Sometimes, but not at home. I'm a Diet Coke addict and I'm incredibly healthy and thin so I don't believe it's the drink of doom. But still, water and milk are better for kids.

My 9 year old just discovered orange soda. It counts as a dessert/treat. He has one on Thanksgiving, some other holidays. Sometimes while on vacation.

They can order Shirley Temples once in a while when we are out to dinner.

My six year old has had a sip or two .. Maybe. So far he is content with water or milk. We let him drink juice at parties and such- but don't buy it for home unless he is sick and we are pushing fluids.

We keep soda in the house for DH so I know it is only a matter of time before he gets more curious. Not going to offer it anytime soon- but I imagine we will treat it the way we do juice. Ok for special occasions and no particular policy against it- but a general preference for milk and water.

Anonymous wrote:I don't have a policy and never have. We have soda in the house. Kids can help themselves to whenever they want. They also have free reign over the candy, cookies, and pop tarts that are in the house.

Somedays my kids crave the sugar and others they don't want it. I let them decide and they're learning to listen to their bodies.

This is close to our habits.

My kids are all skinny.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly why would any intelligent parent give their child garbage to consume?

I'll ask my DH and get back to you.

LOL, I had a strict no soda policy, but this was completely undermined by DH. Now the boys like to sit and have an occasional "beer" (root for DS obviously), which is cute. I've loosened up, buy him the all natural kind.

One of the few good things we did was banned soda from house didn't care if they were somewhere else but never in house

So both kids never really drank much soda

I don't have a policy and never have. We have soda in the house. Kids can help themselves to whenever they want. They also have free reign over the candy, cookies, and pop tarts that are in the house.

Somedays my kids crave the sugar and others they don't want it. I let them decide and they're learning to listen to their bodies.

Anonymous wrote:For those saying no soda, but who allow lemonade at restaurants, I am genuinely curious -- isn't most lemonade just as bad as soda? Often it is not even made with real lemons, right, but is just another processed sugar drink?

I am one of them. It is probably the same sugar wise, but at least we avoid caffeine. And there is just something about crossing into soda that seems....I do not know, like the beginning of obesity. There are too many super sized sodas and unlimited refills. We only allow lemonade when it is really hot and we are more worried about dehydration. Or we give a choice between it and another sugary treat. Trust me, my son has lots of other sources for sugar.

But rationally, I get what you are saying. It always cracks me up when people will not let thier kid eat something like cotton candy but will buy them 32 ounces of lemonade without thinking twice about it. So I can see why it seems odd to not allow soda but allow lemonade.

None at 10, but to be fair he has never really pushed it. He is still begging for juice and lemonade, so maybe that will eventually turn to wanting soda. I am sure he has had some at parties. But my DS is overweight so allowing soda on a regular basis would be a bad idea for him.

i let them have it a few times at restaurants when we're on vacation. so maybe 6ish times a year?

For those saying no soda, but who allow lemonade at restaurants, I am genuinely curious -- isn't most lemonade just as bad as soda? Often it is not even made with real lemons, right, but is just another processed sugar drink?

I'm a child of the 70s and drank Coke pretty much every day! I'm a healthy weight today. All of my siblings are the same. Soft drinks alone will not doom your child.

Mom of teens..never at home but they can order what they want when we go out. We only eat dessert rarely so I don't mind about 1 soda week. Same policy when they were younger too.

I love soda - all kinds all favors. My kids can drink them when they are around - restaurants/parties. I don't buy the stuff for the house - why is it such a crime to have a coke every now and the!?