I’m a big tea drinker and introduced tea to my older son when he was just barely over 12-months-old. I plan on doing the same with my little one, but fully expect the same funny looks. Giving tea to a toddler is apparently a strange thing to do. But is it more than that? Can it be unsafe?
Tea is the most widely consumed drink in the world other than water and can be a perfect perfect warm (or cool!) toddler treat. In fact, the right tea is a better choice than most juice options, even when sweetened with a bit of honey (for children over 1-year-old). So here’s the scoop on sharing tea with your little one.
Most experts agree that some teas can be safe starting as young as 6-months when given in the appropriate quantity and for therapeutic purposes. The only specific recommendation I found for children this young—also recommended by my pediatrician—is that small amounts of unsweetened chamomile is a great way to ease the discomfort of a sore throat or cold. Other than that, it seems advisable to hold off on serving tea regularly until your child is at least 12- to 18-months-old. And even then, always stick to caffeine-free teas that are proven safe for little ones. (More on that below.)
Why tea’s good for your toddler
Because tea is not bad for your toddler! Don’t be scared—the right tea selection is a great alternative to juice. With milk and water being the primary healthy drink options available to older babies and toddlers, tea provides flavorful drink variety while avoiding over-sweetened juices and juice drinks. Linda Palmer, a natural infant health and nutrition consultant and author of Baby Matters, What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Caring for Your Baby points out:
While tea doesn’t need to be sweetened, it takes only a half teaspoon of honey (not for infants under 1 year), sugar, or agave nectar to pleasantly sweeten 8 ounces of tea. Soda or grape juice deliver 13 times that amount of sugar, and we now know that corn syrup has detriments of its own beyond the sugar content. At the same time, various teas provide wonderful antioxidant, anti-cancer, and antimicrobial benefits. There’s no reason to even start sweeter drinks when tea can be so satisfying, healthy, and prevent the development of sweeter desires.
As with adults, tea can have soothing effects, help digestion, aid sleep, and calm cold symptoms for little ones. Many more serious health benefits have been attributed to tea—Linda Palmer mentions a few—but researchers can’t quite agree on every aspect. That said, there is agreement that tea contains high levels of antioxidants, which take on free radicals and keep them from harming healthy cells. So, whether you believe that tea can help fight cancer, reduce cholesterol, protect against heart disease, or any of the other common studied claims, it’s clear that tea is a healthy option for all of us.
Choosing teas for toddlers
Teas to avoid:
- Toddlers should only drink decaffeinated teas (plain green tea contains caffeine)
- Be aware that green and black tea contain high amounts of fluoride
- Black teas also contain polyphenols, which can reduce iron absorption, and tannins that can interfere little ones’ digestion
- Echinacea is a mild oxidant not recommended for every day use, but rather for short boosts to the immune system
- Comfrey tea can cause liver damage
- St. John’s wort should not be used unless under recommendation of an experienced health practitioner
- Senna tea might be recommended for constipation in children, but should only be given with a doctor’s guidance
Safe teas for toddlers:
- Lemon balm
- Lemongrass
- Ginger
- Chamomile (there is disagreement, but some believe that children with ragweed allergies may have a reaction to chamomile)
- Mint
- Red teas with rosehips and hibiscus
- Honeybush
- Rooibos and spiced rooibos
- Fruit teas
Okay tea aficionados, I know that some of these options aren’t technically tea, rather herbs and herbal infusions. For now, I’m using “tea” as a catch all. But keep in mind that the more serious health claims attributed to tea do not also apply to herbs.
No need to get fancy to have a tea party with your toddler. Just a small amount, cooled down and, if you want, slightly sweetened does the trick. You can even throw in a piece of ginger, a couple of cloves, a cinnamon stick or some fresh mint while the tea bag steeps. If you want to get fancy (but still keep it super easy), try this granita. Chai spices are a great compliment to blood oranges and OJ is rich in antioxidants, making this an immune boost! Try this before citrus season ends completely… we’re almost there!
Chai Spiced Blood Orange Granita
from One Hungry Mama
2 c freshly squeezed blood orange juice (or whatever orange citrus is best)
2 c brewed caffeine-free chai-spiced rooibos (we got ours at Trader Joes)
1/4 cup honey (only for kids 12+ mos)
1. Mix juice and cooled tea. Add 1/2 of the honey syrup. Add more to taste. (Depending on how sweet your juice is, you may not want or need the full amount.)
2. Pour juice-tea mixture into a shallow, freezer safe container. Freeze until the juice turns firm but slushy. Depending on how deep the container is, this could take anywhere from 1-2 hours.
3. Scrape with a fork and return to freezer for another hour. Enjoy!
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Kids change the way we cook, but they don’t have to change how well we eat. Read more of Stacie’s family-friendly recipes and tips at One Hungry Mama