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Parenting

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Original poster

Toddlers drinking tea

64 replies

springbabydays · 31/07/2014 07:50

Does anyone else give their toddlers tea and how old were they when you started? My 16 mo ds is very interested in my tea doesn't leave me alone and likes it when I give him a sip. If I made his own for him I'd probably give him decaf and no sugar, but it feels too grown up for some reason?? I'd still rather give him that than juice though I think.

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ShelaghTurner · 31/07/2014 11:33

Yes mine drink tea. They go through phases where they don't have it for ages and then they have it every day for a bit. Both have stolen my tea when my back was turned from about 18 months. We're big tea drinkers though so there's always a cup on the go. They're 6 and 2. None of us drink coffee because it's cowl and I wouldn't inflict such horror on them!

ShelaghTurner · 31/07/2014 11:34

*foul fgs

AlleyCat11 · 31/07/2014 11:37

Milky tea would be fine. I remember having mine out of my sippy cup. I loved it.

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EmmanuelWoganberry · 31/07/2014 11:52

Mine has had the odd sip of tea since she was weaned. She only ever has a mouthful of mine, I’ve yet to make her one of her own (she is only 14mo). She goes "ahhhh" afterwards, adorable! My only worry is the tanins but I wouldn’t offer it with meals so I assume it’s ok?

eddiemairswife · 31/07/2014 11:57

I always had tea as a child and orange squash in the summer when it was hot. I still drink tea, but the orange squash has been replaced by gin and tonic!

murphys · 31/07/2014 12:02

Babies in SA are given Rooibos tea to settle their stomachs. My dc had Rooibos very diluted from about 4 months or so.

It still the only tea they drink at ages 12 and 15 .

You can find it in Tescos and places, it may be called Redbush tea. Caffiene and tannin free. Used here to settle colic.

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 31/07/2014 13:16

You're right, Murphys - Rooibos is also known as Redbush here

My Mum drinks it a lot. I tend towards herbal or fruit teas myself now, after being a bit poorly one Christmas a couple of years ago. Used to drink a lot of (regular) tea, but since that bug it just makes me feel sick.

Original poster

springbabydays · 31/07/2014 13:21

Loving the suggestions here thanks everyone! I'll try him on peppermint tea one day as I have some in the cupboard. This morning he had warm milk and it went down really well (even after a bf!)

Evans your post just reminded me, I couldn't drink normal tea while pregnant as it made me feel sick. I did miss it, so had fruit tea instead.

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MERLYPUSSEDOFF · 31/07/2014 13:34

I always had very milky tea with 2 sugars in when I was little. My two have had the same - 50/50 milk/tea but no sugar - since they were about 2. Never thought about the tannin aspect but have just looked up which food contains tannin (expecting it to be wine and tea) and loads of fruit such as berries has got them.
Dont feel so bad now.

LittleLionMansMummy · 31/07/2014 15:04

Yes, ds has drunk tea since he was about 2, but it's more part of our weekend routine/ habit than anything. So he wakes up, gets into bed with us, CBeebies goes on, I make us all tea, we all cuddle up and drink it together. Only ever at weekends though and only one cup first thing, pretty milky. It's not something I suggested to him, he just pestered us until we let him try it and then he wanted it every weekend.

superchick · 31/07/2014 21:06

3 year old DD has a very milky tea occasionally, maybe once per week. Its a lovely little mid morning ritual. We make a pot of normal tea and she has a splash in a cup of milk while I have the rest. We might dunk a biscuit or share a small cake with it and its nice to sit and do this "grown up" activity once in a while.

superchick · 31/07/2014 21:08

While I'm not keen on her getting hooked on caffeine, tea drinking is a very sociable activity in Britain and its nice that she can feel part if it and share in it with me.

Messygirl · 31/07/2014 21:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tobysmum77 · 31/07/2014 21:59

tea in the grand scheme of things isn't bad for you. It's better than juice in a lot of ways. of course only water and milk are ideal but live a little I say.

