Community Corner
Would You Give Coffee to Your Toddler or Young Child?
Although the general consensus from experts is that it is better not to give caffeine to a young child, not all the experts believe it needs to be completely off limits.
The mother of Alexa from the television show "Toddlers and Tiaras" recently caused a stir for giving the 2-year-old a cup of coffee every morning. According to a story in Itsybitsysteps.com, she has been doing so since the little starlet was 9-months old. She also gives the toddler what she calls “Tinker Tea,” reportedly a mix of soda, sweet-tea and pixie sticks.
Although the general response from the public was not really positive, one researcher said coffee could actually be good for children, according to an article in Kidzworld.com, Dr. Tomas DePaulis said it could help young children concentrate better. The story noted, however, that caffeine is already in other things, such as soft drinks and chocolate, and coffee adds a lot of caffeine to the mix. Since it affects appetite, it suggests it would probably be better to give a child milk instead.
What do you think? Would you give your young child coffee or do you believe caffeine should be off limits until they are in older? What age do you consider old enough for a child to drink coffee or caffeine-laced drinks?
