Returning User? Login Here | Bookmark this site | Contests | Sitemap
dad dads
Toilet training
Sleeping
How to
Shopping
Baby names
Sex
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Calculator
Mother's Day
Favorites
 
 
 
 
Tell a Friend
 
Subscribe via RSS
Enter your email



 
   RSS Feed
 XML Sitemap
 greatdad/sitemap
 
Add to My Yahoo!
Add to Google

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Parenting tips for limiting kids' caffeine consumption

Be the first to rate this article:

Alex Bellamy   Print
Subscribe to Newsletters

Fathers can cut down on their kidsAdults routinely drink coffee and other caffeinated products to get them going in the morning or to give them an energy boost anytime. A recent study funded by the National Institutes of Health has found that many kids are habitual caffeine drinkers as well with many 12 to 17 year olds reporting they get their caffeine fix from both sodas and coffee.

Experts say fathers should limit how much caffeine their children drink or eat since it's known to be addictive and stimulates the central nervous system. In addition to giving an energy boost, caffeine can cause a variety of other unpleasant side effects including jitteriness and nervousness, upset stomach, headaches, difficulty concentrating and sleeping and increases in blood pressure and heart rate, according to kidshealth.org.

While there aren't any guidelines for how much caffeine is appropriate for kids to consume in the U.S., guidelines in Canada suggest preschoolers get no more than 45 milligrams each day. That's equal to about a 12-ounce can of soda or about 6 ounces of milk chocolate.

The best parenting advice to cut caffeine from your kids' diets is to eliminate soda. Fathers should opt instead for milk, water, 100 percent juice and flavored seltzers for their kids. Switching to decaffeinated sodas, teas and coffees can work as well. Remember that moderation is key when it comes to everything, including other products that contain caffeine, like chocolate.

If you suspect your child is already addicted to caffeine, experts suggest eliminating it from their diets slowly to avoid withdrawal symptoms like headaches, sluggishness or even depression.
ADNFCR-1662-ID-19538543-ADNFCR
Subscribe to the pregnancy newsletter or 4-8 year olds newsletter.
Login with Facebook
 
 
 
 
Post a Comment
 
 
 
First Name:  
City:
Email Address:
Comments:
Total Words:
(400 words*)

Enter the characters you see in the image. They are case sensitive.

 
   
     
     
 
 
Shopping
 
 
 
 
Article List
Yes, you can help your son survive puberty!
Will your kids become emotionally damaged after a big move?
Are you a great dad - or just a pushover?
Tough-but-fair punishments for misbehaving children
Can children actually become responsible pet owners?
When can I leave my children home alone?
Has fatherhood changed in the digital age?
Understanding the risks and dangers of SIDS
How do I know if my child has a severe food allergy?
Did your teenage son recently start dating? Some things to consider
Help! My children are becoming couch potatoes!
Don't panic - it's only your child's first cold
Running errands with the kids - yes, it's possible

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 NEXT
 
Tell a Friend
Subscribe to Newsletters
Forum Topics
   
Most Popular Articles
When is a child ready to be potty-trained?
Nine reasons to delay toilet training
21 Potty Training Tips
How to potty train your child in one day
Top tips to prepare your child for toilet training (even though it may be months away)
Eight Tips on Buying a Potty Chair
The NAKED CHILD APPROACH to toilet training
 
 
See more articles...