They literally just reported a forum post which is available online anyway? What a joke

[imoffthedeependwatchasidivein]

Made the media

www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/mum-isnt-happy-after-two-15930062?fbclid=IwAR2xVUZ4-FobSBZknsKZH_6ERFzfRx1NDCbwYXlEn2eKO-s1Q293aQ3xqPk

[Windingstreams]

If you actually drink buckets of the stuff. Which no toddler will be.

@lauriemarlow this is not the case. It’s why the NHS say for children not to drink it. It’s really not hard, it’s in black and white on their site!

[LimeKiwi]

Not RTFT, but I would have been at either of mine being given tea at nursery!
No. No need for it.
I'm a big tea drinker as well but there's just no need as a toddler. I read as well that it can interfere with iron absorption in children so why would you?

[LaurieMarlow]

There was a lot of speculation about whether it was fruit tea/rooibos, so I presumed that was in answer to that question. 🤷‍♀️

[Bigonesmallone3]

If you go through the thread u will see op said
Bog standard tea

[NoCryingInEngineering]

Our nursery does forest school for the pre school room which generally involves 2-3hrs outdoors. When DS was in that room a regular FS activity was to make a fire to boil a kettle and the kids would be offered hot chocolate or tea with their snack. Seemed fairly sensible to me.

DS usually chose hot chocolate but around the time he started reception he asked if he could try my tea one weekend morning, got a taste for it and now has his own tea mug & fairly regularly asks for a Saturday morning cuppa.

Several grades better than DD who acts like a mini Mrs Doyle, offering 24566784 cups of pretend tea but whipping them away before you can pretend drink them shouting Tea HOT! So she'll be sorted for Forest School in a year or so

[LaurieMarlow]

Did she?

[Bigonesmallone3]

Op stated it was normal tea!

[LaurieMarlow]

Normal tea has more caffeine in it than coffee btw

No. Tea leaves have more caffeine than coffee beans, but because coffee is much more concentrated a when drunk a cup of coffee is more caffeinated than a cup of tea.

But it could have been decaff anyway.

[ImNotTheDramaLlamaHere]

Decaf?
Normal tea has more caffeine in it than coffee btw

[LaurieMarlow]

It’s advised against because it inhibits iron absorption. Iron deficiency anaemia can cause brain damage

If you actually drink buckets of the stuff. Which no toddler will be.

[Totaldogsbody]

If the policy of the nursery is that only milk and water will be provided then if they decide to change the policy they must inform the parents in writing. This would then provide the parents with the opportunity to refuse permission for their children to receive the tea. The nursery has a duty of care to their children and should follow the guidelines of the NHS.

[Windingstreams]

But it’s against nhs guidelines’ has become a bit of a last refuge on this thread for those who can’t articulate their problem with tea

For the third time on this thread. It’s advised against because it inhibits iron absorption. Iron deficiency anaemia can cause brain damage. That’s why the NHS say ‘tea is not appropriate for young children’

It’s really not hard to find the reasons. A simple Google will do it

[TakeNoSHt]

Sorry bad link. This should work-
m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1623150024496655&id=526712010807134

[TakeNoSHt]

Great social habit to get kids into early. You can request decaff only if you like but it’ll be mostly milky and room trmperature. And you’ve gone viral!! A mum says her two-year-old was given a cup of tea at nursery www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/mum-isnt-happy-after-two-15930062?utm_source=whatsapp.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar

[Chilledout11]

It sounds very unusual milk would be better. No need for biscuit. Ok on occasion