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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

327 replies

UnderTheAntenna · 26/03/2019 15:33

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

OP posts:
Ginnymweasley · 26/03/2019 21:18

My 4 year old suffers with constipation so getting fluid into her is the trick so she has weak squash if she is having a bad period. It's better that the pain and suffering of bad constipation followed by laxatives etc. She has had sips of none fizzy lemonade and she has fruit shoots when we are out and if she's at grandma's. We don't have fizzy drinks in the house cause we don't drink them a lot. But we do have squash, fruit juice, tea and hot chocolate all of which dd has drunk at some point along with milk. I think that everything in moderation is better than banning soft drinks completely.

Highway · 26/03/2019 21:18

DD is 9 and isn't allowed anything with caffeine in (trust me it's a the very last thing that girl need!) She's allowed suash whenever but often just gets water because she is lazy and getting squash means opening another cupboard she gets a fizzy drink - lemonade or Fanta when we eat out.

goldengummybear · 26/03/2019 21:19

I have teens and soft drinks are available at weekends, birthdays, restaurants or when they are out and about with friends. It's water, milk, tea, coffee Monday to Friday.

Springwalk · 26/03/2019 21:19

chocolate kicking coke is a real achievement. You definitely have withdrawals you are so right. Not obviously certain companies pay their way out of lawsuits.
Your heart will thank you for it. Do you remember that girl from Australia who died from drinking too much coke. I think two large bottles a day. I remember thinking then how is it even possible that something so addictive is given to children

PinkieTuscadero · 26/03/2019 21:20

When you say your 14 year old isn't allowed fizzy drinks does that mean you'd be annoyed if you found out he had a Coke when he visited Nandos with his friends? I'm struggling with the idea of banning teens from having the soft drink of their choice.

Original poster
UnderTheAntenna · 26/03/2019 21:22

Are breast fed babies cannibals then? 😂 lol.

Good point 😂 change that to except if you are a cannibal or a bf baby ...

OP posts:
Justanothermile · 26/03/2019 21:23

Banning teens from things generally doesn't work I've found. Of course, don't buy it if you don't want it in the house but the Nando's example is a good one. I know DS had coke at that age, with us or out with mates, now he's 19, he goes for water. He's the adult, his call.

madeyemoodysmum · 26/03/2019 21:24

No if they were out with friends I wouldn’t be annoyed. It’s not banned just trying to get them to see it as a treat. Not an every day thing.

Frodon · 26/03/2019 21:28

Mine has had squash from about 1 and drinks it daily. His teeth are lovely.

We have an assortment of squash in the house because it tastes nice. How boring to have to live on milk and water!

I do have zero sugar cans for myself but child doesn't like fizzy.

SAK1976 · 26/03/2019 21:35

My 16 year old drinks water only and no fizz at all, he just started having an occasional cup of tea.

Oh my ! I bet he is fun 😂

GunpowderGelatine · 26/03/2019 21:39

I drink a bottle over two weeks, DH maybe one over a week

By MN standards you are most definitely an alcoholic Grin

Bumblebeans · 26/03/2019 21:42

DD is 3 we give her a choice of milk, squash or water at dinner time. She is only allowed water during and between other meals. She usually chooses water at dinner time.

Stickerrocks · 26/03/2019 21:48

I've realised now why those twee Christmas Eve boxes containing a book, a DVD, new PJs and hot choc are deemed to be SOOO exciting in MN world. You do realise that every convenience store outside every secondary school has a queue of teenagers who neck cans of Monster in secret because their parents think It's worse than vaping?

DD has always been allowed to drink whatever she likes. She gravitates towards water, but that is because fizzy drink comes out of her allowance and she doesn't like squash. She also drinks hot chocolate on her commute and wine when we eat out. She is 17.

Anon10 · 26/03/2019 21:55

Mine are still little, so time will tell.... but it’s not fiction. Sugar in soft drinks is recognised as one of the major drivers of childhood obesity and dental caries. it’s not being self righteous but I do think, why give that stuff to your children if you can avoid it? My DH and I don’t drink juice, squash or fizzy drinks ever, so why would I give it to them? Also they love water and always ask for it, so why would I offer them something that was bad for them instead? Seems like a lot of people who do give this stuff to their kids are getting quite defensive on this thread.

blackteasplease · 26/03/2019 21:56

Well each to their own but I really like water and don't think it's boring at all!

Justanothermile · 26/03/2019 22:02

I did once find seven empty tins of Monster energy drink under ds's bed after he started Y7. Ah the freedom of choice.

He's very health conscious now so doesn't both with much else but water and tea, his call given he's an adult.

But the empty can incident makes me smile even now.

novasglowx · 26/03/2019 22:12

DD aged 7 has juice occasionally but mainly drinks water (her preference). She's never had pop. She's tried fizzy water a couple of times but doesn't like it Grin

Springwalk · 26/03/2019 22:18

pinkie my 14 year old can drink whatever she likes but she chooses water/elderflower etc as it is good for her skin. She doesn’t like sugary drinks as they taste fake.
The younger generation care very much about their health - good on them! They don’t need to be high
on caffeine or alcohol to be interesting, they just need to be themselves. The future is self care and self love ❤️

Lobsterquadrille2 · 26/03/2019 22:22

DD is 21 and has always drunk water; I have sugar free squash on the house and it lasts for ages as it's only me drinking it. I've never bought fizzy drinks but if she'd asked for them when she was growing up, I wouldn't have thought twice about buying them sometimes.

I'm a recovering alcoholic so no alcohol in the house either. I'm sure that DD goes out and gets drunk occasionally at university - but she wouldn't keep any in the house.

PinkieTuscadero · 26/03/2019 22:24

Um, are you sure you're not high on a glass of something yourself, Springwalk?

PinkieTuscadero · 26/03/2019 22:25

I should have specified that my question was for @Cheeeeislifenow, who said her 14 year old wasn't allowed fizzy drinks.

IHaveBrilloHair · 26/03/2019 22:32

Hmm, what are all the teens who hang out in Costa/Starbucks etc drinking?

Stickerrocks · 26/03/2019 22:37

Obviously water out of single use plastic bottles.

SpeedyBojangles · 26/03/2019 22:45

So people are giving kids tea and coffee to drink but not squash?

Bloody hell. This thread is bizarre.

I don't know a single parent that does not allow their child to drink squash (unless they don't like it).

My kids have it every day. So sue me.

Eldest (5) doesn't like anything fizzy so no issues there and 4yo has very occasional sip of ours, but mostly squash or milk.

But according to this thread I should be giving them filtered water only and perhaps a latte or chai tea on occasion Hmm

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 26/03/2019 22:45

Blimey at this thread.

We have fresh orange, vimto, lemonade, smoothies in all the time, I can’t stand water so wouldn’t expect everyone else just to drink it tbf. Everyone’s teeth are fine 🤷‍♀️