DC began enjoying coffee in the feeding bottle as a small child, and still does as a teenager. Pushing six feet. It's not whiskey.

Coffee on its own is actually one of the richest sources of antioxidants in the American diet.

Coffee loaded with sugar, or coffee served in place of a full night’s sleep, is probably pretty bad for a teenager.

Coffee on its own? It’s caffeine and antioxidants, certainly better for your son than a Coke.

OP, I would ignore all the scolds. My 16 year old started drinking 1/2 cup a day in the morning when she was 15 and started to have more work and got less sleep. She is up to a cup a day now but I am not at all worried. Some cultures have kids drink milky coffee from early early on, and the idea of it stunting growth is a myth. It's not like she's mainlining coke to stay awake! (And all the cokes/red bulls that teens drink are a million times worse than a cup of coffee!)

Personally, I think there is a link between caffeine and anxiety in teens. I believe this is due to the increase in coffee which used to be considered an adult drink in the US before Starbucks was in every corner.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many of my first graders drink coffee (most with milk and/or sugar). It is cultural for them.

Sure. Doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.

We do this in my culture and there is also a super high incidence of diabetes. Getting young kids (first graders) hooked on caffeine and sugar might have some negative consequences. I don’t see it as much different than pushing sodas on the kids.

She's Filipino. She's still pretty strong and fit at age 95, although she only drinks coffee once in awhile. I'm not recommending everyone give their kids coffee, but just sharing my experience. I never developed a taste for soda or energy drinks but did become a regular coffee drinker, usually black but sometimes I put some almond milk. My 75 yr old American Dad who never drinks coffee is the one with diabetes. He can't lay off the diet soda and ice cream.

Anonymous wrote:Many of my first graders drink coffee (most with milk and/or sugar). It is cultural for them.

Sure. Doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.

We do this in my culture and there is also a super high incidence of diabetes. Getting young kids (first graders) hooked on caffeine and sugar might have some negative consequences. I don’t see it as much different than pushing sodas on the kids.

Anonymous wrote:I remember my grandmother giving me coffee when I was four. With some rice in it.

I remember my grandmother burning me with her Pall Malls.

Anonymous wrote:I remember my grandmother giving me coffee when I was four. With some rice in it.

Turkish?

I remember my grandmother giving me coffee when I was four. With some rice in it.

Anonymous wrote:Better than Adderall I guess.

Roger!

Coffee is fine. Most high school kids walk around with coffee. He probably does need another hour or two of sleep.

Better than Adderall I guess.

My DS started drinking coffee in 8th grade. He gets enough sleep but I do think he initially started liking it because it helped with his ADHD which wasn't diagnosed and medicated until 9th grade.

He still has cup every morning just like me. Neither of us "needs" it because we don't sleep enough, we just like it.

My teens all drink coffee. It’s not about sleep. NBD

The issue isn't the cup of coffee, it's the poor sleep habits. A cup of coffee is fine. Chronically poor sleep hygiene is not.