one morning my 3 year old ask me for a taste of my coffee (which was mainly milk) and I gave him some...to make a long story short, he drinks coffee now (because of the taste); he screams if I don't give him coffee every morning. I only give him about 4 oz and I make it "weak", is that bad? I have already tried those "taste-like-coffee"-mixes where you mix with milk and suppose to have the "coffee" flavor, but that doesn't work..I want to stop giving him coffee, what should I do?
2006-12-08 00:29:28 · 30 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
please, no "your're a bad mother" answers
2006-12-08 00:30:21 · update #1
WHO KEEPS GIVING THUMBS DOWN - ALL THESE ANSWERS ARE GREAT!
2006-12-08 01:04:42 · update #2
I'd be more concerned that he screams and you give in. What is going to happen when he screams at 14 years old when he wants alcohol? Are you going to give in?
2006-12-08 00:38:28 · answer #1 · answered by SlapHappy 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Lol....I love coffee...grind it every morning, and a couple coffee beans fall on the floor....my 10 month old daughter tries to grab them and eat them off the floor, but I always get to her first...
I think about the same thing....when to give coffee to a child.
I would wait until they are at least 10, but wouldn't introduce it to them unless they showed a real interest in it. I would also make it as unappealing as possible. Kids normally don't really "need" caffeine, and there are so many other things kids can drink instead. Milk, hot chocolate, herbal tea......
My little sister started drinking coffee when she was 6, and she had a lot of problems as she got into her teen years with ADD. I don't know if the two are related, but I wouldn't want to let a child drink coffee until you were sure they could handle the hyperactivity. (25? lol)
You are not a bad mother....You are at least asking others' opinions before you do anything.
I'd hold off for a few more years on the coffee.
Cheers!
2006-12-08 01:22:56 · answer #2 · answered by gg 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm sorry you're going through this, but I don't understand your objection to having him spend some time in a psychiatric unit. It's far better than jail, which is where he's headed if he doesn't get properly diagnosed and treated. Calling the cops on him is a bit unfair, because he clearly isn't seeing the right therapist, nor is he on the right meds if he's taking any. At some point, you need to reclaim discipline in your home, but that's further down the road. Right now this kid is screaming for help, and if you don't get him the right kind, this will simply escalate until something truly awful happens. To be a bit blunt, you've been too passive about it for too long. Do some research and find a good place.
2016-05-23 06:16:47 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When my daughter was 18 months old I found out she had asthma (that was no fun.) The doctor told me to give her coffee to help open her up to help her breath. I thought it was a little odd, but it worked. Even with milk and sugar she didn't like it (she's 10 and still doesn't,) However her little brother seeing this when he was 4 wanted to try it, to maybe help persuade her to drink it at 5: I let him drink some, he liked it. He's now 9 and still wants to drink it. I tried the "no", and didn't give it to him, I tried the "If you want to drink it you have to drink it black (I don't even like it that way.) And then I thought about it- whats the big deal? I cut out the soft drinks and tea, and he can have one cup of coffee in the morning! I do agree that you shouldn't let your child call the shots, but I also don't think its a big deal, but I would suggest switching to decaf. I did! Mothers have to make many choices in their child's lives and your going to have a lot more problems later on then coffee, so don't sweat the little stuff, and do what YOU FEEL is the right thing.
2006-12-08 01:21:00 · answer #4 · answered by Kelly D 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I was in the same position as you are when my son was 3. He wanted coffee so bad because he saw my husband and I drinking it, and he wanted to be like us. My husband drinks decaff, and we make a little bit(4 oz is alright.. ) with lots of milk and he is just fine with it. Too this day(he's 7 now), he tells everyone how he's "grown up" because we let him have "coffee"
Or you can introduce him to hot chocolate(big boy coffee:D ).
I hope this helps!
Good Luck
2006-12-08 00:46:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Ask any peditrician aand they will tell you that this is bad.
You are the mom and he is the child. If you don't give him coffee, he can't make it himself, so there is the beginning of your no.
Begin by not drinking it in front of him. Tell him that "Mommy doesn't drink coffee any more" and show him an empty container.
You have to be creative if you want to avoid the screaming and tantrums.
However, you have to be consistant and rember...you are in charge and yes it's bad for him.
2006-12-08 00:48:39 · answer #6 · answered by Wife~and~Mom 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
you are not a bad mother for wanting to let your child have new things. Coffee shouldn't be one of them. Candy is a lot worse than coffee, so why aren't we down people's throats about coffee? Your three yr old shouldn't have control over you. Simply say no, my son will rant and rave for over 20 Min's of screaming and crying if I don't give him something, but I deal with it. You have to tell him, that coffee is for grown ups, and once he is older he can start to drink coffee if he wants. I remember my 4 yr old niece drinking my Venti caramel macchiato to the very last sip, I called the 911, and they told me that it's okay, but they told me she might have a caffeine rush and give her plenty of water and food. So, it's not life threatening, but simply say no, you can't have it anymore and sneak your coffee somewhere else. That's how I keep all my chocolate to myself.
2006-12-08 00:44:38 · answer #7 · answered by fourcheeks4 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My 2 yr old has been drinking coffe with momma for 8 months now. I must say last week that warmth from the coffe helped a sore throat. No problem in my eyes just dont give soda or candy as much
2006-12-08 03:03:50 · answer #8 · answered by Helena H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not good. I would try to switch him to something like hot chocolate, maybe by mixing it with the coffee for a mocha effect and gradually decreasing the coffee to zero. You are the adult and sometimes you have to take a stand whether a 3-year-old likes it or not; just be sure to pick your battles, and this one may not be worth it.
2006-12-08 00:38:01 · answer #9 · answered by Roberta 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
my 2 year old is the same way whether it be coffee, tea, cappacino. Try hot chocolate and make a big deal about it. Tell him that it is his special coffee. If that doesn't switch to decaf and make 1oz coffee 3oz milk.
2006-12-08 02:44:31 · answer #10 · answered by Cynthia G 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good Grief! Are you kidding me? 3 years old? Definitley stop. Even if it's as little as you say, his body is very small and the caffeine, being a stimulant, will have a much different effect on him. It could lead to other problems in the future like high blood pressure or sleep problems. If he absoulutely must have it give him decaf.
2006-12-08 01:27:53 · answer #11 · answered by 6bits 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