Coffee for Kids – A Cause for Concern or Overzealous Worries?

Do you feel a pang of concern, and feel your eyes widen when you see a parent ordering their child a cappuccino to go with their specially tailored kiddies meal?

Or are you the parent handing that coffee to your child?

There doesn’t seem to be a grey area when it comes to kids drinking coffee, and the two sides are polarised.

This leads us to ask – is it safe for kids to drink coffee, or are we doing more harm by saying yes to the addictive brew?

Can Kids Drink Coffee?

I remember being told that if I drank coffee, I wouldn’t grow [properly; and old wives’ tale that’s been handed down generations. Okay, maybe my parent’s weren’t 100% accurate – but their forewarnings of coffee did carry some weight.

If we look at the major active ingredient contained in coffee – i.e. – caffeine, we see the culprit. Caffeine is known fr to major effects after consumption; an increased heart rate and heightened blood pressure. If you ask me – if I know that coffee has this effect on fully grown adults – I’m sure not going to put it in my child’s sippy cup. In that same breath though, the same parents who would agree to saying no to giving their baby coffee would hand over a can of Coca Cola without batting an eyelid.

If we take a little step back, we might see that a can of Coke can be just as detrimental as a cup of coffee could be – without even factoring in the added spoons and spoons of sugar contained in that can.

So, does that mean it’s safe for kids to drink coffee if they drink Coke? Not at all!

“There are lots of things we can’t do because we’re not old enough or mature enough,” said Dr. Kevin Shannon, a professor of pediatric cardiology and director of pediatric arrhythmia at the Mattel Children’s Hospital of the University of California, Los Angeles. “Caffeine should probably be added to that list.”

Is Coffee Good For Kids?

Generally speaking, parents would run a mile from any stimulant that made their children more energetic or kept them awake past bedtime. That fact, coupled with the knowledge that coffee has no tangible health benefits might lead us to ask if there is any point in actually getting our children hooked to a substance unnecessarily?

This might be a good time to really think about coffee – one of the acclaimed “most popular drugs in the country” – as a lifestule choice for both adults as well as teens and chuildren.

Jessica Lieb, a registered dietician at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center added “I think there is no place for caffeine in a child’s diet until they become young adults, at age 18,” Lieb said. “And even in adults, it’s important to be really careful. As in all things, caffeine should be consumed in moderation.”

So, what’s the worst that could happen? If we allow our children to keep drinking whatever they please, when they wish to, we’re not only letting them drink potentially dangerous ingredients – but we’re actually denying them the very necessary drinks they NEED to be consuming – like milk and water. Cola’s, coffee and energy drinks (CRINGE!) contain a lot of caffeine, and with the added sugar – you are almost certainly doing more harm than good. The addition of sugar means tooth decay, possible health related issues like diabetes and high blood pressure.

Removing milk and water means dehydration, limited concentration capabilities, nutrient deficiency (bones of growing children really do need enough calcium) – so it’s quite a vicious circle.

Now what? Caffeine and Kids Don’t Mix – But I Still Want To Give My Child Coffee

While a latte is less harmful (the ratio of coffee to milk is great, and without added sugar this might be a fine once in a while for your child) – a consideration you may want to take is to substitute your regular coffee with decaffeinated coffee. This allows your child to enjoy the taste they know – without the harmful caffeine that comes with regular coffee.

That being said – even regular coffee (without more than a teaspoon of suger) is still far less dangerous than a caffeinated, carbonated, sugar-filled Cola or energy drink.

Make sure to look at the label – and if you find that the sugar content is NOT in excess of approximately 5 teaspoons; this is working form a guideline,as stipulated below, that “According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the maximum amount of added sugars you should eat in a day are (7): Men: 150 calories per day (37.5 grams or 9 teaspoons). Women: 100 calories per day (25 grams or 6 teaspoons).”. Children should consume considerably less, so a safe bet is to keep it as low as possible.

We’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions on children drinking coffee. Are you for it or against it?