What age did you first let your kids have soda?

[bigbabyblues]

Soda is a rare treat in our house. Usually only if they're at a birthday or other party where that's all there is. Occasionally I get Sprite for them if we're at a fast food place, which is only once every couple of months or so.

 

[jodifla]

Us too. We don't see big deal about soda. They drink either water or milk all day and at dinner they can have soda. Some nights they hsvewater at dinner too. Some have mentioned lemonade etc. but that has just as much sugar. We are an everything in moderation family and I do like my kids to try everything. Whatever works for you though.

Yeah, I don't get the badge of honor some people are trying to wear: My kid only drinks water! Aren't I a good mom!

It's soda. It's a treat. And having some treats in life well, if your not going to have some fun in life, why even bother?

 

[daisyduck123]

Mine don't.

DD13 said she tried it once & didn't like it.

DS9 won't even try it. It would make life a little easier if he WOULD try it & like it though.....often, like at b-day parties, there is nothing served that he'll drink. (This is also a child who will not TRY an M&M!!)

 

[CampbellScot]

Yeah, I don't get the badge of honor some people are trying to wear: My kid only drinks water! Aren't I a good mom!

It's soda. It's a treat. And having some treats in life well, if your not going to have some fun in life, why even bother?

I don't think it's a badge of honor. It's just what some people choose to do or not do. I don't understand why people get so ruffled when differing opinions are given. Just b/c I don't let my kids have soda does not mean that I don't let them have treats.

 

[newtowdw1]

My kids got 'bubbly soda' (ginger ale) when they were sick to their stomachs. I think around 3? Since then I'm not a 'soda jerk'

They can have it if we're out eating. We NEVER buy juice. My DD LOVES it when my parents come visit because she gets to share the orange juice we buy them. No one else likes it! My DH buys them the fruitwater, but if they're with me they get plain. I'm not mean, I just don't think about it.

I'm a pretty big stickler on tooth decay. We buy Crystal Light and have that in the house most of the time. DH is a type 2 diabetic, so we don't have lots of sugar anyway. When we entertain the high school kids, they get water, fruitwater, or Crystal Light. It's SO much cheaper than soda!!
In fact, I think my issue is the price...soda is way too expensive these days.

Now, me, I'm a diet coke addict. But they can't have any caffeine. They're hyper enough already!

 

[skw444]

My dd's are 5 and 2 and they don't drink soda. The 5 year old tried it last year and didn't like it. The 2 year old probably would love it, so we've kept it away for now. I'm a soda lover and I'm hoping that by not giving it to them, they'll stick with milk and water for longer and not be bad like me.

 

[bellebud]

don't remember their ages, but maybe dd was 4yo, and ds being the younger sibling was probably younger. but not in sippy cups age. They can have it now when we go out to eat if they want it (dd sometimes orders soda, sometimes orders choc milk), or at a party. DH was a huge soda drinker, and i've broken him of that a little by not buying it anymore. He doesn't need the extra sugar every day. So i limit it at home, then i don't stress if they have it when we're out. and i won't let them have diet (opposite of another poster, i'd rather them have real sugar than artificial sweetners). To each his own. And i've found everyone has their own idea of what moderation is... i recall a conversation w/ a friend about hot dogs and how unhealthy they are... she considered it ok for her dd to have one for lunch every day, as long as she had a healthy bkfst and dinner. to her that was moderate. I considered once a month moderate for hot dog consumption. again, it was something i wouldn't serve at home, except if we were having a party. we each had very different ideas of moderation. and both our girls are healthy girls today... sometimes i think it doesn't matter at all. (of course i still do what i think is 'healthy', but those rules seem to change so often it's hard to keep up).

 

[wowsmom]

My kids are 13 and 10 and still don't drink soda.

For most of my adult life, I've been known to consume large quantities of coke, cherry coke and dr pepper. In my mid 20s, I would easily drink 3 Super Big Gulps a day (44 oz each). When I got pregnant with my first, I decided I didn't want him hooked on soda like I was.

