Tea is believed to have several health benefits. However, is it safe for you to consider tea for kids? The tea we usually make contains caffeine and refined sugar, which are not recommended in excess amounts, especially for children. Plunge into this post as we tell you whether or not tea is safe for children, the correct age for introducing the beverage to them, its benefits, and possible adverse effects.
Is It Safe For Children To Drink Tea?
Ideally, tea is not recommended for children due to its natural caffeine content. According to Dr. Cidny Gellner of the University of Utah Health Sciences, “Drinking high amounts of sweetened caffeinated drinks can lead to cavities in children.” Also, caffeine is diuretic that can make your kids pee more frequently. (1) You may replace caffeinated tea with herbal tea. However, make sure that the ingredients in the tea are suitable for your child. For instance, some herbs that suit one child may not suit some other.
What Is The Right Age For Children To Start Drinking Tea?
There are no studies that specify the age when children may start drinking tea. As long as tea consumption is moderate, and the caffeine limit is under control, there may not be significant risks. However, it is good to know caffeine limit for children. The American Academy of Pediatrics observes, ”Kids and teens should be careful when consuming caffeinated drinks. Adolescents between 12 and 18 age may take 100mg caffeine (around one or two cups of tea) in a day. But for children below 12 years of age, they have no said safe threshold (2).” Before serving a cup of tea to your child, do consider the possible health benefits and side effects of tea for children.
Are There Any Benefits Of Tea For Children?
An occasional cup of regular caffeinated tea may provide some short term advantages to kids.
It can be relaxing It may soothe body aches and tummy ache It may help treat cough and cold
You may have to make tea the right way for the child to enjoy the above benefits.
Tips To Make A Cup Of Tea For Kids
If you are planning to give your child an occasional cup of regular tea, here’s the way to do it.
Use fewer tea leaves to make a light tea. You can also make a light tea by steeping the tea for two to four minutes. If the tea gets strong, add some water to it. Serve lukewarm or chilled tea and not piping hot tea.
Possible Side Effects Of Tea For Children
Excessive consumption of tea may result in the following side effects for children.
Caffeine in tea may affect your child’s development, behavior, and sleep (3). A research study concluded that regular consumption of tea or coffee by children increased the risk of type 1 diabetes in them (4). The intake of caffeine by children could increase the preference for beverages and sweet foods. Such eating patterns could increase the risk of obesity (5). Caffeine in excess could be responsible for fidgetiness, jitteriness, and nervousness in children (6). Caffeine and sugar in tea may be associated with overweight issues in children (6). Image: iStock Drinking sugar-sweetened tea in high amounts could be responsible for extra calories, which might result in heart diseases, tooth decay, and even type-2 diabetes. Caffeine in tea inhibits the absorption of iron and calcium affecting their hemoglobin and bone strength Excessive consumption of tea might lead to acidity issues also
Various Teas For Children
The following could be some other tea options you may try as home remedies for some common illnesses. You could consider the above alternatives or even consider not giving tea to the child at all.
Healthy Alternatives To Tea For Children
Instead of getting addicted to tea, children may consider healthy drinks such as freshly-prepared, homemade fruit juices, milk, coconut water or lemon water or flavored water (made with natural ingredients and no added sugar). These would help them stay hydrated and provide vital nutrients to the body.
