We’re always hearing the endless grievances about kids growing up too fast these days — what with oversexed media, cellphones and moms giving their 7-year-old daughters coupons for breast implants. And although the coupon thing still takes the absolute, no competition cake when it comes to parents enabling their children to be 7 going on 30, this new fad closes the gap a little in my mind. What is it, you ask? Babyccinos.
That’s right. Starter coffee drinks for your little tater tot. Kill me.
The idea was originally this: moms on-the-go could order a little cup of steamed milk and foam for their child to sip while they enjoyed their much bigger, much more caffeinated beverage. That I can get down with. I’ve heard more than one child screaming something worse than bloody murder in a coffee shop, so if a little steamed milk keeps my hearing intact, by all means, give it to them. But now, some moms have decided that a shot of decaf espresso is a necessary addition to their child’s morning drink. Which, in all likelihood, will not hurt them, but it’s the idea that kids might develop a preference for coffee at 2-years-old that seems a little, you know, not right.
What happened to juice? What happened to water? What happened to…any other normal “I’m a baby” drink? If, in a few years, I find myself at a Starbucks, standing in line behind an 8-year-old who orders a red eye, I’m out. (via TODAYMoms)
What do you Lovelies think of the idea of “babyccinos”?
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What do I think?
Not a great concept.
My parents started me on coffee when I was five…been addicted ever since.
And the last thing a toddler needs is caffeine…even in tiny shots…
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I don’t think it’s a great idea, but what’s the difference between buying their toddler their own “decaf cappuccino” and leaving your cup of coffee on the counter at home to tend on something and the kid grabs the coffee and drinks some of it? I don’t think a child needs to be drinking coffee at that age…but I’m not about to tell a parent how to raise their kid. I asked to try a couple sips when I was a kid but I didn’t start drinking it regularly until I was 22. And even then, I like a lot of cream and sugar in it.
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This is America for you. Everyone thinks caffeine is so bad for your child, but when in reality other countries start giving their babies small amounts of coffee from the time they’re newborns.
Caffeine actually strengthens your immune system and it’s less likely that you’ll develop lung issues if you drink it from an early age.
My dad actually gave me sips as a young child and I’m still alive. I’m normal. It didn’t stunt my growth. I was a good kid.
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Just something to make more money. No my children will not be having any. We are trying to try our hardest for our children to mainly drink water.
hydrangea / 79 posts
I used to work at Starbucks. Babyccinos are just little cups of steamed milk with foam on top and it’s usually free on the house. I have never seen any parents ordering it with espresso shot or coffee in it for their kids before.
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Caffeine isn’t a bad thing…in Italy and France kids drink coffee at a really young age with their breakfast. Like @anchoredreams@xanga - said, it’s actually good for your immune system. My dad also raised me drinking small amounts of coffee, as did his parents etc.
I swear America makes a massive deal out of things that really aren’t a big issue at all.
cherry blossom / 46 posts
I have friends from Spain and they put fully caffeinated straight black Coffee in their one year-old’s bottle. I don’t see anything wrong with it.
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I’m not quite sure what I think. I don’t know if I would let my baby sip on coffee, but if I saw someone else’s baby sipping on Starbucks I would probably think it pretty darn cute.
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My toddler and I have regular Starbucks dates. I get an iced coffee, and she gets an apple juice box. Yep. Juice. That is her “treat” and not watered down like she gets at home! LOL
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I don’t go to Starbucks that often, so please enlighten me: What is a red eye?
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I saw a little girl today drinking her own “venti”-sized iced mocha whatever. I wouldn’t give a kid coffee, but it’s not my kid so I don’t care.
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I’m more worried about the brand exposure and loyalty developing than the actual product they are consuming (which isn’t gonna hurt them). Starbucks probably gives them out for free because they know those toddlers are learning “Starbucks” and their product and will become future customers. It’s the same thing going on with iPads. Building brand loyalty at an incredibly impressionable age. Parents need to be careful what they are conditioning in their child.
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