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Why are we even having this conversation? The coffee question is just the latest iteration of Sunflower's never-ending conflicts with her mother, and now she's putting her brother in the middle of it. Enough already.
Sunflower, your mother is entitled to make different parenting decisions with her son than she did with you. Stop second-guessing her. When you have your own children, you can choose to parent differently.
The reason why we are having this conversation is because other posters may have the same question. It's not just about helping out the OP, it's discussing the issue (or non-issue) of drinking coffee at a young age.
There is also some indication that moderate caffeine consumption may negate the need for medication for both adults and children suffering from some types of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). It seems to be most effective with the primarily innattentive sub-type.
Last edited by formercalifornian; 01-06-2010 at 10:50 AM..
There is also some indication that moderate caffeine consumption may negate the need for medication for both adults and children suffering from some types of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). It seems to be most effective with the primarily innattentive sub-type.
I definitely think there is some positive to drinking coffee, I do. I'm a coffee drinker myself actually. I need to have at least one cup of coffee a day. However, I still feel that the negative outweighs the positive, especially for children. It blocks the absorption of nutrients and minerals such as calcium. Parents complain that their kids don't eat enough, it's hard to get a child to eat a fully balanced diet, a lot of kids are picky with food and the last thing they need in their diets is something that will actually get in the way of calcium, magnesium and other valuable nutrients absorption.
Coffee is very acidic, their little tummies are not made to deal with all the acid so early on. Unless, they drink a big cup of green drink to balance all the acid (which I highly doubt many kids would volunteerly do), than coffee is not a good substance for them.
Of course, having it like once a month is okay, like a little treat, with milk and whipcream, but it definitely shouldn't become a habit and considering that caffeine is addictive, shouldn't be introduced early on or frequently.
Parents often make mistakes with their older kids they try not to make on the next ones..........
Not that it really harmed you but ask your mom. She may have decided it really was not the best thing to do. Plus maybe he already has a different personality from you and would react differently to it.
I definitely think there is some positive to drinking coffee, I do. I'm a coffee drinker myself actually. I need to have at least one cup of coffee a day. However, I still feel that the negative outweighs the positive, especially for children. It blocks the absorption of nutrients and minerals such as calcium. Parents complain that their kids don't eat enough, it's hard to get a child to eat a fully balanced diet, a lot of kids are picky with food and the last thing they need in their diets is something that will actually get in the way of calcium, magnesium and other valuable nutrients absorption.
Coffee is very acidic, their little tummies are not made to deal with all the acid so early on. Unless, they drink a big cup of green drink to balance all the acid (which I highly doubt many kids would volunteerly do), than coffee is not a good substance for them.
Of course, having it like once a month is okay, like a little treat, with milk and whipcream, but it definitely shouldn't become a habit and considering that caffeine is addictive, shouldn't be introduced early on or frequently.
My kids don't drink it either, not because we've prohibited it, but because it's just not available since neither their father nor I are coffee-drinkers. We don't drink wine or beer either. We're very boring people.
I was having coffee (heavily doctored with sugar and milk) as a very young child, mainly because my parents drank it like crazy. Family joke was that you couldn't talk to me until I had had my coffee in the morning! No biggie for me during that time at all.
The ironic thing is that once I got a little older, say about 10 or so I didn't really drink coffee much at all and still don't. The main reason is because I simply don't like hot drinks except on rare occasion. I don't drink hot tea or cider at all-yuck. Coffee or hot chocolate are maybe 3 times during the winter. Maybe.
All my kids have asked to try it at some point and I let them. Only one actually liked it enough to want it more than once. Nothing major in the grand scheme of things.
My kids don't drink it either, not because we've prohibited it, but because it's just not available since neither their father nor I are coffee-drinkers. We don't drink wine or beer either. We're very boring people.
When my 32 yr old daughter was a baby her grandfather would sit her in his lap, crumble some graham crackers in a cup and pour in some coffee. She would eat that like crazy! Did it for years! Any side effects? Not a single one! Unless you could blame the caffiene on how she picked her husband! Then I'm all against it!
All of this is another one of those times that people almost have a coronary over something parents may let their kids do, that was nothing when we were that age. So he does or doesn't drink coffee. So Mom doesn't want him to. Even though I don't see anything wrong with it, it still comes back to one thing. Mom said no. Mom's word is the rule. If you dont' like it, tough! Wait till you're the mom.
I think 9 is too young. I see no point in it. If he likes the taste, maybe decaf. I think it is an acquired taste. I think it would be silly to try to get him to acquire it so young.
I was having coffee (heavily doctored with sugar and milk) as a very young child, mainly because my parents drank it like crazy. Family joke was that you couldn't talk to me until I had had my coffee in the morning! No biggie for me during that time at all.
The ironic thing is that once I got a little older, say about 10 or so I didn't really drink coffee much at all and still don't. The main reason is because I simply don't like hot drinks except on rare occasion. I don't drink hot tea or cider at all-yuck. Coffee or hot chocolate are maybe 3 times during the winter. Maybe.
All my kids have asked to try it at some point and I let them. Only one actually liked it enough to want it more than once. Nothing major in the grand scheme of things.
I drink mine strong, no cream, no sweetener. Both of my kids have taken a sip of my coffee and that sip was plenty (bleh!) - they've never asked for another sip .
Last edited by springfieldva; 01-06-2010 at 02:07 PM..
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