Dear Lesley: can children drink coffee?

I think the criticism may be due to the fact that coffee contains caffeine. Or maybe it is because many people associate coffee with “adulting”.

In my opinion, coffee is not bad for children if they drink it moderately. I have very fond memories of drinking coffee with my Granny as a child. I never had a full cup like she would have, and we did not drink coffee together every day. Actually, I only visited my Granny in the summer because we lived in separate states so, it became a special little thing she would let me do.

The important factors to consider here are caffeine content, frequency of consumption (which means how often you are allowing your child to drink coffee), and of course, their age. Think of it like soda. How often would you allow your child to drink a soda and what serving size would you give them? If your child is between the ages of 8 and 12, consider reducing the serving size to half the portion an adult would receive. If you decide to treat your child to a Frappuccino, ask that they only use half the amount of coffee called for in the recipe. Also, do not order you two the same sizes. Your child should have a smaller size than you would have as an adult. If you have a medium, they should have a small. Couple a smaller serving with reduced coffee content then you would have reduced caffeine content. If you decided to allow your child to drink coffee, do so in moderation.

If your child’s doctor has advised against them having coffee for any reason, follow the doctor’s instructions.