How Old?

[Javalover]

How old were your kids when you let them start drinking coffee? Growing up I always heard that coffee stunted your growth, is this an old wives' tale? I don't really want my kids having the caffeine but I know how hard it is to go to school and have a job.

[Nicky]

Unfortunately I do not have children yet.
But I remember that parents forbade me to drink coffee.
But my aunt allowed. Let me think... I have tried coffee in 11 or 13 years old.

happy easter

[JavaJane]

It is an old myth that coffee will stunt your growth so no need to worry about that. The concern on giving children coffee too early is the caffeine - who wants to hype a kid up, right? I let my kids have coffee, if they asked for it, in high school. But you could always let them have decaf so no need to worry about them getting caffeine addicted too young.

[paul77]

Well, I don't have kids either but I don't see allowing them to drink coffee as a big problem. I think my children will be free to choose - drink coffee or tea, so that they don't do this secretly, behind my back. And when they will be grown up enough, they will set their choice on anything they like.

[LoriL]

I have 1 child and she is not allowed to drink coffee yet. She is 13. I don't see any reason for her to drink it until she is an adult. I wasn't allowed when I was a kid. Sure I snuck a drink here or there, but I wasn't allowed to have a cup with my parents in the morning.

[Beanz]

I don't have kids, but I used to drink coffee in high school because I used to wake up at 4 in the morning to do more homework and such. I never had any problems.

[ginga]

hmm... My parents never forbade me to drink coffee, moreover my granny used to suggest me a cup from time to time! The matter is that I didn't like it that much when I was a kid.
I don't really think it's always good to prohibit something. You might just explain your children that coffee is good for grownups, but harmful for kids
Or when they ask for coffee just give them a cup.. without sugar I think that will turn them away for many years in advance

[killer666]

Coffee - never!!! Only cocoa!!!

[jennyffer777]

Well, I'll let my kinds drinking coffee when they ask me for that (but in small quantities at the beginning, of course). Until then, they drink as much milk as they wish...