Children and.................................................................

[SPARKLER1]

......................................Tea, coffee and bubblegum.
One of my dds is 6 years ago and is getting very interested in all the above. We haven't given her any of them as yet. Nearest she has got is dunking a biscuit into my coffee.
What age would you give your child these things??

xylitol - fewer ear infections .

It's in most/all of the sugar-free gums like Wrigleys Extra

lol kama, it was a reference to a thread I posted on a week or so ago. Someone asked if they would give their kids alcahol and I said dd has a drop of wine in a glass of water with sunday lunch when we all have a glass or two of wine with dinner as it makes her feel grown up. I recieved a telling off from outraged mumsnetters ( my first telling off I felt like I had come of age!) - although others came out to prevent me feeling like a completley irresponsible parent from hell.

I was laughing at myself really that I let dd have the watered down wine - which some find shocking - but wouldn't let her have tea or coffee.

I just don't like gum, in adults or children.

the only use I can think of for it is as a punishment in detention, i.e. take this knife and remove the gum from under the tables.

twinset, I missed that thread. I have always let my kids taste wine, or beer, or whatever is in my glass and they have almost universally gone eurghhh, spit spit. Mind you I would always have let them taste tea or coffee too but they never asked (wonder why?)

The closest dd gets to having tea or cofee with my consent is ducking her biscuits and then sucking it out.

A disgusting habit, but as she got it from her mother I can't complain!

the chewing gum must contain xylitol - helps clear out glue ear - in some children.

My oldest dd is now 10 and still hasn't had gum, or tea, or coffee! Only time she's shown slightest interest in gum was when a friend came to stay and bought some with her. But we just said, well X might be allowed it but you're not sorry and she was ok about that. We do let her have a drop of wine diluted with lemonade or fizzy water for special meals though - just to show that we're not totally mean and cruel!!

They are all banned from gum, following the 'gum on the brand new nintendo ds screen' incident. We don't drink tea, but ds asked me to make him a cup and he hated it (11 year old). They don't like coffee either.

I remember having coffee from the time I was about 6 or 7, with 3 sugars and cream....blech!!

And from the time I was about 4 I was given Goodie, which is milky tea, sugar, and white bread all mixed together. No wonder I hate tea.

just read up on this thread too - i missed the one about the wine twinset.. If i had seen thread i would have been flamed too as only last night did ds have a little watered down wine as i was having a glass. I dont give him wine every night but if we are having wine with dinner i will let him have a very small glass of watered down (he doesnt ever finish it). I dont see a problem with it tbh

my children are much older and still dont drink tea coffee etc. Have hot choc now and then though!

Mine have shown no interest in tea or coffee. I've let them have bubblegum on sweetie day before but do try and distract them off it.