<p>You may find similar discussion mostly on the <a href="/questions/tagged/health" class="post-tag" title="show questions tagged &#39;health&#39;" rel="tag">health</a> tag. The most relevant question was previously closed on <a href="https://coffee.stackexchange.com/">Coffee SE</a> site as it was opinion-based.</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://coffee.stackexchange.com/questions/479/whats-the-minimum-recommended-age-for-drinking-a-coffee/493#493">What&#39;s the minimum recommended age for drinking a coffee?</a></li>
</ul>

<p>Let me add my opinion here: my 2.5 years old niece drinks regular (not decaf) Turkish coffee together with us during her daily routine. Caffeine's effects are similar in adults or in children. And they are more or less the same. However, children have smaller and more sensitive bodies. So, we let her drink really small amounts. She becomes happy to be a part of the family. I can say, everybody in our family grown up like that for generations, none of us experienced caffeine-related problems. (Still, we are not MDs and we are a very limited sample set. This is a coffee board, not a medical opinion body.)</p>

<p>The other related questions may arise, but relevant to adults:</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://coffee.stackexchange.com/questions/149/does-coffee-cause-dehydration/169#169">Does coffee cause dehydration?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://coffee.stackexchange.com/questions/3102/does-coffee-cause-gastrointestinal-problems/3107#3107">Does coffee cause gastrointestinal problems?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://coffee.stackexchange.com/questions/221/how-many-cups-of-coffee-is-it-safe-to-consume-per-day">How many cups of coffee is it safe to consume per day?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://coffee.stackexchange.com/questions/464/what-are-the-side-effects-of-drinking-too-much-coffee">What are the side effects of drinking too much coffee?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://coffee.stackexchange.com/questions/2519/can-drinking-coffee-at-least-once-a-day-increase-anxiety">Can drinking coffee at least once a day increase anxiety?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://coffee.stackexchange.com/questions/1856/coffee-on-daily-basis">Coffee on daily basis</a></li>
<li><a href="https://coffee.stackexchange.com/questions/3042/does-coffee-consumption-cause-continuous-chest-pain/3044#3044">Does coffee consumption cause continuous chest pain?</a></li>
</ul>

<p>As children are more sensitive, every little effect must be considered seriously. Still, <strong>I believe</strong>, if observed carefully, it should be safe to drink a bit coffee for a child.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-01T17:05:18.793Z
Occasionally, i will take my kids to a coffee roaster and buy some beans for myself, a drink, a couple muffins, and part of a decaf cup for them to share.  Mostly, they just want to "feel cool" like Dad and drink their coffee.  I will not, have not, given it to any of my kids under 5 though.  I also don't add sugar, but will add some cream if they want.  Usually, they will only have a sip or two, and then put it down.  At home, we will give them decaf tea on occasion and those health risks would be the same as decaf coffee.  I would not make this a habit or give them that much either.
Keith E. Truesdell
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-01T18:08:32.710Z
@KeithE.Truesdell Your comment looks quite rational to me. I mean, any functioning adult knows that children are more vulnerable, so protects children. I believe, most important point is to spend quality time with children and closely observe them.
MTSan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-30T06:53:49.117Z
2017-08-07T08:46:00.637Z
2017-08-07T08:46:00.637Z
MTSan
<p>Decaffeinated coffee is not caffeine-free, as almost all decaffeinated coffee contains some measure of caffeine.</p>
<p>Bruce Goldberger, a professor and director of UF’s William R. Maples Center for Forensic Medicine says:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“If someone drinks five to 10 cups of decaffeinated coffee, the dose of caffeine could easily reach the level present in a cup or two of caffeinated coffee.&quot;</p>
<p>“This could be a concern for people who are advised to cut their caffeine intake, such as those with kidney disease or anxiety disorders.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Despite amount of coffeine is decaffeinated is low, moderate levels can increase agitation, anxiety, heart rate and blood pressure in some susceptible individuals and in some people could still develop a physical dependence.</p>
<p>Read more: <a href="https://news.ufl.edu/archive/2006/10/uf-experts-decaffeinated-coffee-is-not-caffeine-free.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">UF experts: Decaffeinated coffee is not caffeine-free</a>.</p>
<p>Read also: <a href="https://coffee.stackexchange.com/q/479/294">What's the minimum recommended age for drinking a coffee?</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p><a href="http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/addit/caf/food-caf-aliments-eng.php" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Health Canada</a> Recommended Maximum Caffeine Intake Levels for Children and Women of Childbearing Age</p>
<p>Children:</p>
<p>4 - 6 years 45 mg/day</p>
<p>7 - 9 years 62.5 mg/day</p>
<p>10 - 12 years 85 mg/day</p>
<p>Women who are planning to become pregnant, pregnant women and breast feeding mothers: 300 mg/day</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-13T14:03:18.970Z
2020-01-13T14:03:18.970Z
2020-06-18T08:36:22.093Z
kenorb
<p>I heard from a friend that there's a new trend happening. People are bringing their kids to Starbucks and buying them a so-called &quot;baby-cino&quot;, i.e. decaf coffee with lots of cream and sugar.</p>
<p>Is this really an occurrence? Is there any evidence about the effects of coffee (even decaf) on children?</p>
<p>Are there possibly any health risks one should look into before giving coffee to a child?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-22T07:18:50.517Z
Don’t no where your living but in the uk a baby-chino is just frothy milk and contains absolutely no coffee decaf or otherwise
Leonie blythe
<health><coffee-culture><decaffeinated>
Is it safe to give decaf coffee to a child?
Caffeinated
# Is it safe to give decaf coffee to a child?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-07-30)

I heard from a friend that there's a new trend happening. People are bringing their kids to Starbucks and buying them a so-called "baby-cino", i.e. decaf coffee with lots of cream and sugar.

