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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Giving a 4 year old black coffee

51 replies

Greendye · 26/12/2023 10:49

My friend has been giving her son black coffee as a drink (no milk) as his dad drinks it and he had a taste and liked it.
He now as it in his own mug.

I didn’t know children of that age were allowed black coffee. So it kind of surprised me.
Does anyone else think this is odd?

OP posts:
Xmasdread22 · 26/12/2023 10:50

No, it's not okay. Are you a boxing day troll?

ToughLoveLDN · 26/12/2023 10:50

What the actual F!

why would you give a child a stimulant?

crumblenut · 26/12/2023 10:51

you joined mumsnet just to start this thread.

or you name changed.
no posting history at all
interesting

saffronsoup · 26/12/2023 10:51

In South America it is very normal for kids to drink coffee.

I am surprised he likes it from a taste at 4

Reugny · 26/12/2023 10:51

I give my 4 year old beer because he likes the taste of beer.

Yes my post is as ridiculous as this thread.

Desecratedcoconut · 26/12/2023 10:51

The addition of milk isn't going to change the volume of caffeine. I'm surprised it isn't too bitter for him. Are you sure she doesn't have decaf?

x2boys · 26/12/2023 10:52

I would be very surprised if they drank it .

MermaidEyes · 26/12/2023 10:52

x2boys · 26/12/2023 10:52

I would be very surprised if they drank it .

I would be very surprised if this is true

ORANGEORANGEORANGE · 26/12/2023 10:52

Surely this is a wind up?

Presuming it's standard coffee with caffeine, the milk is neither here nor there.

How does he sleep?

AnotherOldBag · 26/12/2023 10:52

Tell her to try magic mushrooms, my 4yo is mad for them

YoBeaches · 26/12/2023 10:57

Of course they can have coffee, or beer, or smokes, whatever else your friends dad likes..... Go for it!

Troll off.

Original poster
Greendye · 26/12/2023 11:10

I name changed and no it’s not a wind up.

OP posts:
Original poster
Greendye · 26/12/2023 11:11

His dad is Spanish , perhaps it’s a thing that Europeans do? I don’t know, but this really isn’t a wind up or a troll post.

OP posts:
TomatoSandwiches · 26/12/2023 11:13

Don't let her get him started on smack I've heard it's rather moreish.

VikingLady · 26/12/2023 11:15

I used to buy DD her own jar of decaf. Then when I found out kids with ADHD are calmed by caffeine instead of stimulated it made sense why she'd be drawn to it.

Mind your own business. It's certainly better than giving them a can of coke, which is very common.

FuckOffTom · 26/12/2023 11:15

Could be decaf. Or even weak instant coffee prob has less caffeine in it than Coke does.
I doubt he is smashing double espressos

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 26/12/2023 11:17

My two year old often tries to steal my coffee.

Little shit.

stealthninjamum · 26/12/2023 11:18

I wonder if it’s a cultural thing as I’m sure I was offered expressos at that age (I’m not originally British).

Dc with adhd drink coffee and tea to calm them down - but weren’t allowed til they were 12 and because they don’t want to take medication.

Torganer · 26/12/2023 11:18

Is it decaffeinated? Whether there is milk in it is irrelevant. My 2yr old drinks decaffeinated tea.

I’ve seen 4yr olds drinking coke, whilst not something I would do, I don’t see it as much different than them having coffee.

Torganer · 26/12/2023 11:19

I also used to have a weak coffee as a child, but then I grew up in the 90s!!

etmoiandme · 26/12/2023 11:20

I've seen kids in France drink coffee - but very milky ones and not as young as 4.

It's absolutely not OK to give a 4 year old a black coffee.

newtimesagain · 26/12/2023 11:29

4 is to old for coffee my invisible son was drinking vodka at 2 hes so grown up
he was smoking fags and weed at 4.
Hes 5 now and ready to move out.

They grow up so fast.😆

sunnydayhereandnow · 26/12/2023 11:42

Check what's actually in the mug. My 4yo likes to go round tasting any half cup of tea (black, no sugar) I leave around, so I sometimes make him "tea" in his own mug, but what's in there is basically warm water that has lightly sniffed a tea bag from afar.

ManateeFair · 26/12/2023 12:07

This is totally normal in lots of Mediterranean cultures and giving kids tea and coffee was pretty normal in the UK until quite recently. I drank tea and coffee at that age. I’m not dead.

Mind your own business, basically.

Xmasdread22 · 26/12/2023 12:09

Mine drank alcohol all day yesterday but it was Christmas after all.