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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

What age should a child be trusted with a hot drink?

94 replies

Onanotherdiet38 · 01/04/2022 12:54

Like a hot chocolate, what do you think is a suitable age for them to be given their own hot drink safely?

OP posts:
Dishwashersaurous · 01/04/2022 14:22

3/4 to drink one

10 to make one

dollydimple123 · 01/04/2022 14:24

3/4 I'd say although I'd never give it boiling hot always top up with some cool water or milk 😁

VampireMoney · 01/04/2022 14:35

@YetAnotherSpartacus I remember my gran making us a tea in our sippy cups when we were small, I just asked my mum and she said we started having milky tea in a cup at 12 months old!

YetAnotherSpartacus · 01/04/2022 14:44

YetAnotherSpartacus I remember my gran making us a tea in our sippy cups when we were small, I just asked my mum and she said we started having milky tea in a cup at 12 months old!

It was common back then :)

I'm trying to remember what sippy cups used to be called.

It may have been just 'sip cup'.

Dixiechickonhols · 01/04/2022 14:48

Depends. A hot choc made for a child probably 3 or 4. A scalding temperature tea in a flimsy paper cup probably 10 plus.

VampireMoney · 01/04/2022 14:48

I was born in 77, think my mum just called it a baby cup but I know my youngest brothers was a tommee tippee one.

Dixiechickonhols · 01/04/2022 14:49

Brownies used to have a homemaker badge when I was little where you practiced making tea so age 7 plus. I remember being in church kitchen and feeling grown up. You had to lay a tea tray too.

PersephoneInTheGarden · 01/04/2022 14:50

About 25 in the case of mine (accident prone)

hiredandsqueak · 01/04/2022 14:52

Dgs had tea and biscuits with me yesterday he's not yet three. He loves the ceremony he calls it a tea party. It's our little ritual when he's here around 11am. He puts out biscuits, puts cups on saucers, pours milk into cups and stirs after I have poured the tea. So long as the tea is cool enough not to scald there is no harm.

Whydothat · 01/04/2022 15:01

My children have always had hot drinks, just adjusted to be the right temp for them. They used the kettle themselves from 9 or 10

hangrylady · 01/04/2022 15:02

@Bananabutter

Why do they need one?
Why does anyone? They're nice maybe.
Attictroll · 01/04/2022 15:06

From 2-3 but now helping make it at 9. Tea a definite no no though as bad for iron uptake esp in kids

hangrylady · 01/04/2022 15:06

Mine have been having milky tea in a beaker since they were toddlers. They are 11 and 9 now and DS loves a cup of tea, DD loves coffee but I buy her decaf. They also make tea and coffee themselves.

Svara · 01/04/2022 15:08

Age two at an appropriate temperature, made with a small amount of hot chocolate. Probably six for an adult hot chocolate at a cafe with no warnings about temperature.

Chonfox · 01/04/2022 15:09

I'm so confused by this thread Confused don't people give their DC warm drinks?! Mine have had them always?! They're now 4&5 and have babychinos/hot chocolates or something like that every week. Why wouldn't they? Odd question.

CentrifugalBumblePuppy · 01/04/2022 15:10

A friend of mine’s son had a milky (but very warm & well brewed) tea at about 2! I offered my kids tea or hot chocolate at about 3-4, my son would have a cuppa after school from reception onwards!

Hugasauras · 01/04/2022 15:11

DD is 3 and can carefully drink a hot chocolate, although I don't make it as hot as I would for myself. Hotter than lukewarm but not hot enough to cause any damage if it spills.

bakewellbride · 01/04/2022 15:11

Ds is 3.5 and gets hot chocolate at forest school. It's obviously not hot hot though.

Sunnytwobridges · 01/04/2022 15:17

4 or 5. I used to put a little ice in my DDs drink to cool it down. But for some reason now she prefers all of her hot drinks and food scorching hot.

Stompythedinosaur · 01/04/2022 15:20

Pretty sure my dc had occasion hot chocolate from around 2ish. I didn't make it scalding hot.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 01/04/2022 15:21

You are younger than me Vampire and probably right about baby cup :).

Gilly12345 · 01/04/2022 15:40

Bananabutter

Why do they need one?

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

1forAll74 · 01/04/2022 15:44

i thought it would be obvious to know about this.I would say about three years old, you check suitable temperature,the child can hold the cup or whatever properly, and you supervise the child when they are drinking.
Having said that, when my Son was about two, he used to have sips of warm tea in his little lipped mug.

zingally · 01/04/2022 16:27

Mine have been having hot chocolate or the occasional bovril when under the weather (that's what my mum used to make me, and it always made me feel better!) since they were maybe 3, pushing 4.

I only ever serve them at "bath water temperature" and they are "sit at the table drinks".

I'm a bit sensitive about hot drinks for kids though. My little boy, when he was newly 4, pulled his dads hot tea off the side (he wanted to "look at the mug") and got quite a bad burn on his shoulder/arm. It healed up fine, but it made both of us a bit nervous.

MajorCarolDanvers · 01/04/2022 16:34

Mine probably had hot choc or a cup of tea since they were about 4