A little sip comes with big risks: The truth about kids and coffee

Children usually imitate what their parents do, and if you are an avid coffee drinker, chances are they will ask you for a sip or cup.

While imitation might be said to be the highest form of flattery, in this case, you may want to avoid it. Dr Maretha Combrink, a paediatrician at Mediclinic Pretoria, explains the impact of coffee on children.

Our recent Facebook poll revealed that 45% of parents believe coffee isn’t suitable for kids, while 45% think kids between 14 and 18 can have coffee. We did note that 10 believed that children aged 13 years old and under should be allowed to have coffee.

Fundamentally, the majority of the poll participants agree that there isn’t a safe amount of coffee for children under 18 to consume. This is mainly because there are no regulations or guidelines in South Africa regarding what would be a safe dose for children to consume. Dr Combrink emphasises that everyday drinks that kids consume, such as energy drinks, already contain caffeine—something most parents also need to be aware of.

The main ingredient in coffee is caffeine, and children developing an addiction is a valid concern. However, there are developmental and physical risks associated with kids consuming coffee from a young age.

“While we use caffeine in premature babies with a gestational age of fewer than 35 weeks to prevent apnoea, the dosage is carefully calculated, and in these scenarios, the benefit outweighs the risk.” Dr Cambrink states.

But further in their development and childhood, too much caffeine can lead to insomnia, anxiety, an upset stomach, headaches, difficulty concentrating, and an increased heart rate. These symptoms can occur in children after the smallest amount of coffee as their bodies don’t have a fully developed nervous system, making them more sensitive to caffeine. Which also makes existing health issues worse.

Some parents believe drinking coffee is acceptable if the child is at a certain age. In contrast, others believe any child under 18 shouldn't consume coffee at all, regardless of their understanding.

Particularly when you consider the long-term effects coffee can cause, such as:

• Increased stress levels
• Cravings and withdrawal symptoms when caffeine is stopped
• The risk of panic attacks, anger issues, and substance abuse problems
• An addiction to sugar because of increased sugar intake when using sugar in coffee
• Difficulty quitting other substances (such as nicotine)

The severity of the side effects may present differently in each child, depending on their weight and age.

Perhaps next time they ask for a sip of your coffee, you can introduce them to child-friendly alternatives like a warm glass of milk, chamomile, or ginger-flavoured tea. This way, they won’t feel left out during the evenings or mornings when the adults enjoy a cup of coffee.