At what age do you allow your children to drink coke?

[emkana]

Hi all,
I've just been reading a very heated thread on a German board about the question above - isn't parenting amazing? SOOOOOOO many thinks to get upset about... (dummies, b/feeding, sleeping...)
But I've been wondering about this with my dd1, who sees me and dh drink coke occasionally, and has asked if she could try, but accepted it when we said it was only for adults. She's just turned three. Also, would you think 'proper' coke or diet coke would be better? Find the latter a bit dubious because of the sweeteners.
What do you do/think?

Nope it is evil stuff
I have never allowed my kids it, the eldest having tasted it a few times at oarties, says it is foul...
I put his tooth in it once to show him what it can do
But we do not have any fizzy drinks in the house anyway either

My dentist (who just quoted me for £1550 worth of work) told me yesterday that fizzy drinks of all kinds were the very worse thing for children's teeth, even worse than straight sugar.

Ditto here too. Absolutely awful stuff and sent from the devil himself....!! Used to do the teeth experiment for children I taught, along with the 2p piece challenge - no way could I let the children have it, sorry.
Not really an issue in our house as we don't have fizzy drinks - and DD (5) doesn't like the bubbles if she has had lemonade at friend's......DS (14.5 months) far too young...

I cant say much about this as it is quite hush hush - all I would say is I wouldnt give my children coke and diet coke is even worse. There should be some research coming out in the next couple of years that will put you off coke for your self - let alone your children.

A friend worked for Fed Ex at Stansted and there was a spill of coke concentrate. it stripped the tarmac down to the metal....She told me about this whilst drinking a can of the stuff!

So if it's the carbonation as well as the sugar that's bad, does that mean that fizzy water is bad for their teeth?? It's dd1's favourite drink ...

Oh G ood for you roly moly!

yep,our dentist is equally horrified by fizzy water. Was always told that you shouldn't have it with meals as bad for digestion but that may be another of those childhood myths, same as not swimming in the sea for at least 2 hours after eating anything in case you get cramp and drown.

My children, dd(8) and ds(10) are allowed coke now and again but only mixed with equal part water which they have no objection to. They both prefer diluted drinks and flavoured water.

DS doesn't drink it but then he doesn't (yet) like "busy" drinks but...I have to admit a certain addiction to diet coke, I know it's probably the devils drink and god knows what is actually in it but sometimes i really like it.

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the voice of reason

Katie thats beacuse you know uits good for weight loss

Everything in moderation I say. Unless of course they were snorting it, then i would say they were too young until adulthood

OH thank god!
Lou also voice fo reason

Ooh, Coddy agreed with me!!!!

I only drink full fat coke and dh only drinks diet coke caffeine free. So I tell ds1(5) that he can only have his dad's and not mine because mine is no good for children. But he doesn't have that much anyway. Perhaps a glass once or twice a week. Unlike dh who goes through 4 bottles a week. I got through about a 8-10 cans a week.

We've promised our DS's(5.5yo), that if they collect enough stars on their chart over the summer break, that they can have a day of having their own way. One of the questions was, would they be allowed coke(they never have it), so I said it depended on how close to bedtime it was.

Don't let children have it at home but can have it if we are out and about. Couple of times a week or so. DH and I don't like it and wouldn't have it in the house if it weren't for the nanny who drinks it by the case! Children don't tend to pester for it though when they are at home.

Think its the moderation thing - would rather they had it now and again than become obsessed by it once they are older and able to choose what they drink. Same as sweets and other treats really.

My view is that I would rather concentrate on the bulk of what they have being good, homecooked food with lots of fruit and veg, than banning sweets, coke and other treats as they comprise such a small amount of their overall diet. As I've said before on Mumsnet what really gets my goat is parent who witter on and on and on about dear little Johnny not being allowed sweets and other treats, but then feed their kids on chicken nuggets and chips every day.

Joanneg - tell us more.......Are you a scientist/ nutitionist?

don't even talk about weight loss coddy. I am failing miserably but my excuse is that I am trying to get pregnant so in the back of my head i think oh well, I might be pregnant in a month so why bother ;( the shame of it....

anyway, back to yummy diet coke...

Does anyone know why they discontinued caffeine free but full-fat coke cover here? I used to love it....suppose it was poor sales.

Mine don't have it - well, ds1 had it once when he had antibiotic syrup to take. The medicine made him gag and I thought mixing it in Coke would mask the taste. Ds2 says sadly, when he sees a bottle, "dat's dust for mummies daddies."

Last summer we were at PILs and MIL was pouring herself a glass of Coke and she asked ds1 if he would like some (we were all in the garden). He said yes, but just as she was about to pour it into the glass his conscience got the better of him and he blurted out "no, grandma...I'm not allowed!"