To ask at what age you let your DC regularly drink soft drinks?

[UnderTheAntenna]

i.e. not just water or milk (hot choc). How old were they when you let them drink soft drinks on non-special occasions?

My dc only drink water and milk. They occasionally get juice as a treat, mixed with water. Their dad is strict. But I agree, there is no need really for all the extra sugar. They are 5 and 7 and never have had a soda before. No need really...its so bad for you...a bad habit....sorry to sound like such a drag....they do get chocolates and other junk (but not so much, as a special treat). Growing up I was allowed soda etc whenever I wanted. But luckily I never got addicted. I did not have it every day. Just a couple times a week I would say (but we had unlimited amounts in the house and I could decide how much I wanted).

This thread is pure fiction.

Yep!

Love this thread! Might not be pure fiction, but it's pure Mumsnet alright. I don't know where MN finds all these angelic mums. No drinking, no sugar, no leaving babies to cry, etc etc. I never seem to meet them IRL!

My 3 and 5 year old drink squash as standard

I don't think it's pure fiction. We're told not to give kids sugary (or sweetened) drinks and lots of people follow the advice. We're told that obesity is an epidemic (I'm fat) and that we need to do better, so most people are trying to do that for their kids.

We don't have fizzy drinks in the house, I never did as a kid either. We offer mainly water, occasionally squash or milk. They will have a fruit shot or apple juice at restaurants though. Mine want/eat enough crap as it is without drinking it too.

It's not even a sugar thing for me...I'm pretty easy going with regards to that. I just have never liked fizzy drinks hence never have them at home.

Still don't buy them, kids are adults. I pick up bottles or cans if we are having people over and obviously in restaurants but not as part of my normal shopping.

My DDs only have water and milk. They all love water. Occasional hot choc. I love nothing more than a can of cold Diet Coke .

I think it’s been proven that sugary drinks are one of the worst components of the western diet. We drink water and herbal teas at home. Dd might have a juice or soft drink in a restaurant.

I don’t give my children squash, or fizzy drinks as standard but I do walk the dog wearing my PJs at the weekends albeit with a big coat over the top. I also used to take my kids swimming after school and then shower them there and put them in PJs to come home; both of which cause the average MN to take a SIOB . So I am certainly not consistent in the perfect MNetter parenting stakes.

Ps they drink tea, water or grape juice (well the fermented kind!) in the house as do we.

My dd is 10 and don't think she tried anything fizzy until about 5....she doesn't lile fizzy stuff fortunately! She drinks weak sugar free squash now and again but mainly water or milk.
I think it's important not to give them a taste for it when young.

I give my children a bit of whatever I’m having. Coke, lilt, fizzy water. Not everyday, but probably 2/3 times a week. They were allowed from age 4ish, although it gets harder with every child. Dc3 has probably drank more soft drinks than the older two.

I believe in allowing everything moderately. We have no banned foods in our house. My kids are healthy, active and have good teeth.

Mine are 11, 10 and 6

11 year old only drinks water
10 year old drinks water at home but I allow fizzy at restaurants
6 year old drinks water and tea at home, and is allowed fizzy at restaurants

We never buy squash or fruit juice

I don't even make their squash weak, they get full strength squash.

You don't quash the squash, Doom.

9 and 6 here and only drink water and very occasional hor chocolate (6 yr old) and milk, water and occasional hot chocolate or chocolate milkshake (9 year old). Honestly, they hate juice, squash and fizzy drinks. It’s not a question of being an amazing parent-they just don’t like them. They love chocolate and sweets and crisps and stuff, just not the drinks.

No, pinkgloves, we're not but neither in the UK. Squash has only been available here within the last 5 years or so. DH had never seen it and was horrified when he first visited my parents - jam sandwiches and cake was a meal, squash was standard drink etc. He always says he is astonished my family don't have more health issues. My DN was 5 before he someone (me) drink a glass of water. I have awful teeth which the dentist said is due to constantly drinking juice squash (before there was sugar free) throughout my childhood.

Of my younger DC's friends it seems the same. Mainly water or herbal tea in winter, with any thing else as a party treat. I don't know anyone with children of DS's age so find it really hard to gauge what is normal.

DH gave them a milky coffee once, but they didn't like it. I don't want them to start on tea because I thought it stops your body absorbing iron properly and because it stains your teeth.

14 and 10 and still no fizzy or sugary drinks. We have never ever stocked it at home, and now dc can’t stand the overly sweet taste or the sugar coating on their teeth. So they choose not to drink it now.

Well call social services as my 7 year old has fizzy drinks a few times a week and funnily enough she had a dentist appointment today after school and in the dentists words my dd’s teeth are “perfect” .
She’s also a good weight and active .
I really don’t see the issue as long as it’s in moderation but of course on MN kids only drink water until they’re 21...

Mine are still little, 1 and 3. Neither have tried anything but water and milk yet. They turn down juice and squash at parties and I never offer it. I plan to keep it that way as long as I can .

My DD1 has had sugar free weak squash from when we started weaning. She is now nearly 3 and has only this or milk (however likes to pinch a bit of my tea in her tea set cup every now and then - "look, I'm mummy!" ). We don't tend to have fizzy drinks on the house very often so she doesn't know what she's missing out on just yet.

This thread is pure fiction.

It genuinely isn’t. My kids drink water or soda stream fizzy water. My 16 year old drinks water only and no fizz at all, he just started having an occasional cup of tea. My 13 year old drinks mostly fizzy water and my 9 year old would drink Fanta all day long but is only allowed water at home and a Fanta occasionally if we are out.

I drink lime or elderflower squash but the kids don’t like any squash. In 20 years I’ve never seen DH drink any soft drink other than water.

I don’t buy juice, never have and doesn’t occur to me go look at the soft drink aisle in the supermarket other than the odd bottle of Diet Coke if my dad is coming over

We don’t tend to have fizzy drinks or squash in the house so they mainly drink milk or water but are allowed a lemonade or a milkshake or whatever if we’re out and about. Kids tend to self moderate if you don’t restrict stuff.

Diluting juice whenever they want.
Fruit juice/smoothie with their tea if they want.
7yo has a hot choc most evenings (before tooth brushing).
Fizzy drinks only on xmas/birthdays.