So I just never gave it to them when they were little and they never developed a taste for it - and they both hate carbonation. It's actually been challenging at times since a lot of parties they've gone to only have soda, but they've learned to ask for water. And when my older son was invited to a "root beer float party" for new students when we moved, he asked if he could just have the ice cream.

This is just my opinion, but if your kids are happy with water and aren't showing any interest in soda, don't give it to them.

 

[MrsJ Henry]

thanks everyone. Nice to see everyone' s opinions.

 

[K&KsMom]

They haven't had it yet. My boys are 5 & 6. I just do not feel it is necessary given all the TREATS out there now a days. I still water all their juice and gatorade down. I grew up with two brothers who to this day only drink soda!!! I do not want this to happen to my two.

 

[islandmum]

my boys are just 3 and coming up 5 this month, and they've never had soda.

Its just never come up - I mean they've never asked for it and I've never bought it for them.

I see NO need for them to drink it - why would I give it to them when they love their milk, water and sugar free orange juice?

What they've never had they'll never miss. I'd rather make chocolate milk their "treat" drink than soda for sure.

They'll probably have it when they're older but I wont introduce i to them, I care more about their teeth than to get them started on that.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Yeah, I don't get the badge of honor some people are trying to wear: My kid only drinks water! Aren't I a good mom!

It's soda. It's a treat. And having some treats in life well, if your not going to have some fun in life, why even bother?

I agree! For me I personally don't understand why people get so stressed about soda when there are tons of other foods out there that kids eat on a daily basis that are pure junk dressed up as healthy. I will say though for all the people on the Dis who claim their kids only eat stuff like carrots for snacks and drink water I have never met anyone like that in real life. I'm sure there are plenty but I have yet to encounter them. I am in no way putting down people's choices with their kids because it's not for me to decide what they feed their kids and I don't like my kids eating certain things as well. It just makes me chuckle once in a while when soda is made out to be the culprit for all things bad that happen to kids regarding their health.

 

[Mkrop]

Mine don't.

DD13 said she tried it once & didn't like it.

DS9 won't even try it. It would make life a little easier if he WOULD try it & like it though.....often, like at b-day parties, there is nothing served that he'll drink. (This is also a child who will not TRY an M&M!!) [/QUOTE]

This is my kid, doesnt like soda, most candy (unless its a Hershey bar or Kiss), pizza or cake. yeah he is fun to have at a party!

I never made a big deal about having it or not, my kids tasted it and didnt like it. Not dont come between them and a bag of Doritos though

 

[islandmum]

I agree! For me I personally don't understand why people get so stressed about soda when there are tons of other foods out there that kids eat on a daily basis that are pure junk dressed up as healthy. I will say though for all the people on the Dis who claim their kids only eat stuff like carrots for snacks and drink water I have never met anyone like that in real life. I'm sure there are plenty but I have yet to encounter them. I am in no way putting down people's choices with their kids because it's not for me to decide what they feed their kids and I don't like my kids eating certain things as well. It just makes me chuckle once in a while when soda is made out to be the culprit for all things bad that happen to kids regarding their health.

I keep my kids away from sugary stuff purely from the fact that I have terrible teeth - lots of fillings - and dont want them to go through the same thing with theirs if I can help it. Its not just soda, they get no candies, chocolate is a rareity as are biscuits. Theres just no need for treats IMHO that are sweets. Ice cream is a treat, bags of rasins are a treat. I dont do it to take the high road of being a "great mum" - I do it coz I know bad teeth run in the family and I dont want them experiencing what I experienced and being the one who made it happen.

 

[Hannathy]

I agree! For me I personally don't understand why people get so stressed about soda when there are tons of other foods out there that kids eat on a daily basis that are pure junk dressed up as healthy. I will say though for all the people on the Dis who claim their kids only eat stuff like carrots for snacks and drink water I have never met anyone like that in real life. I'm sure there are plenty but I have yet to encounter them. I am in no way putting down people's choices with their kids because it's not for me to decide what they feed their kids and I don't like my kids eating certain things as well. It just makes me chuckle once in a while when soda is made out to be the culprit for all things bad that happen to kids regarding their health.

