What's wrong with tea bobbies?

[Mollydoggerson]

I noticed on another thread a mother was being criticised for giving her kids a bottle with tea in it.

Am I missing something? What's wrong with tea? I give mine the occassional bottle of very weak tea and probably the same amount of milk. So 50% weak tea and 50% milk. It's a nice warm comforting drink.

The only problem I can see is possible teeth staining, but it's very weak. Can it be that bad? My kids do brush their teeth.They might ask for this drink maybe once or twice a week.

I would presume that it is because most children don't use bottles after the first year or two, so it would mean giving a v young child tea. I wouldn't as it has caffeine in it and don't want any more reason for them not to sleep, but very very weak tea is basically just watered down milk!

I think it's the combination of tea + bottle

tea contains tannins that inhibit iron absorption, so isn't suitable for babies under 1...
and if they're older than 1 they should't be using a bottle

iyswim

Yes mine are 15 months and 27 months.We are trying to move away from the bottles but it is a slow process, they love them when they are tired.

I seem to remember that the iron thing was more an issue if you were giving tea close to meal times.

I also wonder if people assume that the tea is sweetened, which would obviously be a no no.

Do the people who get all judgey about a 18mo having a bottle also get judgey about 18mos breastfeeding?

I confess I would judge a 27mo with a bottle, sorry, esp with something other than milk in.

Soft spout beakers?

or insist only milk comes in bottles and if they ant anything more exciting it has to be in a cup?

I really wouldn't worry about at all. It's nothing in the scheme of things, as long as there is no sugar. Nice for kids to have a bit of comfort imo.

Thanks for the replies.

There is no sugar in the tea.

I have been suggesting to dh that we get rid of all of the bottles from the house.He is reluctant to do it. Now that ds2 is 15 months I suppose it's about time we cut down on them.

Will limit to just bedtime and then try to wean them off them completely. We'll see how it goes.

Would it be an idea to give your DC tea in the morning as it leaves the rest of the day for more fluids to dilute and push the caffeine through their system.

As MrsBadger says, the tannins inhibit iron absorption, but tea also contains flouride which is good for teeth, but then a lot of HV's recommend switching to a beakers by 1yo as bottles aren't good for the shape of teeth. If you decide to go cold turkey with the bottles, like taking any comfort thing away from a child, be prepared for a while of crying and hissy fits. Not only that but it's over and done with pretty quick on most occasions.

It is the iron, I remember it well.

We took away bottles and introduced a cup and straw was great but DS stopped drinking his milky - even now at 5 wont have it