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

to find people who give their babies and toddlers cups of tea in bottles weird?

98 replies

wolfear · 16/07/2009 22:03

I've seen this a couple of times at various local baby and toddler groups and have had to quickly remove the shocked expression on my face. It just seems wrong wrong wrong.

OP posts:
TrinityRhinoHasASillyStepson · 17/07/2009 08:06

lol maidamess

MIAonline · 17/07/2009 08:21

I love the recent middle class interpretation on this 'issue', with various teas being added to the list, earl grey and red bush being the current favourites in some circles

Makes me smile.

LisaD1 · 17/07/2009 08:42

My mum used to give Tea in a bottle to all of us when we were babies (I'm now 36!) and she did the same with the grandchildren as they came along except for mine as I will not allow it. I see no reason for them to need it. My DD1 is now 9 years old and will have the very rare(probably a couple of times a year) cup of tea. DD2 is almost 2years old and her only choices for drinks are water or milk. She sees us drinking tea/coffee and sometimes asks but I just say no, it's mummy's and she's quite happy with that.

I just don't get the need to give little children tea.

HellHathNoFury · 17/07/2009 08:53

I'D LOVE it if my SIL fed her 8 year old tea.
Better than the Bacardi Breezers she currently gives them.

SouthMum · 17/07/2009 08:55

YABU - I don't see the harm in a bit of tea. No they don't NEED it but there again they don't NEED the odd sweet or chocolate or that extra toy that Granny bought for them......its just something nice, a bit of a treat and why bloody not!

MamaLazarou · 17/07/2009 09:08

I can't remember a time when I didn't drink tea. Not from a bottle, though - from a cup with my name on... and - shock horror - WITH SUGAR! (I am now 33 and have never had a single filling).

My mum used to give us milky coffee, too. I remember drinking this at around the age of 5 or 6.

Tea from a bottle does look rather common, but it doesn't do any harm.

Recent medical research shows that a cup of tea is as rehydrating as a cup of water, and regular tea-drinkers suffer fewer heart attacks.

Longtalljosie · 17/07/2009 09:09

Well, I had tea as a baby - and my adult teeth developed flourosis. Since I've never lived in an area with flouride added to water, early tea in Tommee Tippee cups is seen as the probable culprit. So, no, YANBU

Longtalljosie · 17/07/2009 09:10

Although like MamaLazarou, my teeth are very strong. One filling at the age of 34, despite a Haribo habit.

TrillianAstra · 17/07/2009 09:24

Definitely no contest Trinity, since hershey chocolate is disgusting and tea is nice

My little brother used to get 'tea' because he wanted to be like Dad. (I think as a toddler, but obviously one old enough to demand tea). Mainly milk with a tea bag waved at it to make it a slightly different colour to plain milk is not going to have enough of anything in it to be harmful.

suwoo · 17/07/2009 09:35

My 7 year old has a very milky tea maybe once a month or so if she asks for it. Oop North in some of the rough areas near where I live, tea in a bottle is the norm. Coke in the bottle is almost as prevalent and makes me judge more than tea TBH.

The worst thing I have seen in said area, is a McDonalds milkshake being decanted into the babies bottle. Pure class

Buda · 17/07/2009 09:41

My mum did this with one of my sisters. She used to take a bottle of sugary tea to bed with her!

DS is almost 8 and likes to occassionally take a sip of my tea. He does like a cup of tea with biscuits to dunk. Basically half a cup of hot water with my tea bag wafted around in it and lots of milk. He then dunks biscuits in it. Doesn't actually drink the tea!

I can't remember what age I started to drink tea though. I'm sure I was quite young.

StealthPolarBear · 17/07/2009 09:49

HHNF please tell me you're joking?

I once sent DH out for apple & raspberry J20s (I'm pregnant) and he came back with watermelon BBs He thought J20s were alcopops too, and didn't understand why I wanted them!

I don't give DS tea as it's not something that would occur to me (I don't drink it but DH does). If he asked for it, I might let him have a little bit I suppose. I drink coffee though and don't think I'd even let him taste that. I have a couple of friends who do give their LOs (2yo) tea, one started recently but one has been giving it since the baby was about 9mo - I don't understand that. However in every other way she's a much better mother than me so I'm not judging her on that

sadiemm2 · 17/07/2009 09:50

gosh you lot really are middle class aren't you? Neither of my children had a bottle, it was breast then straight onto proper cups,but hhow many of you give your children milk in bottles, or lots of fruit juice. All shown to danage children's teeth. Your " oop north" "flat caps" " south london" snipes are deeply unpleasant. They maybe disguised as jokes, but really. I would not give my children tea in a bottle or cup but it's not the end of the world when my 7 and 11 dd's ask for a cuppa, probably better than endless glasses of squash and juice like some of their friends. It's not blue pop and wotsits is it? I won't judge whether YABU, but think all poster's Southern middle class attitudes are.

StealthPolarBear · 17/07/2009 09:51

Wow that last sentence sounded very judgey about the tea thing, sorry - just I don't understand it at all

StealthPolarBear · 17/07/2009 09:51

sadie - I'm from a pit village in the north east, for the record

sadiemm2 · 17/07/2009 09:57

SPB- apologies, your post crossed with mine- I mean the general attitudes in the above thread.

StealthPolarBear · 17/07/2009 09:59

I know
Well, best get off now the rain's stopped and walk t'whippet
(oh hang on, that's Manchester isn't it??)

sadiemm2 · 17/07/2009 10:23

yes....my staffordshire bull terrier hasn't completely terrorised the village yet, and the pigeons need seeing to.....and must buy more blue pop......

5inthebed · 17/07/2009 10:39

Which one SPB?

Picante, In South Africa, they nickname Redbush tea constipation tea, as it's great for shifting it iykwim.

StealthPolarBear · 17/07/2009 10:44

I live in Waterhouses (near Esh Winning and Langley Park) to the west of Durham. How about you?

Horton · 17/07/2009 10:47

I am both Southern and middle class and give my nearly three year old daughter a cup of tea every day as I said before. Not in a bottle, though, because she hated them even as a baby. Is that all right with you? Blimey.

LittleMammaTo2 · 17/07/2009 10:48

Am now wetting myself at some of these posts

Am a northern gal mesen, would never give tea/coffee to either of my children (both under 3) but see it very often in some grotty areas of town (especially with younger mums)

alicecrail · 17/07/2009 10:52

My mum has done this with all of us. I'm guessing it is more than a coincidence that we have all been borderline anemic most of our lives. She proudly announces that my brother (behaviour problems, possibly autistic - long story) can't do anything without his morning cuppa. He is 7 btw

5inthebed · 17/07/2009 10:52

Oh I live in Newcastle, not so much a pit village lol. I've never heard of Waterhouses though!