As others have said the issue is tannin affecting iron absorbtion. So avoid with meals and the odd bit won't hurt. dd (2) probably has a few spoonfuls with a load of milk 3 times a week. She loves it.

My mother apparently drank nothing but tea as a child, she seems ok at 65 (and interestingly she hardly drinks it) but that's unlikely to be a good idea.

HauntedNoddyCar · 31/07/2014 22:15

I used to have milky tea in my bottle :)

Dd had no interest but ds occasionally has a drink of tea flavoured milk. I drink it very weak anyway so it's a hint of tea really.

CatsRule · 31/07/2014 22:42

My ds is 2 and loves peppermint tea. I male it very weak and he believes it's the same as mine! I think it is more about feeling like a big boy!

YellowYoYoYam · 01/08/2014 00:34

DD gets the occasional cup of milky tea, maybe once or twice a week. She enjoys it. I really doubt that this is going to seriously inhibit her body's ability to absorb vitamins or stain her pearly whites.

This sort of 'advice that's liberally dished out then latched onto rather hysterically makes me sad. It turns parenting into a minefield of potentially dangerous experiences to be avoided, rather than just enjoying a pleasant, balanced life. I was with a friend who had left a dribble of tea in the bottom of her cup and her DS picked it up and finished it. My friend panicked, wiped his mouth, told him he shouldn't have had that then asked if I thought he'd be OK?! He is a healthy boy with a varied diet who takes his vitamins. On another occasion I was at a family BBQ with 18mo DD and her gran gave her a cup of milky tea. Family friend did not allow her 3 and 5 yo DDs to have a cup (fair enough, her choice) but then rather haughtily 'joked' about whether I'd be allowing DD to have some wine or beer too. FFS people, it's TEA!

NHS advice shouldn't be doled out by HVs as if it were gospel. Most parents are reasonable and capable and can make safe moderate choices for there children.

Rant over.

YellowYoYoYam · 01/08/2014 04:40

their children

sleepywombat · 01/08/2014 04:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tobysmum77 · 01/08/2014 07:30

I know yellow. If they could just give the evidence and let people make their own decisions based on it.

Y'know it can't be that hard to conclude that the odd bit is ok but probably having a bottle constantly on the go with 2 sugars in isn't a great idea. ..... But instead let's ban it for under 5s completely. It's hilarious I've had some real reactions about it. It's hardly one for social services is it?

Smoolett · 01/08/2014 07:52

I used to drink milky tea every now and then from a tommee tippee cup and recently found out when I went to a bby weaning class that its bad for babies re the iron absorption as pps have mentioned but also that people view it the same as giving your toddler a greggs sausage roll. Crazy people. Im sure the odd cup of miljy tea won't hurt. Me and many other milions are still hear to tell the tale of drinking tea as a baby/ small child.

Iggly · 01/08/2014 09:38

They want it because you're drinking it. It could be anything and they still would want it.

I give ds and dd weak Ovaltine - special tea - I don't want them having caffeine even in small quantities. It is addictive!

misssmapp · 01/08/2014 09:44

My cousin used to love tea as a toddler ( she is 30ish now!)

My aunt always cringes when she remembers the tale of a hv visiting , after they both had finished their tea, my cousin ran round shouting 'the drugs, I want the drugs,

HV clearly looked shocked, my sheepish aunt explained she wanted the dregs of tea.

So in conclusion, giving children a cup of their own is probably better than the drugs

sebsmummy1 · 01/08/2014 09:52

My 20 month old has about five mouthfuls of my tea over the course of the day. It's sugar free but caffeinated. I read somewhere that tea was actually good for them! I'm really not going to hurt my head over it as he has such a good diet.

sebsmummy1 · 01/08/2014 09:55

Btw I consider juice so much worse and he has never had it and am trying to put it off as long as possible. At the moment he thinks water is amazing, I'm trying to encourage that lifelong mindset.

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