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Original poster

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

81 replies

emkana · 17/07/2004 17:13

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?

OP posts:

maisystar · 17/07/2004 18:00

ds has never had coke-he'3 1/2. he doesn't like fizzy stuff. if he did like it i would let him stick his finger in which is what he does with guiness and wine (occasionally)

if he really likes it and doesn't have it it becomes more desirable imo. maybe just say he can have a tiny bit cos too much is bad for his teeth?

misdee · 17/07/2004 18:01

dd1 has it at times and has done since she was about 3. dd2 unfortunatly had a drink of coke when she was about 8 weeks old as one of the kids at the refuge stuck a babies bottle of coke in her mouth when i was making up a bottle of milk for her. to say i was fuming was the least. poor dd2 had a tummy ache all night afterwards. since then she has tried coke once, and that was a special treat, but she prefers pure orange juice and milk anyway. she is now 22months.

maisystar · 17/07/2004 18:01

he's 3 1/2!

Angeliz · 17/07/2004 18:02

We never have soft drinks in the house, (only the hard stuff and juice), but when we're out dd (3.5) often has a little bit.
Maybe once a week but only a little so i'm not worried.

Thomcat · 17/07/2004 18:05

Would put it off as long as possible. I gave L prune juice in a bottle and someone thought I was letting her drink coke and I was horrified that people thought that's what she was drinking from an Avent bottle!!!!!!!!! Yuck.
She's 2.5 and so far apart from prune juice she's only ever had water and i'll keep that us a long as I possibly can and delay coke for as long as i can. i don't drink it so hopefully will be able to dalay for years and years and years.

Beccarollover · 17/07/2004 18:07

Isnt that just the worse thing ever - seeing a baby with a bottle of coke (usually a sausage roll in the other hand) - shudder

misdee · 17/07/2004 18:08

but becca, i never gave dd2 coke, some other little brat did

Beccarollover · 17/07/2004 18:12

lol misdee I hadnt read your post - i was referring to the intentional coke bottle feeders

sis · 17/07/2004 18:50

Ds(5 yrs) sometimes has coke or diet coke - about half or a third of a beaker as a special treat. Usually if we go out for a meal or we are having a home cinema afternoon when he gets the coke and popcorn for the full cinema experience!

SofiaAmes · 17/07/2004 18:56

I am 41 and my mother still complains when I drink a diet coke and mumbles about water being much better for me.

lemonice · 17/07/2004 19:15

They get to a certain age and you beg them to drink coke.

Northerner · 17/07/2004 19:20

LOL Lemonice - that is so true!

Fio2 · 17/07/2004 19:28

My coke is carefully hidden away from the kids, in the high cistern in the basement toilet. I reckon 18 is the right age although it is still illegal

mears · 18/07/2004 00:36

LOL Fio2

I cannot remember when I allowed coke but I think it was well over 5 years for DS no.1. With each child they probably got some earlier. I don't allow diet coke for them because of the sweeteners (aspartame), the same with fruit juices. No problems with tooth decay incase anyone wonders...

codswallop · 18/07/2004 00:39

LOl at you all
My mum told me that ds3's teeth were going to be

" as black as a peruvian indians"
from lickin a finger dipped in coke 0- aged 9 mohts.

None of mine like fizzy drinks!

Pagan · 18/07/2004 00:41

Never if you can!!! Coke does dreadful things to teeth. I remember an experiment in school where we left a cow's tooth in a glass of coke overnight. Next day it was like rubber. Also gives dreadful heartburn when older if drunk too much as well as all the caffeine stuff. I'm sure I have only 2 fillings (aged 35) because I never drank fizzy drinks. Still don't.

codswallop · 18/07/2004 00:42

I do and I have none!

Pagan · 18/07/2004 00:48

Ach poo! There's my theory shot to bu**ery

codswallop · 18/07/2004 00:49

lol
I have very good teeth no orhtodoantics no fillings etc
smug cow
But I htink a lto of it is just inherited.. ds1 is very crap at clenaing teeth and is alwauys 10/10 at dentist...

alison222 · 18/07/2004 15:42

Unbelelievably flat coke is good for settling stomach upsets. The doctor at the hospital suggested it for my diabetic brother. Also Spanish doctors recommend it ( I tought in a school in Valencia for a year). I have tried it on DS when he had v. severe sickness and diorrhea (SP?)and wouldn't take anything else without being sick. Amazingly it worked. (he was about 2)Other than that he might get the occasional bit in a beaker at a party but I prefer lemonade if we have to have a fizzy drink he is 3.5 now

Kayleigh · 18/07/2004 16:26

ds1 (almost 6) won't drink anything fizzy and ds2 won't drink anything but water or milk. So not an issue here. I drink at least a can of diet coke a day (caffeine free if possible) so am not a brilliant example to them. If they get a liking for it I would change my habits I guess so we only had it occasionally - maybe restaurant visits only. It's what we do for the high sugar cereals eg they are only allowed cocoa pops or suchlike on holiday or in hotels if we are away for weekend. It's shreddies, weetabix or rice crispies at home.

neetsmassi · 18/07/2004 16:41

I was sick every day of my pregnancy and fat coke was the only thing that made me feel better. I now drink diet coke but DD knows she is not allowed. As a very special treat I will let her have some fat coke if we are out andshe is allowed a little at my mum's. When she does have it though she goes bonkers and won't sleep. I don't give her diet coke as I feel that my system is all messed up from drinking diet drinks (your body expects nutrition as it tastes sweet but gets none - becomes confused and therefore holds on to all the fat it possibly can. Fat people (like me)drink diet coke, slim people drink full fat drinks) and I don't want to do that to her. I would rather she drank some fat coke and it filled her up so that it's real (and I use the term very loosely)food rather than completely empty chemicals. Just my point of view. They're all going to drink it when they're older anyway.

eefs · 18/07/2004 16:53

never

Nimme · 18/07/2004 17:05

Emkana - I am in the same boat as you as I am also partial to the odd coke myself.

I decided to either allow her some (DD is 4) or not to drink in front of her. So the rule here is now and again (DD is 4), never a lot and NEVER after lunch time (she know's this and accepts it). I had a can on the go one early evening and when my back was turned DH managed to let her have the best part of it - she slept around 11pm!!!!! Never again. I would also never offer it to other children as people feel very strongly about it. Incidently we have the same rule about chewing gum. I like but the DD wants. DH is not keen on her having it - so again only if I have and then with strict instructions (which give her her due she follows).

Have a much relaxed attitude to chocolate, sweets etc which she is not remotely as interested in. Definitely a case of wanting what I can't have.

twiglett · 18/07/2004 17:56

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