My baby accidentally drank tea

[stressedmum22]

I'm quite an anxious mum in general so please be as kind as possible, as I do think I'm probably worrying for nothing here.

My little one (who recently turned 1yo) picked up a lukewarm cup of tea from where I'd stupidly left it on the living room floor. I had nipped to the kitchen for something and came back to her drinking it (well mostly pouring it all down herself 🙈). I can't remember how much was in it.

Is tea / caffeine harmful to babies??

Thank you so much for all your replies. I feel much better now! It's hard not to panic sometimes. 🙈

She'll be fine. My friend used to give her babies tea daily in a bottle as her parents did the same. I was a bit shocked when I saw the bottle but didn't say anything.
They are now both healthy, successful adults.

I doubt it would have done any harm even if she’d drunk the whole cup. However, I would caution leaving any hot drink where a LO can reach it.

I'm pretty sure that my sister and I were given the occasional bottle of sugary, milky tea in a bottle or in our lidded beakers when we were that age.

We are in our fifties now, and definitely survived.

Your baby will be fine.

I've been feeding my babies tea since about 4 months old! One loves it, the other can take or leave. They are 4 and 5 now. No harm done!

My gran gave both my babies tea in a bottle from about 1 they loved it. Thru still love a cuppa and are completely fine.

All mine have had tea when they were toddlers. I was at a family party last year when my youngest was 3 and she grabbed my gin and tonic off the table when my back was turned and necked about a quarter of it. She slept well that night 😂

I made it when she was asleep so it was hot then. It'd been there for a while as I got distracted when she woke up, so I'd forgotten about it. It was barely warm when she was drinking it. I'd never leave a hot cup in her reach.

Yes, I was brought up drinking it, totally normal where I was born. Don't worry.

The only concern would have been if it was hot, but it wasn't. Whilst I wouldn't do it myself lots of people actually give babies tea at that age, some daily. Definitely no need to worry.

1950's babies were raised on milky tea in their bottles.

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor was it English tea though? Where dc were born tea was the norm from newborn but wasn't anything like a retort tea bag. Ours was a herbal blend - mostly fennel and/or chamomile

Congratulations, you have a baby Brit!

My children all had milky tea from that age with their grandparents with a biscuit and they loved it.

She will be fine, we used to give tea in a bottle to my sister. The issue would be her associating the mug with something nice and a getting a scald. Start making a big deal about the mug being hot. I started using a travel mug which had a lid in case I misplaced it. Might be an idea

My parents used to put tea in my bottle. On purpose! She'll be fine.

As another pp pointed out, premature babies are given caffeine routinely as it's essential for brain development. So no, a sip of milky tea at 1 isn't going to do anything.

It's always worrying when your child does something and you are not sure about it but it's no worry. I was raised on tea it was the thing when I was younger but they used to say no coffee until you were older! anyway don't worry but you know now to put up drinks especially in case they are hot

I’m fairly sure my dad drank tea from about 3 months old 😂 he used to have those old glass bottles with with tea in and as he grew his grandad would make the teat bigger with a knitting needle!! He still drinks about 10 cups of tea a day now 😂

Don’t worry, your baby will be fine, as long as it was Earl Grey tea.

Just 30-40 years ago people used to give babies tea regularly, not just in other cultures in this country too.. it’s completely fine

All babies in China drink tea. Your child will be fine!

Does anyone else remember when it was the norm to give babies a drink of tea?
I feel ancient, but back win the day it was usual to see the adult pour some tea from their cup in to the saucer for the baby to slurp from.

Your baby will be fine. She probably didn't drink very much.

I do understand your anxiety. My DS got up to all sorts and I would be beside myself. We just love them so.

My mum made me my own weak tea at that age!

It's absolutely fine.