Can (should) children eat Christmas pudding?

[Dampfnudel]

We are going to relatives for Christmas, and there will be Christmas pudding. They always drench it in brandy and set fire to it, plus it is home-made and I think there is a fair bit of alcohol in it too.

My 9 year old loves foods like that - dark and full of dried fruit. I know she'll want to eat a big portion of Christmas pudding, and I am worried about the alcohol content.

Am I being ridiculously over-protective? I am considering buying a mini size non-alcoholic pudding just for her.

This has never come up with any of the other children in the family (who are older), they always have ice cream or chocolate sundae or something instead because they don't like Christmas pudding. Last year I only let DD have a very small portion because I was concerned about the alcohol, and the rest of the family told me I was daft, and DD was upset.

Am I worrying about nothing, or is it too much alcohol?

I'd suggest letting your health visitor know, if you think there's nothing wrong with it.

I've let my (small) children have a taste of champagne/wine before. Which is probably the same as a 'dribble' watered down with lemonade. I've explained to them why they are not allowed to drink it but when they are 'grown-up' they can if they want to.

Far more worrying to me, is the fact that they talk about drinking coca cola at parties (they are almost 5 and 7). They are far more likely to develop a taste for crappy, sugary, additive-laden soft drinks than they are alcohol IMHO. Also more worrying, is the sight of a mother handing her 15mo baby her can of coke in her buggy to keep her quiet (saw this on a train)....... [shocked]

RubbishMantra

To be fair, I'm basing this off my hazy memory of a medical from 15 years ago. All I know is that they tell you to avoid poppy seeds and some other foods now.