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.

It's almost impossible to consume no sugar at all

Its really not if you mean refined sugar.

This isn't going to be some scalding hot mug of builders tea with four sugars, is it? It's going to be nothing that any adult here would actually drink as tea: a beaker 2/3-full of milk with a splash of lukewarm water and a teabag lightly dunked once in it. Probably healthier than squash and certainly healthier than pop.

Oh for fucks sake is this even an issue?? Don’t people have real problems to worry about nowadays? Some people are batshit fucking crazy!! Have a cuppa and chill the fuck out.

I wouldn't be ok with this, DH had tea as a toddler and onwards, he is now a caffeine junkie, if it's not constant tea and coffee it is cola, he also spent years as a smoker, then vaping nicotine. He's only been off nicotine for about a year and he's 35. I wasn't allowed tea as a child and when I hit my teens when I was, I didn't like it, or coffee. I only started drinking hot drinks at uni, and even now very rarely have them unless I'm cold and even then I prefer fruit tea.

I'd be bemused as it is so 1976 (70s baby here) but it wouldn't bother me. Having non tea drinking weirdo offspring would bother me more so I'm all for initiating them early! . My two are 11 and 7 and have the odd cup of tea and have done since toddlerhood. I couldn't get worked up about tea drinking.

Switsy

I hope it was served in a giant Sports Direct mug, with a bacon roll on the side.

Yeah but I don't think he started smoking as a result of drinking caffiene @zippy. I smoke and my 3 siblings don't. My partner doesn't drink tea or coffee and he smokes.

DH had tea as a toddler and onwards, he is now a caffeine junkie

Give over. Do you think alcoholics had wine mixed in their bottles as babies too?

I was wondering if my DM had opened a nursery. She has given DD a tiny sip of her extremely weak tea in the past. I can remember having sips of equally weak tea off a saucer when my grandad had a cuppa. I wouldn’t be thrilled with it being offered to DD on a regular basis at a nursery but as an occasional treat, it’s OK.

As for tea causing problem with iron absorption. I take iron tablets and was told to avoid drinking tea for at least an hour or two afterwards. Is that wrong then?

Current guidelines do not stipulate children should have an entirely sugar free diet, they do however state tea is unsuitable for small children.

Well I do understand that it’s easier for nurseries to slavishly follow guidelines. It covers their backs, I get that.

However intelligent individuals tend to question them if there’s little evidence behind them. And the nhs has far from a sterling record on nutritional advice.

There are far more harmful things consumed daily in nurseries than tea, but I get the nursery position.

I would check their poliy - I wouldnt give black or green tea to a small child in any form (mine were lively enough not even a waft of caffiene was going near them!)
didnt do squash either ....I would just tell them not to give it...just cos children play with tea seats doesnt mean they have to drink tea!

As for tea causing problem with iron absorption. I take iron tablets and was told to avoid drinking tea for at least an hour or two afterwards. Is that wrong then
Nope thats fine. I had same advice from midwife while i was preg. She also said dont drink tea with meals (i was supposed to be eating more red meat and green veg for iron!)

@Samind it's habit forming, and at stressful times especially when younger he'd drink maybe twenty cups a day, that's when he started smoking, when the caffeine wasn't hitting the spot the nicotine would. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying it's a gateway drug! He developed the habit of drinking tea, multiple times a day, and associates it with things- if you're tired have a tea, stressed, have tea, sad, have tea, wake up, have tea, after food, have tea,, goods -ooh I'll put a pot on (his mother) then those associations become difficult to break and then the need for caffeine kicks in. When he made the decision to cut down he couldn't stick to it as he was getting headaches from caffeine withdrawal. Today so far he's had three cups of coffee and four cups of tea and didn't get up until eight thirty. He did quit the nicotine but only because I was pregnant and didn't want even vaping around the baby

Sounds more to be like hes got an addictive personality. Nothing to do with having tea as a child.

What is wrong with tea?

Ultimately there is no need for a child to have tea. If as a parent you choose to do it, that's your call, as some give their children bright blue drinks and sweets before dinner. It's their choice, but it isn't one a nursery should be making.

isn’t squash like a sugary fruit cordial?

Yes but without any actual fruit and full of artificial sweeteners in many cases. But that’s fine. Heaven forbid a child should have some water with milk and some plant leaves in it.

I agree that they perhaps should have asked but now you know just tell them that you don’t want your dc to have tea.

I was given tea as a child but can't stand the stuff now. I found my way through my drugs hell and came out the other side. 30 years clean.

What is wrong with tea?

Not much that anyone can actually put their finger on (assuming decaff, milky, weak) but y’know definitely bad.

@flamingofridays he definitely does, luckily not around drink or drugs (other than the very tame ones mentioned) , even hobbies - he's a collector 🙄, but if he hadn't been gotten into the acceptable tea habit young it wouldn't have escalated. There's just no need, warm milk is fine if they want them to have a warm drink on a chilly day

Today so far he's had three cups of coffee and four cups of tea and didn't get up until eight thirty.

In a three hour window?! Is he not constantly needing to wee?

‘There’s no need’ for lots and lots of food choices. We do it because we enjoy it. If there aren’t significant health implications, what’s the issue?

For me I wouldn't do it simply because of the iron absorption issue. Caffeine wouldn't worry me really, its not 10 cups of strong tea a day. But for the sake of the iron absorption I'd simply avoid for young kids/toddlers. Mine only drink water and the occasional glass of juice. But I wouldn't worry too much otherwise.

My 2 year old drinks tea every morning... I must be a bad parent lol.

Wow a real mixed bag of responses.
Just to clear up a few points:

1. it was definitely bog standard tea.
2. If I thought for one minute they were handing out red hot cups of tea ds would be leaving pronto.
3. What people chose for their own children, in their own homes is
   totally different to a childcare setting.
4. I don't think the staff are pampered and overpaid but surely hot drinks should only be consumed in the staff room on breaks. 5). Their food and drink policy states they only drinks they serve are milk and water. 6). I'm born and bred northerner, who now lives in the south.