Will Drinking Coffee Impact My Kid’s Health?

Is coffee safe for children? If your child has been requesting a cup of coffee of their own while you are ordering your usual cup of coffee, you may find yourself asking this question. Or, perhaps, they demand one when the rest of the family is enjoying theirs every morning.

It is okay if you’re facing a dilemma about whether or whether not to allow your child some coffee. There are plenty of misconceptions and unscientific claims around this topic, all of which we’ll clear out for you today.

Even if you allow your children to drink coffee, how much is acceptable for them? Should you measure coffee beans with a scale at first? To be honest, these are excellent questions.

You can read coffee trainer reviews of scales to know how to measure the right amount of beans for you and your family. We care about you and your kids, so we are going to help you make the right decision to ensure utmost safety and happiness.

Coffee And Its Risks To Your Child

Many experts are worried about the withdrawal effects coffee can have. Coffee has caffeine as you probably already know. It is a stimulant that can get addictive, and nothing addictive is seen positively, especially for young children.

Caffeine can also, in excessive amounts, lead to a plethora of issues, such as an upset stomach, troubled sleep or insomnia, headaches, jitteriness, increased heart rate, and so on.

Your kids have to go to school, study, do their homework, excel at extracurriculars, etc. All these activities require attention. Coffee makes some people restless, and they have difficulty concentrating after consuming caffeine.

Some experts are more worried about the overwhelming amount of sugar and cream ‘coffee’ drinks that appeal to the youth. These empty calories are often equivalent to ones in sugary candy bars, which experts would not recommend for your child to have daily.

The Amount of Caffeine That is Safe for Your Kid to Consume

The UK does not have any formal limitations for caffeine intake for kids. However, as you must have already realized, too much coffee can be a hazard to your precious kid.

If you want to let your child drink coffee, you could use some help from Canada’s recommendations. If your child is from four to six years old, about half a cup of coffee(45 mg caffeine), if they’re seven to nine years old, 62.5 mg, if they’re ten to twelve, 85 mg. After that, they can drink 85 to 100mg, roughly one cup of coffee every day.

Many store-bought drinks may have more caffeine than you think. If your kid wants to get coffee all the time, they may not be getting enough sleep. For them to stay alert and relax, you should recommend that they fix their poor sleeping schedule. This may be through limiting screen time before bedtime, getting up at the same time every day, not letting them drink coffee after 2 pm, and incorporating relaxing activities into their nighttime routine.

When You Can Give Your Kid Coffee

The area here is entirely grey. There is no objective right and wrong. Your kids might have been consuming caffeine ever since they’ve been enjoying soda on a hot summer day.

Every kid is unique and has different needs and varying levels of tolerance.

Most parents and experts who are on the side of allowing kids coffee recommend not starting before they are twelve. That’s when your kid’s body will be able to tolerate caffeine equivalent to one cup of coffee regularly.

Other than of course worrying about your child spilling hot coffee and hurting themselves, you may still be wondering how it affects their internal development. We will be discussing the side effects of caffeine soon.

If your child is still too young and yet very eager to try out some coffee, you can get them decaffeinated coffee. That may help them hydrate positively! Don’t forget to make sure it’s unsweetened, though; sugary beverages are not the healthiest for your kid.

What You Need to Keep in Mind

Caffeine has a diuretic effect; this means you should be extra cautious if your child likes to work out to play outside with their friends.

Different people have different tolerances to caffeine, like most other things. In fact, in low levels, it does the exact opposite of its scarier effects by making us more alert and relaxed.

You need to keep an eye on your child to find how exactly caffeine affects them regularly. That way, when you notice something negative, you can point it out and discuss it with them and come to a conclusion about limiting their intake.

Possible Side Effects: If They Exist or Not

Your kid may be allergic to coffee! It is extremely rare, but the symptoms are stomach cramps, hives, difficulty breathing, cough, weak pulse, etc. You should immediately consult a doctor if your kid is showing one or more of these symptoms at once.

Your kid may often be allergic to other contents of the drink than the coffee itself, such as milk, nuts, eggs, etc. So be careful to check the ingredients before letting your kid sip their brew.

If your kid is facing heartburn or acid reflux, coffee can make the symptoms worse. According to a study, different roasts affect kids differently, but all in all, you can ask your physician about it on your next visit.

If your kid consumes coffee regularly already, abruptly stopping may cause withdrawal symptoms.

To Sum Up

You now know almost everything you need to know to make an informed decision about letting your child indulge in a cup of coffee. If you keep everything that we have mentioned in your mind while choosing whether or not to allow your kid some coffee, you don’t have to worry too much.

Every kid is different, and the ultimate choice is yours. You know more about your kid and their lifestyle than any website on the internet.

Your child is probably exposed to coffee when you aren’t around to control their intake. However, all you can do is ensure that they don’t drink more than their age requirements. This will ensure your child is happy, healthy, and free from coffee or caffeine-induced problems!

FAQ

Is it True That Coffee Will Stunt My Child’s Growth?

Fortunately, this is completely false. If your child indulges in a cup here and there, coffee will not affect their growth at all! You don’t have to worry about their growth rate being hurt by consuming caffeine.

There is no scientific research to back this; it is just a long-held misbelief. Coffee could have numerous other side effects depending on how much you have consumed as you know by now. Therefore, perhaps elders used to steer their younger children away from coffee using this justification.

Please take care of the quantity of caffeine your child is putting in their body; if they’re small, even little doses can have an impact.

Will a Decaf Store-Bought Drink Be Better For My Kid Than Regular Coffee?

In the majority of cases, no. These drinks have copious amounts of sugar, cream, and everything delicious but extremely unhealthy.

You may see your teenager gravitating towards these drinks. However, as much as you can, try making them avoid them. If they must, ask them to opt for the unsweetened ones.

Are There Things We Don’t Yet Know About?

Since most studies of the impacts of caffeine have been conducted on animals or adults, it is yet not confirmed how exactly caffeine affects the baby or adolescent brain long-term.

Many people have concerns that since children’s brains are still developing and caffeine directly impacts our nervous system, we don’t know if something in it is being altered.

Lab rats have gotten addicted to cocaine more readily when they were first made to get addicted to caffeine, as this study found out. Caffeine seems to make it easier for someone to incline towards other drugs. However, as there is a multitude of other factors that contribute relatively more largely to drug abuse, this should not be a point of worry in most cases.

Will Coffee Benefit My Child’s Health in Any Way?

Some studies have shown that coffee has antioxidants that may protect you, an adult, from diseases such as strokes and type 2 diabetes.

However, as of yet, no direct link has been found between an enhancement in quality of child health to consumption of coffee. So, if you are not feeling like letting your child have coffee already, there is no fear of depriving them of beneficial minerals or nutrients.

We know that your utmost priority as a parent is your child’s health, so we want you to be completely assured of the steps you are taking.