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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

mumOfTheYearNOT · 17/07/2009 11:18

Tea is wrong. End of. Horrible stuff.

Morloth · 17/07/2009 11:54

Trying to imagine what would happen if I gave my DS coffee. The last thing the little snot needs is a stimulant!

I think it is a bit odd to put tea in a bottle, but I don't actually think tea is all that bad for you so I would think it was bad parenting, just a bit odd. Now shall we talk about Coke in bottles? I get all judgey about that can't think of a single reason to do so.

DS has "kid" tea when he is sick, colds & flu get lemon & ginger, cooled down with lots of honey and upset tummy gets peppermint.

GetOrfMoiCockroachCluster · 17/07/2009 11:56

OP - you meant common, not weird, didn't you?

chegirl · 17/07/2009 16:15

@ GOMCC! Nail on fecking head moment

haemomum · 17/07/2009 20:41

"Same parents probably give their children takeaway and choc cake as 'normal' meal. At least most schools now promote healthy food/drinks that are appropriate for the age group"

I resent this comment tbh. My ds has milky decaf tea in the morning with his breakfast. No sugar, as I don't add sugar or salt to anything for him. It's basically hot water with a teabag dipped in, and topped up with more that half milk. It's not for nutritional purposes, as there is none,he has it just because he likes it and needs a drink in the am. This does NOT mean I give him takeaway and choc cake as a nomal meal! It's out of a bottle but I don't let him crawl or walk arouind with a bottle - he drinks it in his highchair, and when he finishes his breakfast he gets down to play.

So to OP - YAB abit U, in calling us weird.

herestoabetterfuture · 17/07/2009 20:52

Erm, IMO it depends on the age of the child.

I used to have milky tea in a sippy cup when I was a little child and it was lovely and comforting.

I am neither a "northener" "chav" or any such. .

My DD has had tea in a sippy cup, very weak, organic decaf, with either milk/goats milk/rice milk. Don't see the problem.

IMO it's not the same as giving coca cola, squash or similar in a bottle.

And yes, my DD does still use her bottle. Some children like dummies, or a blanket as a comforter - hers is her bottle. However, she now just drinks water in it. I don't see the problem really.

My philosophy is they won't be doing it when they are 25! I also, unless it is shoved in my face, couldn't really care less what other people do with their children. Live and let live. It's not like they are beating their children with a stick, is it?

herestoabetterfuture · 17/07/2009 20:56

Sorry that sounds rather harsh, didn't mean it like that.

Got PMT seriously bad and sore throat (SWINE FLU SWINE FLU OINK OINK)

zazizoma · 17/07/2009 21:07

I still give dc diluted chamomile tea, sometimes fennel, rather than juice. And people always wondered why my dc were so very very calm . . .

Original poster

wolfear · 17/07/2009 21:10

GOMCC - 'common', 'weird' whatever. I still think it's wrong.

OP posts:

CrushWithEyeliner · 17/07/2009 21:33

I also resent all these "wrong" "weird" comments. Why is is so odd? All the northern working class, common comments are

DD has tea in a -shock horror- bottle with breakfast when she fancies it - clipper organic literally dipped in warm milk and boiled water BIG DEAL. She also has fennel and cammomile with organic honey she absolutely loves it - I am very posh btw

PeppermintPatty · 17/07/2009 21:37

I had tea as a child. Not a baby though, I was prob about 4.

Lovely tea. I'm v addicted to it now though. I get withdrawal headaches about 5pm if I've not had a cup all day

RumourOfAHurricane · 17/07/2009 21:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

GodzillasBumcheek · 17/07/2009 21:59

Yes you ABU - theres a lot worse things can go in a bottle besides tea or coffee. Hows about beer, cola, spirits, or sugary juice?

The only thing i wonder is how parents cope with the caffeine intake if the tea/coffee is strong enough to have any effect! Rather them than me

Pushingonthrough · 17/07/2009 22:45

I had a friend (ish!) who used to give her 9 month old ds a bottle of tea every afternoon and then a bottle of Horlicks before bed. Apparently "because he liiiikes it!"

I did try and tactfully point out that it probably wasn't doing her 9 month old much good, but she wouldn't hear any of it. - oh and a flake with a bowl of whipped cream "for watching X Factor with". Not the sharpest tool in the box was she!

Theinvisibleone · 18/07/2009 10:00

My dd aged 4 luvs a nice cuppa tea, mostly milk with a splash of tea.

I think its a lovely social thing to do, making a nice cuppa.

I had tea in a cup as a kid and it was a lovely, family thing to do.

38 and no fillings.

babyball · 18/07/2009 10:07

I wouldn't give it to a toddler in a bottle/cup necessarily. My niece loves to have a few sips of my tea (without sugar) and loves the taste. Sometimes she'll drink half the cup It's nothing to get worked up about unless this is their main type of drink. I would certainly prefer to give her tea than Fruit Shoots/ Sunny D. Less chemical crap IMO.

babyball · 18/07/2009 10:12

PS: Why has the class issue been raised in this post?

stillstanding · 18/07/2009 10:15

Are we talking tea, tea or herbal tea? I've seen quite a few people give their DCs fennel or chamomile tea which is a lovely alternative to water and a lot better for them than juice.

Knickers0nMaHead · 18/07/2009 10:16

yanbu. But then i hate seeing any child over the age of one with a bottle

Morloth · 18/07/2009 12:36

What is so bad about being common in any case?

I am a bit posh and a bit common. As happy at a posh cocktail party as at a bbq in the backyard balancing a beer on my tummy and a fire in a 44 gallon drum (geez I miss home!).

You don't have to choose.

poshsinglemum · 18/07/2009 13:16

YANBU- surely that caffeine can't be good.

Try telling that to my one year old dd who squeals every time I sit down with a cuppa as she wants some! And no- I havn't given in to her demands yet.

katiestar · 18/07/2009 20:40

In my birth to 5 book which the MW gave me (granted 14 yrs old now !) it says tea shouldnot be given to baby under 12m as it might interfere with absorption of iron
Really can't see what the problem with decaf unsweetened tea would be ? i thought it was good for the intestines and full of antioxidants.
(I don't think tea actually has that much caffeuine in -certainly nothing like coffee.

thumbwitch · 19/07/2009 00:16

It's not just the caffeine, it's the tannins as well. Tannins are the things in black tea that stain the cup and the teapot (if anyone still uses one) - they don't de-tannin tea, even if they decaffeinate it. Tannins interfere with absorption of minerals like iron, calcium and zinc (necessary for the healthy function of the immune system and good digestion)

Herbal teas don't generally contain tannins, but green tea does (although they are a different form from the fermented black tea tannins)

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