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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:
MumUnderTheMoon · 02/03/2019 22:21

Just tell them not to give your child tea. I don't see a problem with it personally but if it bothers you just tell them not to give it to him.

SurgeHopper · 02/03/2019 22:22

I am failing to see the problem

Confusedbeetle · 02/03/2019 22:24

Just ask them not to give him tea. He needs his iron

PossiblyPFB · 02/03/2019 22:34

I had a huge go (ok made DH have a huge go) at MiL when I found out she started giving DD cooled, normally milked caffeinated tea in the afternoons when she was about 2. We struggled especially to get her down to sleep and she stopped her naps on those days......She was wired with caffeine. We were absolutely perplexed as to why MIL would think it was a good idea, and she didn’t offer any decent explanations other than she didn’t think it would do any harm. It didn’t do any harm while she was looking after her, but had a huge affect in the hours afterwards. If it was me I’d be furious that this was the norm at a nursery! Hmm

Cora1942 · 02/03/2019 22:35

I think you need to clarify if this was snack/meal time or part of role play with tea set etc.

Fiveredbricks · 02/03/2019 22:40

Redbush tea is fine every now and then for babies toddlers and kids. It only inhibits iron absorbtion around the time you drink it. Beyond that it doesn't.

How did we all survive 🙄🙄🙄

Bigonesmallone3 · 02/03/2019 22:48

Who said it was red bush?
Red bush is caffeine free anyway so wouldn't be an issue

Original poster
Pumpkinsoup22 · 02/03/2019 23:47

I think you need to clarify if this was snack/meal time or part of role play with tea set etc

I think you need to read my opening post again.

OP posts:
BlackberryandNettle · 02/03/2019 23:55

Did they definitely use the phrase 'cup of tea'? I ask because a European friend of mine when viewing nurseries hadn't heard of the 4pm meal called 'tea' and thought the kids were getting a cup of tea....

KimchiLaLa · 03/03/2019 00:11

My DD loves to have masala chai (we are Indian) every weekend. She sees mummy and daddy with it, so wants it as well. We give her a couple of teaspoons of ours from our mugs. The masala has things like cinnamon in it and I think it's good for her!

RedTartanLass · 03/03/2019 00:20

This is a wind up surely? A nursery is handing out cups of tea to toddlers???

I have never ever heard anything like it.

I don't care what people do in their own homes but in a nursery and people think it's ok!! Thunk!

MN is totally batshit crazy at the moment.

Stompythedinosaur · 03/03/2019 00:35

I would be very unhappy about this. I wouldn't want my dc drinking tea and I'd be worried about a childcare provider who thought it was ok (NHS advice is clear that it isn't good for young children).

Ifonlybatshadhats · 03/03/2019 00:38

My 2 year old ds loves a cup of tea. He generally just has a sip of mine but maybe once a week he has a cup of his own. I only drink decaf so that's one issue avoided. I've never heard of it in a nursery on a daily basis or otherwise though... it's quite right about the tannins inhibiting iron absorption though.

PregnantSea · 03/03/2019 02:31

It's just tea

CinammonPorridge · 03/03/2019 02:47

I wouldnt mind that as a one off for a child but not every day. Caffeine sensitivity could lead to energy drinks when older. Also, it is very addictive and surely that should be your sons choice when he is older?

BabyDarlingDollfaceHoney · 03/03/2019 04:23

It's fine, it's just (probably very weak) tea.

OwlBeThere · 03/03/2019 04:27

i'm genuinely shocked so many people think this is ok. I would be utterly dumbfounded at a nursery giving children tea. i've worked in and had children in a few different nurseries over the years and most don't even offer squash unless the parents request and provide it. drinks are milk and water.
I would be livid if anyone gave my toddler tea. I don't even let my 11 year old drink it, let alone a baby.

BrizzleMint · 03/03/2019 05:13

As long as it's in bone china cups with a naice biscuits on a doily and plate then it's ok.

OwlBeThere · 03/03/2019 05:24

@BrizzleMint Grin

evaperonspoodle · 03/03/2019 07:46

I find it very odd that nursery are offering tea but at this point in my life I couldn't get worked up about it. Re tannins and iron inhibition, I doubt that one tea bag shared between 10 children is likely to have very much tannin in it, so unless he/she is drinking 10 cups per day it wouldn't bother me.

Re decaf; the process of decaffeination is really bad and involves chemicals that are harmful to ingest. I would much rather give caffeinated tea/coffee. My ds was premature and in SCBU and one of the early drugs they give is caffeine as it is essential in small amounts for healthy brain development and function.

BigSandyBalls2015 · 03/03/2019 07:58

I look back on my DCs toddler years and wonder why I was so uptight about stuff like this .... water, not squash, absolutely no fizz, limited chocs/sweets, organic food where possible, plenty of fresh air and exercise, 12 hours sleep a night .... yawn

They get to their mid/late teens and start smoking, drinking, eating shit at every opportunity, sleeping habits are nocturnal ...

msevs · 03/03/2019 07:59

I drank tea at nursery. My mum said it was because I refused to drink milk and the only way they could get me to drink anything was by giving me milky tea. I’m 36 and didn’t think nurseries still offered tea in this day and age but it didn’t do me any harm. I still love a nice cup of tea as well!

Yura · 03/03/2019 08:03

didn’t reas the whole thread, but are you in the uk? in most of europe, “tea” includes herbals abd fruit infusions and these are standart for kids drinks

Yura · 03/03/2019 08:06

add on: saw you are in the uk, but is the nursery worker english? also, for clarification, infusions are served room temperature to children, never hot

BabyDarlingDollfaceHoney · 03/03/2019 08:17

Tea has loads of health benefits, Not letting an 11 yo drink it seems very odd to me. I was often given milky tea in my bottle as a baby and definitely no problems with iron absorption. Still love a cup of tea though. It's not like the nursery will be giving them a mug of builders with 8 sugars. It'll just be "shown the teabag" (just how I like it Smile).

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