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Food/recipes

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Original poster

Is it ok to give 18mo milk with a bit of tea in?

25 replies

joorla · 02/02/2008 12:44

My 18 mo tried this yesterday and absolutely loved it - just made with warm milk and a quick dip of the teabag. Is it ok to let them have this now and again, i'm really thinking of the caffeine and chemicals in it?

OP posts:

BreeVanDerCampLGJ · 02/02/2008 12:46

Why would you want to ??

themildmanneredjanitor · 02/02/2008 12:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bellavita · 02/02/2008 12:47

From one year old both my DS's had a milky tea first thing on a morning when they woke up. Don't think the odd dip of a teabag is going to do anything. You could always buy decaf.

FrannyandZooey · 02/02/2008 12:48

decaf has even more chemicals in

BreeVanDerCampLGJ · 02/02/2008 12:48

From what I recall the tannin in tea, interferes with the absorption of some vitamins and minerals.

BreeVanDerCampLGJ · 02/02/2008 12:48

From what I recall the tannin in tea, interferes with the absorption of some vitamins and minerals.

Lulumama · 02/02/2008 12:48

it is probably fine, but not neccessary.. what is wrong with warm milk? if you are going to , buy decaf

Hulababy · 02/02/2008 12:48

Tea and coffee isn't advised until 5yo IIRR.

There are some herbal teas that are suotable for younger. Not sure about plain old decaf tea though.

Lulumama · 02/02/2008 12:49

listen to franny and bree

Bellavita · 02/02/2008 12:51

Hulababy - Is this a new thing about tea and coffee not being give until 5yrs?

Mine are now nearly 11 and 8.

They don't drink tea or coffee now.

Hulababy · 02/02/2008 12:52

Not sure it is new; just remember it from when DD was tiny and reading the weaning books - DD is nearly 6yo now.

Bellavita · 02/02/2008 12:54

Mmmm see I did not read any weaning books (maybe I should). My Mum who is now in her early 60's was the one that gave me all the weaning advice - whoops!

Original poster

joorla · 02/02/2008 12:55

Ok got the message - I won'tbe giving her tea again then. The only reason I was asking was because she seemed to enjoy it so much - really you've all just confirmed what I thought. I agree it looks terrible too. Thanks for all your comments. x

OP posts:

peanutbutterkid · 02/02/2008 12:57

Tannins intea only interfere with absorption of non-animal based iron (like what's in fortified cereal or brocoli)... a little tea won't hurt him but arguably there are better things for a toddler to have.
My toddlers had occasional tea (with lots of milk) from about this age. They just like to join in with what Mum is having.

sleepdeprivationandme · 02/02/2008 12:59

My little one used to love it. I gave mostly milk, a splash of weak tea to slightly flavour it.

I suppose its a question of what's reasonable. If they have a good balanced diet, a little very weak tea, made of mostly milk from time to time I doubt can do any long lasting damage.

nutcracker · 02/02/2008 13:01

Red bush tea doesn't have tannin in it iirc.

FrannyandZooey · 02/02/2008 13:05

yes I gave redbush actually - nothing dodgy in there at all
still looks the same if you are worried about it looking bad though

Original poster

joorla · 02/02/2008 13:08

OK I may get some Redbush tea - I'm not worried about it looking bad really though as she only drank some at home in her cup (not a bottle!!)

OP posts:

chipmonkey · 02/02/2008 13:29

One of my work colleages was given tea in a sippy cup from when she was 5 months old as her Dad hated the sight of tea in a bottle!( I hadn't realised that people would give tea in a bottle but there you go!) She won't touch tea or coffee now!

spiderbabymum · 02/02/2008 13:40

No No NO .
Why would you wanna do that .
Tea reduces the absorbtion of Iron.... and mosy toddlers are low in iron as it is ..... without giving them tea .
Sorry if ranting

hairtwiddler · 02/02/2008 13:42

DD has redbush with loads of milk - very weak. No tannin, no caffeine. It's usually a real fight to get her to drink anything, so I'm happy she'll have it. She's 2 and a bit.

colditz · 02/02/2008 13:50

Technically, you will go to Hell In A FruitShoot Bottle.

Actually, in real life, we don't all give our children only omtimum nutrition all the time, sometimes we give them things they like instead. I have certainly done this - it's better than no milk at all!

There is caffiene in it (easy to avoid with decaffeinated teabags) and tannin, which realistically is a problem only if you are serving tea with a meal.

however, realistically has never been a strong point here.

colditz · 02/02/2008 13:51

And of course, you should always judge what a child is drinking by what they look like while they are drinking it.

peanutbutterkid · 02/02/2008 14:32

Redbush does have tannins in it! About half of what black tea has in it, read here. Still enough to interefere with iron absorption, if you think that's an issue with your child. I wouldn't give it to a vegan toddler, for instance.

nappyaddict · 03/02/2008 03:09

ds likes peppermint or chamomile tea. he has chamomile tea with milk in though not on it's own.

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