https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 08 Jul 2026 10:19:31 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-drink-sodas/page/2#post-2317282 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 06:38:31 +0000 travellingbee 2317282@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wasn't a big soda drinker growing up but did have sprite sometimes out at dinner or at a party. But I drank a TON of kool-aid and when I was littler juicy juice. My mom is still convinced juicy juice is healthy. Anyway, I plan to limit at home drinks to water and milk and occasional watered down juice for a treat. In elementary school I'm sure he'll have soda at a party and I'm fine with that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-drink-sodas#post-2317236 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 02:06:08 +0000 homestylecreations 2317236@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never stock it at home so i'm not too worried about it. But my sister only gives it to her older children on "special occasions" and I like that idea. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-drink-sodas#post-2316885 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 14:52:59 +0000 birdofafeather 2316885@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i drink san pellegrinos and TJ's sparkling lemonade and she's had some of that. we call it sparkles. usually it's a few sips or watered down with plain sparkling water. i don't want her to have her own because it is a lot of sugar, but now she thinks it's a fun treat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-drink-sodas#post-2316880 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 14:48:24 +0000 ShootingStar 2316880@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We drink a lot of soda. Me more than DH. Growing up I was only allowed milk at home or water, if I really wanted it. I could have soda when we went out to eat though. I'll probably do something similar with DS, though I don't see giving him soda for a while - maybe 8 or 10 or so? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-drink-sodas#post-2316874 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 14:36:12 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2316874@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't buy soda for the house so we only ever have it when we're out and even then it's usually only DH that drinks it. As long as I'm the one ordering for them, they will drunk water but LO1 has already tasted soda while we were out. I can't see myself giving her her own to drink for a long long time. Like others have said, I may let her have coffee though she's only 2 but she already sneaks sips on my coffee and I don't even use sweetener! She's a girl after my own heart :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-drink-sodas#post-2316765 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 13:12:22 +0000 snowjewelz 2316765@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't really drink soda... But it's def gonna be other sugary drinks we need to be mindful of! I don't think we'll have a rule but I probably want to be able to count how many sips she has in a month when she's young! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-drink-sodas#post-2316763 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 13:10:13 +0000 littlejoy 2316763@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@youboots: You know I'm picturing you with a tiny robe, reading the paper, and sipping on coffee at the age of 5. Love it! </p> <p>We don't drink soda at home, so I don't see it being an issue. I would say until LO is a teenager, and she's out with friends. DH thinks the rare soda treat (caffeine free) at the movies is totally fine, and I probably wouldn't oppose. Sooo maybe when she's 6 or 7? </p> <p>My parents wouldn't let me have soda. EVER. Once I sneaked a Pepsi, and had the WORST nightmare that night. Who knows if they were connected, but it basically scarred me until college. ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-drink-sodas#post-2316750 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 13:01:40 +0000 Mrs.KMM 2316750@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH and I are both daily pop drinkers. So I am sure that DD will drink pop too! I'm certainly not going to let a young kid drink as much pop as I do but I also don't think that it will be severely restricted. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-drink-sodas#post-2316533 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 10:16:18 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 2316533@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: Ooooh I think a root beer float would be so good to do with the girls (as long as it's the caffeine-free one). The problem is, W is *so* sensitive to sugar, so we really limit it (like, 1/3 of a scoop of vanilla ice cream makes her crazy hyper!), so I guess that's why I'm limiting it as much as I can. C isn't nearly as affected by it haha </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-drink-sodas#post-2316526 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 10:03:58 +0000 honeybear 2316526@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Like a lot of others, we don't drink soda much, but I know LO has had a little root beer once or twice in floats, because I make them once or twice a year as a treat. Oh, and he got some (real) ginger ale when I was super sick. </p> <p>He's 5 and I'm pretty sure the first time he had any soda was about 4. I buy the real sugar and craft versions when I do buy sodas, but I'm not sure that really makes them any better for us...just tastier! 'Cause if I'm gonna drink liquid sugar, I want it to be gooooood! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-drink-sodas#post-2316517 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 09:52:45 +0000 yin 2316517@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't drink soda at home, but DH does drink sparkling water and an occasional ginger beer. LO1 dislikes bubbly drinks and steers clear. LO2 loves the bubbles, and DH will share his sparkling water with him. </p> <p>DH's nieces have been drinking sodas since they could drink from a cup. It's pretty bad, and that's all they drink with their meals. I've seen soda given in a baby bottle before too. I tried to give one of his nieces a water bottle to keep hydrated while they were playing outside. She insisted that she did not need it. When her mom came with a soda, she guzzled it down right away. