Do you let your children drink tea?

I made tea for my son when he was young but he never took to it, now that he's a teenager and his tastes have changed, he has some occasionally but he's not really a fan. I totally agree with you on the fizzy drink front - I didn't let him have any of those until he was at secondary school.

I haven´t read any answers yet, but will in a mo.

But years ago everyone gave their babies bottles of tea, and so did my friends who had kids before me, my daughter (now 16 almost) used to have bottles of tea and i thought nothing of it.

But now, and i dont know if i am right in saying this or not, but the reason my other half is against it is because there is still a high quantity of caffeine in tea, and tanin too.

So our subsequent children have not had bottles of tea.

The trend nowadays seems to be juice, which mine didnt have either.

As babies they have milk or water (boiled and cooled), and now they are a bit older they get fresh fruit juice each day (but still monitored on quantities), water and mik.

They are 4, 7 and 11, and only ever get fizzy drinks on special occasions such as birthday parties, and I dont buy squash either.

My eldest boy makes me a cup of tea, and I am still nervous of the kettle!!

My daughter is 1. When I have a cup of tea, she totters over to me saying "Tea", Its v cute. Naturally, when the tea is hot she doesnt get a sip but when it has gone cold I let her take a few sips. I was given tea as a baby, it doesnt hurt. True it has small amounts of caffine in it, but only small amounts and as long as you dont put sugar into it, its a perfectly healthy. No doubt there will be some on here who see this as child abuse or something, but those people are usually nuts.

My kids LOVE to have "The Perfect Cup Of Tea" with me (they're 4 and 6). And their cup of tea is tea with milk. They think they're little grown ups, and they get to share something special with Mommy. Now, I don't know about what age to let them make their own tea. It would depend on maturity I guess. My 6 year old has ADHD and tends to be a little unobservant and fidgety, so I've never even considered letting him make his own, wouldn't want him to get burnt. But I would say that a normal 7/8 year old should be perfectly capable of making a cup of tea for themselves, as long as they understand the dangers.

Any tea that has anything added too it is a risk. My boys were 12 months old when they would start stealing my greentea but I had nothing added to it. They really shouldn't have it even that young but my boys liked to sneak a drink from my cup but I drink decaf green tea no sugar added with lemon. Pediatrician said it wouldn't hurt them if they sneak it just not to give it to them in large amounts.

Yes I let my children drink tea. Of course we do not drink ours hot we drink ours cold in the south and it is a staple at our table. They started tea at an early age. Sodas came much later however. Coffee never was on the table for them. They stuck to juice and milk.

My 8 year old drinks tea mostly at the weekends when we stop whatever we're doing for tea and cake at about 4-5. She loves it.

She also makes us cups of tea sometimes in the morning. I usually stand over her and she's very careful but she does love doing it...

Children should drink water, milk or tea or maybe squash. But parents are so lazy now a days that it so much easier to pull the ring off a can than boil a kettle. Just as it easier to let your kids run wild than actually make an attempt to amuse or entertain them.

Well I have a 12 year old niece and 5 year old nephew and neither would drink tea they'd rather drink chocolate milkshake or fizzy drinks. I think tea/coffee appeals more to teenagers or adults who need the caffeine more

My daughter is 16 months old and she loves hot tea. I dont giver her her own cup and let her drink alot, she has some sips of mine which happens to be decaf. All kids are different so when the child is responsible enough to use the stove than I would say that is when they should make their own tea.