Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
SqueezyMcJingles · 26/12/2023 12:17

It's only coffee. Surely a cup of standard coffee is fine? Mine drank tea at that age, and still do now at 11 & 12.

MrsSkylerWhite · 26/12/2023 12:21

Might be decaf?

PiIIock · 26/12/2023 12:21

No, she shouldn't be drinking coffee but it's not the end of the world. Also, depends on the size of the cup. An egg cup? Meh.

Honestly, for those detailing, you must be very boring and sheltered.

If op was going to make a a wind up thread, she'd probably choose something a bit more shocking and interesting than a child having some coffee.

TaffimaiMetallumai · 26/12/2023 12:24

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

ManateeFair · 26/12/2023 12:27

People comparing a coffee to crack and mushrooms really need to get a grip

TaffimaiMetallumai · 26/12/2023 12:28

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

MrsNandortheRelentless · 26/12/2023 12:38

It’s the tannin content of coffee restricting the absorption of iron from food that kids need nutritionally that would be of concern too.

newtimesagain · 26/12/2023 13:03

ManateeFair · 26/12/2023 12:27

People comparing a coffee to crack and mushrooms really need to get a grip

We need to get a grip YOU need to chill out and have a laugh now and then it does wonders for your mental health.

janfebmarchapril · 26/12/2023 13:04

Terrible. When I worked in central London a woman asked for an espresso for herself and a flat white for her son who was 4. This was at a medical place not a cafe. I refused

Pussygaloregalapagos · 26/12/2023 13:05

Yes to coffee, tea and beer as soon as weaned.

BingoMarieHeeler · 26/12/2023 13:08

DS 8 has recently been desperate for regular teas - suspect he has some ADHD going on so this is v interesting!!

greentreez23 · 26/12/2023 13:09

I was born in the sixties. It was normal for babies to have milky tea in our family from about 2 years old. I hated milk and tea but loved coffee. My dad used to bring a mug of black coffee up to my room each morning at 7.30 to start the day from about 6 years old I think? Never really thought about whether that was ok or not. Just something that happened.

MaggieBsBoat · 26/12/2023 13:13

I probably had crappy instant coffee at that age in the 70s.

Proper coffee though is crazy and all levels of bad for a child.

Alloveragain3 · 26/12/2023 13:58

My 4yo gets a drop of coffee in milk and we call it his babyccino.

Lol at the pearl clutchers who probably give their children sugary and chemical filled crap (like squash and sweets) every day.

I wouldn't give a full strong coffee, but only because I can imagine it would make him hyper and would have a laxative effect!

PiIIock · 26/12/2023 14:30

People are actually fussing about children drinking tea? That's new to me.

Probably same ones who give their children chocolate, sweets, juice and all manner of crap that will mess their teeth permanently, but a bit of tea is where we draw the line.

Has anyone ever had the shakes from a cup of earl grey?

Siha345 · 26/12/2023 14:58

Surely it’s decaf? I’m surprised a child would like anything that bitter. I wouldn’t give it to my young child because I find it to be a diuretic but perhaps that’s just me. I suppose might be helpful if the child is constipated as it makes lots of people poop too

Butchyrestingface · 26/12/2023 14:59

I didn’t know children of that age were allowed black coffee

You thought coffee was an age-restricted product?

pigsDOfly · 26/12/2023 15:09

To those saying it must be decaffeinated coffee.

Decaffeinated doesn't mean caffeine free, there is still a percentage of caffeine in decaffeinated coffee and tea. And as pp said it contains tannin, which is probably something growing children are better without.

kezzykicks · 26/12/2023 15:13

My ds loves the taste of coffee and would have happily had a black coffee at that age. I occasionally make him a small decaf but he does try to sip my coffee. Weirdly he prefers black to white. So I don't doubt this is true but did think it was bad for children so wouldn't give it. I definitely was given tea at that age.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 26/12/2023 15:15

I drank coffee from about 3 years old and tea from younger.

The only thing unreasonable would be to expect kids to have decaffeinated. Because that stuff tastes like crap.

MissBuffyAnneSummers · 26/12/2023 15:17

It depends on how many cups a day and are talking instant or double espressos?

SqueezyMcJingles · 26/12/2023 15:30

pigsDOfly · 26/12/2023 15:09

To those saying it must be decaffeinated coffee.

Decaffeinated doesn't mean caffeine free, there is still a percentage of caffeine in decaffeinated coffee and tea. And as pp said it contains tannin, which is probably something growing children are better without.

Tannins are found in all sorts of things - dark grapes and therefore also raisins, red apples, dark chocolate, a whole range of teas, unripe, green bananas...

CharlottePimpernel · 26/12/2023 16:07

Mine likes coffee, she has decaf.
I was drinking tea throughout the day from age two.

Dartmoorcheffy · 26/12/2023 16:10

NeverDropYourMooncup · 26/12/2023 15:15

I drank coffee from about 3 years old and tea from younger.

The only thing unreasonable would be to expect kids to have decaffeinated. Because that stuff tastes like crap.

Same here. And never suffered any ill effects from it. I would say it' is healthier than artificial sweeteners or sugar too.

Scampuss · 26/12/2023 16:30

Latin American heritage and was given black coffee from quite young 🤷🏻‍♀️

Swipe left for the next trending thread