Is this really an occurrence? Is there any evidence about the effects of coffee (even decaf) on children?

Are there possibly any health risks one should look into before giving coffee to a child?

**Tags:** health, coffee-culture, decaffeinated

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Don’t no where your living but in the uk a baby-chino is just frothy milk and contains absolutely no coffee decaf or otherwise  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-07-30. Score: 12 | Accepted answer

You may find similar discussion mostly on the [health](/questions/tagged/health "show questions tagged 'health'") tag. The most relevant question was previously closed on [Coffee SE](https://coffee.stackexchange.com/) site as it was opinion-based.

* [What's the minimum recommended age for drinking a coffee?](https://coffee.stackexchange.com/questions/479/whats-the-minimum-recommended-age-for-drinking-a-coffee/493#493)

Let me add my opinion here: my 2.5 years old niece drinks regular (not decaf) Turkish coffee together with us during her daily routine. Caffeine's effects are similar in adults or in children. And they are more or less the same. However, children have smaller and more sensitive bodies. So, we let her drink really small amounts. She becomes happy to be a part of the family. I can say, everybody in our family grown up like that for generations, none of us experienced caffeine-related problems. (Still, we are not MDs and we are a very limited sample set. This is a coffee board, not a medical opinion body.)

The other related questions may arise, but relevant to adults:

* [Does coffee cause dehydration?](https://coffee.stackexchange.com/questions/149/does-coffee-cause-dehydration/169#169)
* [Does coffee cause gastrointestinal problems?](https://coffee.stackexchange.com/questions/3102/does-coffee-cause-gastrointestinal-problems/3107#3107)
* [How many cups of coffee is it safe to consume per day?](https://coffee.stackexchange.com/questions/221/how-many-cups-of-coffee-is-it-safe-to-consume-per-day)
* [What are the side effects of drinking too much coffee?](https://coffee.stackexchange.com/questions/464/what-are-the-side-effects-of-drinking-too-much-coffee)
* [Can drinking coffee at least once a day increase anxiety?](https://coffee.stackexchange.com/questions/2519/can-drinking-coffee-at-least-once-a-day-increase-anxiety)
* [Coffee on daily basis](https://coffee.stackexchange.com/questions/1856/coffee-on-daily-basis)
* [Does coffee consumption cause continuous chest pain?](https://coffee.stackexchange.com/questions/3042/does-coffee-consumption-cause-continuous-chest-pain/3044#3044)

As children are more sensitive, every little effect must be considered seriously. Still, **I believe**, if observed carefully, it should be safe to drink a bit coffee for a child.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Occasionally, i will take my kids to a coffee roaster and buy some beans for myself, a drink, a couple muffins, and part of a decaf cup for them to share.  Mostly, they just want to "feel cool" like Dad and drink their coffee.  I will not, have not, given it to any of my kids under 5 though.  I also don't add sugar, but will add some cream if they want.  Usually, they will only have a sip or two, and then put it down.  At home, we will give them decaf tea on occasion and those health risks would be the same as decaf coffee.  I would not make this a habit or give them that much either.  
> **username_2**: @KeithE.Truesdell Your comment looks quite rational to me. I mean, any functioning adult knows that children are more vulnerable, so protects children. I believe, most important point is to spend quality time with children and closely observe them.  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2020-01-13. Score: 3

Decaffeinated coffee is not caffeine-free, as almost all decaffeinated coffee contains some measure of caffeine.

Bruce Goldberger, a professor and director of UF’s William R. Maples Center for Forensic Medicine says:

> “If someone drinks five to 10 cups of decaffeinated coffee, the dose of caffeine could easily reach the level present in a cup or two of caffeinated coffee."
>
> “This could be a concern for people who are advised to cut their caffeine intake, such as those with kidney disease or anxiety disorders.”

Despite amount of coffeine is decaffeinated is low, moderate levels can increase agitation, anxiety, heart rate and blood pressure in some susceptible individuals and in some people could still develop a physical dependence.

Read more: [UF experts: Decaffeinated coffee is not caffeine-free](https://news.ufl.edu/archive/2006/10/uf-experts-decaffeinated-coffee-is-not-caffeine-free.html).

Read also: [What's the minimum recommended age for drinking a coffee?](https://coffee.stackexchange.com/q/479/294)

> [Health Canada](http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/addit/caf/food-caf-aliments-eng.php) Recommended Maximum Caffeine Intake Levels for Children and Women of Childbearing Age
>
> Children:
>
> 4 - 6 years 45 mg/day
>
> 7 - 9 years 62.5 mg/day
>
> 10 - 12 years 85 mg/day
>
> Women who are planning to become pregnant, pregnant women and breast feeding mothers: 300 mg/day


---

