More Than 1 in 10 Parents Give Their Toddlers Coffee?!

Giving Toddlers Coffee

I really, truly, love my coffee. Seriously, if you were to see pictures of me before I had my coffee and then after I had my coffee, it would basically be like seeing a picture of a sleepy pony next to one of a glistening unicorn, ready to take on the world. That’s how much of an effect it has on me!

That said? I know what kind of effect coffee would have on my kiddos—and it wouldn’t be a pretty thing! They’re already excited, energetic, emotional little beings. Adding caffeine into that mix could only lead to hyperactivity beyond my wildest dreams, possibly followed by the mother of all meltdowns. Not exactly my cup of java.

That’s why I was so surprised to read that more than one in ten parents admit giving their two year olds coffee. Yes, that’s right, toddlers are drinking coffee. That might seem funny, but it’s really not. Giving caffeine to children that young can result in greater risk of depression, obesity, diabetes, and many other problems.

The study showed that most parents pouring Colombian roast for their wee ones were lacking in education, but to me, that just means that we need to do a better job of educating moms during prenatal appointments and at the hospital after giving birth. Every baby deserves a healthy start—there’s plenty of time for little Emma or Jake to become a Starbucks junkie later in life!