Too spicy - not good for kids?

[pupuce]

I cooked a meal tonight which was VERY spicy (accidentally too spicy - cayenne pepper). The kids ated and then DH joined us (held up on the phone) and could not believe how spicy it was....(it was) he took the plates from the kids and said it would give them stomach pains and diahorrea.... the kids were in tears.... which he solved by giving them an omellette (they love that) and ice cream.

Was he right : How bad is it to make it too spicy for a 2 and 4 yo ?

my kids love spicey food. i donmt make very spicey food, but curries are a favourite here. i think it all depends on your kids tolerace of spicey foods really.

i don;t know how spicy it was but if the kids were eating and enjoying it i'm sure it must've been ok

I think children are good judges as to what is 'too' spicy - I would say if they ate it, then it was OK and that you have raised children with wide and catholic tastes! I'm not sure I believe that a few spices lead to stomach problems, personally.

Blimey, first time I can EVER answer a Pupuce question !

NO, he's not right ! If they don't like it they won't eat it is always the bottom line. It will not damage them but may briefly unsettle their digestive systems and you'll be on the receiving end !

I've tried to adapt my dd's diet to make sure that when we visit our family in the Far East she can cope. Garlic is her number one favourite food now and she eats various curries etc, I tried to get her to mix the 'hotter' curries with rice but she's not keen and prefers to mop up the sauce with bread.

My SiL has been 'quite' impressed with the progress we've made but after all, in her country they're weaned onto much more spicey food as routine. NB I've never met anyone who will eat the variety of food she does so hopefully as dd idolises her.....

That's silly. If it wasn't too hot for them to eat of their own free will, it certainly isn't going to do them any harm. Just be prepared for when it comes out the other end. My ds (almost 3) who eats absolutely everything, isn't too wild about super spicy (hot) food, but my dd (1) will even eat spicy things, but it gives her terrible nappy rash the next day.

Thanks for your replies -Well it was so spicy that DD (2) was asking for water - a lot.... I DO mean very spicy ! We (the parents) tend to easily eat sipcy - went to Asia and had no problems with very spicy meals (except the runs) but that dish DH refused eating it himself....
Trouble is my kids are both out of nappies day and night so the runs is not something I consciously aim for IYKWIM

On the positive front.... my kids will clearly eat everything