How Does Caffeine Affect Children?

Is Caffeine Good for Kids?

I remember smelling the aroma of fresh coffee brewing in the morning before school when my parents were getting ready for the day. I’d watch them spoon sugar and creamer into their mugs as the steam lifted into the air. Whenever I’d ask, “Can I try coffee, too?” My parents responded with, “You can’t drink coffee as a kid. It’ll stunt your growth.” It was taboo for children to drink any form of caffeine when I was a kid. However, in today’s world, I see more and more young children with a Starbucks cup in their hands, and I often wonder why their parents allow them to drink caffeine products. Don’t they know it’ll stunt their growth? Or, is that just a myth?  Should I allow my children to drink coffee? To help answer these questions for parents like me, I’ve researched the truth behind how caffeine affects children.

There are many caffeinated food and drink products available to children on a daily basis: coffee, tea, soda, energy drinks, and even chocolate. Some have more than others, but I’ve found that all have enough caffeine to affect children. Caffeine in any form is a stimulant. A stimulant temporarily increases alertness and energy by speeding up the body’s systems. Adults may enjoy the jolt of energy after a cup of coffee, but a child’s body is much smaller requiring much less to impact their functioning. Most caffeinated products only have a small amount of the substance in them. That being said, research affirms high concentrations of caffeine can be toxic, even fatal, to a child’s small body. In addition, all stimulants have a “high” effect on the psyche and that becomes habit forming. As the saying goes, “what goes up, must come down.” Caffeine is a prime example. There is always a withdrawal period. Children will experience some form of withdrawal like a headache following the initial “high” from caffeine, which is why they will want more and more of it. Parents may not want their children developing this kind of habit, so steering clear of caffeine will help. 

For some people, they find caffeine enhances their mood. However, for children who have ADHD or anxiety issues, caffeine can make it worse. If your child is already prone to anxiety, caffeine can be detrimental to their mental health. The brain of a child tends to be a little bit more sensitive to caffeine’s effects than the brains of adults. “Caffeine can cause them to be hyperactive, which makes them nervous, anxious, worsens stomach problems and creates sleep problems,” adds Dr. Nicole Caldwell, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. When children’s tummies hurt, their hearts’ race, or they can’t fall asleep, it’s quite scary for them. Refraining from consuming caffeinated products is one way we as parents can minimize these issues. Of course, these are all short-term effects of caffeine on children. What are the long-term effects? 

Statements like “caffeine will stunt a child’s growth” has not been proven. However, research shows that drinking caffeinated products all day may prohibit a child from drinking other nutritional sources like milk and water, which can cause long-term problems in their health such as physical and mental growth. What’s more, caffeinated products typically contain high amounts of sugar which can cause obesity. “The earlier your obesity begins in childhood, the more likely it is to follow you in adulthood. And drinking sugary caffeinated drinks is habit forming. I really fault the beverage industry for marketing to children. I think they’re very clever to put caffeine in a drink because it’s habit forming and it’s a drug,” adds Ann Condon-Meyers, a registered dietitian at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Not only is obesity a side effect that comes when children replace caffeinated products with good nutritional ones, sleep deprivation is a concern. Children need at least an average of 10 hours of sleep a night. Caffeine, being a stimulant, keeps them awake and alert. A study that came out in December 2010 in the journal Pediatrics found that 75 percent of children consume caffeine on a daily basis, and the more caffeine children consumed, the less they slept. Children’s brains are busy working and developing when they are asleep. Not getting enough sleep can cause long-term effects like high blood pressure, obesity and depression. 

Overall, I found that caffeinated products have no purpose in a child’s nutritional needs. The initial effects of caffeine may be pleasant, however, the long-term effects can be detrimental to a child’s mental and physical health. As parents, our responsibility is to protect our children and set them up for a healthy future into adulthood. Caffeine just doesn’t serve that purpose. What are your thoughts about children having caffeine? Did you drink caffeine as a child or have you allowed your children to have it? Connect with us on Instagram @MapsCookingKids or on Twitter @MapsCookingKids. Until next time, Agape, be kind, and happy parenting.