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Babies Sipping Lattes?
What You Should Know Before You Offer That Sip
By Emily Mendell
Robynne East of Chester Township, Pa., has had a similar experience with her preschool daughter Tianna. "My daughter wants to drink what I drink," East says. "At home she will wake up and say that she 'needs' her coffee. She has a flair for the dramatic."
Unlike Poll, however, East does not permit caffeine. At home she will fix Tianna a cup comprised of half decaf coffee, half water, milk and sugar. "She doesn't need the caffeine – believe me!" Poll says.
And when the two of them go to the coffee shop, there are guidelines. "I steer her toward the non-caffeinated drinks," East says. "The cream frappuccinos without coffee are good."
Staying clear of the caffeine is an improvement, but Jones is quick to point out that there is another nutritional concern with these sweet selections. "Many of these drinks contain a lot of fat and sugar, which can contribute to childhood obesity," she says. "A non-fat decaf latte is better but it still has empty calories, and parents often add sugar to make it appealing to the kids."
Most coffee chains offer children's drinks that include hot chocolate, organic apple juice and milk. But if your children are looking to model your drink, chances are you are going to have to be more creative in your quest to keep them on the healthy path.
Karen Gilbert of Media, Pa., frequents her local coffee house four or five times a week as part of her morning routine. Her sons, Noah, 4 and Ben, 7 months, usually accompany her but she was sure to set the rules from the beginning. Some drinks are just meant for grownups. "They know they are not supposed to have coffee, soda or alcohol," Gilbert says.