Babies Sipping Lattes?

What You Should Know Before You Offer That Sip

By Emily Mendell

"All I want is a proper cup of coffee, made in a proper copper coffee pot, I may be off my dot, but I want a proper coffee in a proper copper pot." – Trout Fishing in America, award-winning family musical duo

It's one thing when the "Proper Cup of Coffee" song is a favorite of toddlers and preschoolers because it is really fun to sing. It is an entirely different issue when they actually can relate to the lyrics. But spend 30 minutes in any given coffee shop on any given day and you will likely see some of these pint-sized sophisticates getting their daily java fix via a few sips of Mom or Dad's drink or perhaps even a concoction of their own.

Face it, parents today are on the leading edge of the coffee generation. It is a legacy that is being passed down to our children on a daily basis, almost unnoticed. Times have changed dramatically since the days of piping hot, black tar served in Styrofoam cups. Today we have thousands of tasty, frothy, sweet beverages, served both hot and cold in trendy sizes from which to choose. We also have cozy destinations where parents and caregivers can congregate and socialize, ordering their signature drinks, sometimes on a daily basis. In many communities there is a caffeinated playground on every corner, most with pleasing music in the background.

But grownups apparently aren't the only ones playing. Little ones along for the ride are easily influenced by watching their parents and often want to join in the fun. For many youngsters, a sip of coffee is a tiny taste of adulthood. The premise is a sweet one and parents are often quick to oblige.

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