I agree! I just don't get the "I'm such a great Mom cause my kids never ever sipped a soda" So what it has bubbles, it is just water and sugar like apple juice! I also have a hard time believing all these kids never had soda-I've never ran into that many either except on the DIS! At VBS we had a drink with snack that had soda in it and every child (150) except our one allergy child who we won't give anything to drank it! I had over 100 Girl Scouts at a sleepover weekend and they all drank soda and there were kindergarteners there. So where are all these kids? And who cares. Do what you want but I don't see where it is something to brag about.

As far as teeth, if you brush after eating something sweet that is all that matters. My MIL is 78 has soda everyday and has all her teeth with very few -like under 5- fillings.

 

[Pixiedust34]

I can't remember how old my kids were when they first had soda, but it's always been (and still is) a drink they enjoy on a special occasion and not a drink they have on a regular basis.

 

[DisneyPhD]

I keep my kids away from sugary stuff purely from the fact that I have terrible teeth - lots of fillings - and dont want them to go through the same thing with theirs if I can help it. Its not just soda, they get no candies, chocolate is a rareity as are biscuits. Theres just no need for treats IMHO that are sweets. Ice cream is a treat, bags of rasins are a treat. I dont do it to take the high road of being a "great mum" - I do it coz I know bad teeth run in the family and I dont want them experiencing what I experienced and being the one who made it happen.

You do know that raisins are terrible on kids teeth right? Much worse then soda that just rinses right off. The sugar on raisins sticks to the teeth and is very hard to get off (as with almost all dried fruit.) I still let my kids eat them, I figure the benefits are worth it and we are careful brushing teeth (most of the time, I admit sometimes we slip.)

I agree what is one persons idea of healthy or moderations, is not necessarily another persons. For example when I tell my kids no more snacks, you need something healthy I will let them choose bologna, I know many moms don't count that has healthy. We are slowly working vegetables in their diet they will eat, and try to get as many as those as we can it. For the record my kids need a little fattening up. My youngest isn't even on the weight charts.

 

[islandmum]

You do know that raisins are terrible on kids teeth right? Much worse then soda that just rinses right off. The sugar on raisins sticks to the teeth and is very hard to get off (as with almost all dried fruit.) I still let my kids eat them, I figure the benefits are worth it and we are careful brushing teeth (most of the time, I admit sometimes we slip.)

I agree what is one persons idea of healthy or moderations, is not necessarily another persons. For example when I tell my kids no more snacks, you need something healthy I will let them choose bologna, I know many moms don't count that has healthy. We are slowly working vegetables in their diet they will eat, and try to get as many as those as we can it. For the record my kids need a little fattening up. My youngest isn't even on the weight charts.

exactly - in moderation, thats why ice cream and raisins are in lol! I hope my kids are blessed with better teeth than me, no matter how many times a day I brushed they were still awful.

I have no doubt that when they are older they will drink soda, its a fact of life, but not in my house. Its just one of my things. doesnt make me any better or worse than anyone else - just my personal parenting opinion for MY children.

each family will have their different rules, boundaries and allowances. And I'm totally with you on the veggies thing ... getting my youngest to branch out and eat something fresh has proved almost impossible for 2 years now!

 

[linda0706]

I agree! I just don't get the "I'm such a great Mom cause my kids never ever sipped a soda" So what it has bubbles, it is just water and sugar like apple juice! I also have a hard time believing all these kids never had soda-I've never ran into that many either except on the DIS! At VBS we had a drink with snack that had soda in it and every child (150) except our one allergy child who we won't give anything to drank it! I had over 100 Girl Scouts at a sleepover weekend and they all drank soda and there were kindergarteners there. So where are all these kids? And who cares. Do what you want but I don't see where it is something to brag about.

I believe you that that's your experience. However I assure you those kids ARE out there. My DD7 for example. She will not touch a soda. Not because of me...I drink at least one a day...but because she tried it once & got the bubbles up her nose. No more soda for her - totally her choice, not mine. At your VBS she would have politely (hopefully!) asked for a glass of water.

Now on the other hand, wave a Hershey bar in front of her face & she'll knock you flat going after it.

 

[acadia1960]

My DS 11 doesn't drink soda, he is a water drinker, as I am. My DH is a pepsi drinker, everyday.