The Debate about Toddler Drinking Decaf Coffee: What You Need to Know
Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world. It is so popular in fact, that it is difficult to find somebody who doesn’t drink coffee at least once in a while.
Coffee makes us feel awake and alert when we are tired and also boosts our mood when we are feeling down or bored.
We will take a look at both sides of this debate and see what they have to say about decaffeinated coffee for children.
On one side of the debate, you have people who think that decaf coffee for children can help them grow up healthy and strong. On the other hand, there are those who argue that coffee is not a safe beverage for kids and if they want to drink caffeinated coffee, they should wait until they’re 18 years old.
Is it Safe to Give a Toddler Decaf Coffee?
Decaf coffee is not like other caffeinated beverages like tea, sodas, or energy drinks. It does not have any of the stimulating substances caffeine and theobromine.
However, this does not mean that decaf coffee has no risks. The FDA states that caffeine-free foods are unsafe for children under 12 months of age because they don’t have enough data on how they are metabolized by infants.
It is up to you to decide on when your child should drink decaf coffee. But the FDA recommends waiting until after one year old or when a child’s weight reaches at least 20 pounds whichever comes first.
What Does the Research Say About Decaf Coffee and Toddlers?
A new study found that decaf coffee may not be the best option for toddlers.
The study examined the dietary habits of 1,800 children ages 2-5. The researchers found that 84% of children in this age group drank some type of caffeinated beverage, including tea, soda or fruit juice.
The research did not find any significant difference in the behavior of children when they consumed caffeinated drinks compared with when they were given decaffeinated coffee or tea.
Conclusion on can toddler drink decaf coffee?
Decaffeinated coffee is made by extracting the caffeine from coffee beans. Decaf coffee is not completely caffeine-free, but it does contain less than 1% of the amount found in regular coffee.
Coffee contains caffeine which can be harmful to small children. There are some studies that say that decaf coffee could be harmful to toddlers as well, but this is not proven yet.
The general consensus among experts seems to be that children under 12 should not drink any kind of caffeinated beverage, including decaffeinated ones.