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-drink-sodas#post-2316494 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 09:30:43 +0000 rachiecakes 2316494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't keep soda in the house but I drink seltzer all day long, J loves it.<br /> I let him have a bit of sprite or orange soda if we go to a movie. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-drink-sodas#post-2316489 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 09:19:27 +0000 tlynne 2316489@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We normally don't have soda in the house. DS, age 4, recently started having the occasional Sprite, but only at the movie theater. I figure that it may be healthier/less sugar than the "fountain juice" that they have (which contains 0% juice), and his grandparents insist on giving him snacks/drinks when they take him. We also let him taste some sodas in the tasting room at the Coca Cola Museum. We've also recently begun allowing him the occasional sweet tea. He has enjoyed the occasional coffee drink (mostly milk, actually) too. He definitely has a preference for bitter flavors (like coffee) rather than sweet flavors. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-drink-sodas#post-2316467 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 09:00:35 +0000 Tanjowen 2316467@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: We didn't do soda until high school, but my family is Southern, and we always had sweet tea at dinner so I definitely had caffeine! I don't have a problem with my LO having caffeine herr and there in tea. Should have clarified that in my earlier post :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-drink-sodas#post-2316454 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 08:54:01 +0000 mediagirl 2316454@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyBoecksMom: I've seen babies in Walmart drinking Mountain Dew. Gah!</p> <p>I really don't know the answer to this one yet. She hasn't had soda yet but my Dad really wants to give her a root beer float someday. lol. I think it would be fun for her first soda to be something like a Shirley Temple at a restaurant for a special treat. I really don't want her to start drinking soda in elementary school, though. I think this is one of those things where we will just see how it goes... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-drink-sodas#post-2316447 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 08:51:07 +0000 mrsrain 2316447@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If love to avoid caffeine and sugary drinks entirely, but I also realize we probably can't! We'll see. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-drink-sodas#post-2316415 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 08:32:42 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2316415@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not yet. Sprite not until at least Elementary school (I figure by then, birthday party's wont have juice boxes anymore). </p> <p>But we did have some carbonated water (La Croix) in cans at a party not too long ago so we let her (age 4) have one. She didn't drink much but thought it was fun. We had to explain it was Soda water and she still was Not allowed to have soda. </p> <p>Next up, trying to explain to my MIL why giving her (age 4) sweet tea isn't acceptable either. More from the caffeine and sugar perspective. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-drink-sodas#post-2316407 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 08:28:19 +0000 SweetiePie 2316407@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm surprised by how many say high school was the first time they had soda/caffeine and that's their plan as well. Not surprised in a bad way, just that I've never heard of that!<br /> We didn't have it regularly growing up, but I know I did have it as a child, maybe 5? I remember it being special occasions or a treat. </p> <p>I believe in using common sense and moderation. I don't have an age in mind for when my son will try soda. He's 13 months so my common sense says "not yet". :-) But if he's 3 and at a birthday party and they have soda and he asks, I'll explain that he can have a small amount but it's only because it's a special occasion. If he asks again at home or at a restaurant, I'll say no. I'm the parent so it's my job to set the rules and define moderation. Just because he has a little at a party doesn't mean he'll become a soda fiend and I'll lose all control. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-drink-sodas#post-2316401 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 08:21:47 +0000 kiddosc 2316401@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At 3, E has had a sip of my diet coke here and there. I've never really thought about what age I'd let him have his own. Right now, he'd rather drink juice as a treat beverage, which happens maybe 1-2x a month. I don't think soda in moderation is the devil. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-drink-sodas#post-2316397 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 08:16:20 +0000 Smurfette 2316397@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH and I both drink soda every day. She knows that it is a Mommy and Daddy drink. She took a sip of Coke Zero at like 12 months when DH left it on the coffee table by accident. I think most of it ended up down her pjs. She has tried Sprite once at a party, but took like two sips of it. I don't see the harm in a Sprite every once in awhile as a treat in like a year or two. Right now juice as a treat is enough for her, so we just stick with that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-drink-sodas#post-2316387 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 08:10:35 +0000 Alivoo01 2316387@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH is a heavy soda drinker so once in awhile DS gets curious and asks for a sip. Fortunately, he never likes it after a sip so we don't mind "sharing" for now. </p> <p>DS is also great about sweets. You can give him an entire tub of ice cream and he'd only eat a scoops worth. We don't actually give him an entire tub, obviously, but when we share ice cream, he always has a threshold and he'll say no more even though there's some left and goes off to play. