Most parents know that letting kids drink coffee is a big NO. Unfortunately, some of them still allow their kids to order coffee-based drinks when they visit cafés or coffee shops.
While more people come to love and appreciate the joy of drinking coffee; some kids get an acquired taste due to its rising trend. This led to a point where parents even allow their children to drink coffee early.
Many parents let their kids drink coffee as if it’s normal for children to drink it at an early age. It is the primary reason parents must become more aware of how it could affect the health of youngsters.
For many years now, paediatricians and health professionals have become consistent when it comes to giving warnings to parents. They say that coffee and other caffeinated beverages, such as sodas and sports drinks, can harm children.
However, some parents still disregard the warning and allow their kids to consume those beverages. Experts discovered that several parents allow children as young as 1 or 2 years old to drink coffee.
In this article, you’ll read:
- This Is Why We Should Stop Letting Our Kids Drink Coffee
- Best Kid-Friendly Drink Alternative for Coffee
This Is Why We Should Stop Letting Our Kids Drink Coffee
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There are various reasons why adults must never allow children to drink coffee, which contains caffeine. Experts keep emphasising that anything containing caffeine is not advisable for children, especially those under 12.
Children’s bodies are usually common when we talk about their body size; it takes less caffeine to impair their functioning. While consuming a small amount of coffee cannot affect adults, the same small amount can be overwhelming for a small child.
Excessive caffeine can cause different adverse effects on kids. It includes increased heart rate and blood pressure, causes anxiety and sleep disturbance, and could also contribute to acid reflux. Caffeine can be dangerous to kids, especially when they consume high doses.
There could be some instances when children show up in the emergency room for having irregular heartbeats. Experts call it tachycardia or rapid heartbeat; children have a heart rate of over 100 beats per minute.
A child’s limit depends on their body size. The limit will only increase when a child begins to grow large enough to have the ability to metabolise caffeine more readily.
In contrast to this, caffeine can pose adverse effects on kids small of their age. Aside from that, they could be even more sensitive if they have migraines, heart problems, or seizures.
Why Do Parents Let Their Children Drink Coffee?
Despite all the disadvantages of drinking coffee to kids, parents still allow them to drink. Sometimes, it could be because even young children ask for caffeinated drinks. They usually ask for it because they see their parent and older siblings doing the same.
Parents perceive drinking coffee as harmless, especially if it is just in tiny amounts. They let the kids drink it, thinking it does not affect their health.
What parents hardly notice is the moment they begin doing it, it becomes a slippery slope. It becomes earlier for them to let the kids drink it instead of fighting over it.
Coffee No Longer Came With Just a Lump of Sugar and Cream
We are now living in a world where coffee comes only with sugar and cream. This poses another disadvantage for kids who drinks coffee.
The coffee that people commonly consume these days contains little nutritional value. It replaces something that must be nutritionally complete, like milk and water, for instance.
It is common for coffees nowadays to always contain add-ons. Many people enjoy a lot of ways to spice up and fatten up their coffee drink.
While all of it can be delicious, the question is, do your kids need it?
Best Kid-Friendly Drink Alternatives for Coffee
Image Source: iStock
Are you a coffee-lover adult who enjoys spending time in a coffee shop with your child? No worries! There is no need for you to stop doing that with your kids just to prevent them from drinking coffee.
There are many kid-friendly drinks that can serve as alternatives for coffee, which are also available in most coffee shops. Here are some:
Hot Chocolate. Every coffee shop offers chocolate drinks; it is not just for kids, but also adults love drinking them.
Chocolate Milk. Parents know precisely that milk is the best drink option for kids. However, some kids do not prefer regular milk, which is why chocolate milk can be their best option.
Juice. Nothing beats the fresh nutrients your child could get from drinking fruit or vegetable juice.
Smoothies. Kids will never choose coffee over smoothies. It is not just tasty but can also be very beneficial when it comes to their diet and digestion.
Here at theAsianparent Singapore, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advice or medical treatment. theAsianparent Singapore is not responsible for those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend consulting your doctor for clearer information.