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-drink-sodas#post-2316383 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 08:06:40 +0000 SAHM0811 2316383@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My eldest never really asked to try soda as a toddler so we dodged it all the way til she was 6 yo. Then she came home from the first day of 1st grade saying her teacher gave her "jitter juice" which was Sprite mixed with lemonade. Since it was the first day, it was something fun for them to get the "jitters out". Now on weekends or parties, she'll ask for some Sprite, and we let her have some. She eats pretty well most of the time, so I'm not worried that it's a habit. She drinks it maybe 1-2x a month.</p> <p>My 4 year old still hasn't asked about soda. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-drink-sodas#post-2316373 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 07:59:15 +0000 blackbird 2316373@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well, i feel like one of the very few soda drinkers or something, heh. DH and I drink soda sometimes, especially carbonated waters. We always have some kind of unsweetened carbonated water around. We let E have that if she wants some and I let her have a couple cups of of fruit punch soda when we were potty training her.</p> <p>We had a tonnnnnn of soda growing up, so I'd like to avoid that. And as long as my kids continue to choose water most of the time, I'm not opposed to letting them have some fun drinks sometimes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-drink-sodas#post-2316343 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 07:22:21 +0000 LuLu Mom 2316343@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a daily soda drinker (so is DH) however our LO doesn't drink pop. She says it's mommy's/daddy's kind of like beer. However, she did inform me after her last grandma visit that she let her and her cousin Ella "split a root beer" she's 3. So I made sure she knew that was a very special treat just at grandma's house and that it doesn't happen every time. I'm not opposed to caffeine free pop, but I don't think she needs it at this age. </p> <p>My parents never really kept pop in the house but we drank it when we were out as a special treat, I think this is just fine. I remember when I was in elementary school or jr. high and went to friend's houses who parents had pop I would go crazy because we never had it readily available! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-drink-sodas#post-2316339 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 07:15:55 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2316339@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Good question. We don't buy it for the house and only order it at the movies, well I do and my husband gets water or Gatorade. I can't imagine this coming up for a while until maybe junior high when there may be vending machines. Or perhaps sooner at parties where the host only has sodas. I don't see harm in this being a very irregular indulgence. I doubt I will police soda intake since our kids may request the alternatives they are already used to at home or eating out like milk or lemonade (which is just as bad w/ all the sugar). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-drink-sodas#post-2316332 Mon, 12 Oct 2015 06:51:15 +0000 looch 2316332@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband loves anything carbonated, he's into the new stevia sweetened sodas. My son knows exactly what they are but he has no interest in them, I think it's the carbonation that he can't get past. </p> <p>If he wants it though, I would absolutely let him try it (he has food issues and NEVER asks to try things so when he does, no matter what it is, we let him). If he likes it, then we'll take it from there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-drink-sodas#post-2316274 Sun, 11 Oct 2015 23:40:33 +0000 Purpledaisy 2316274@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>She's already had some sips and she's 2.5. We don't usually have it at home and rarely order it when we are out so I don't see it as a big deal. I really don't like the idea if forbidding any food or drinks, I feel that they have a greater chance of going overboard with it later in life. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-drink-sodas#post-2316272 Sun, 11 Oct 2015 23:39:33 +0000 Boogs 2316272@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't really drink soda, and I'm kinda crazy about my kids getting it. I want to avoid it as long as possible.</p> <p>Someone I know was letting their kinder aged wander around a party with a can of Diet Coke and later a can of Coke, I was totally 😱 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-drink-sodas#post-2316269 Sun, 11 Oct 2015 23:35:03 +0000 daniellemybelle 2316269@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a serious Diet Coke habit (I keep it in the house) and DH orders Sprite when we go out to restaurants a lot... So I imagine it will come up sooner rather than later.</p> <p>I would be okay with her having a Sprite at a restaurant or party occasionally when she is in elementary school, but I don't want her to drink anything with caffeine until high school. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-drink-sodas#post-2316211 Sun, 11 Oct 2015 21:19:54 +0000 ALV91711 2316211@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No set plans on this but it is rare that we even buy it. I think by elementary school age having a cup now and again at a birthday party or something isn't a big deal. But since we rarely drink it then I don't even really see an opportunity for him to try. </p>