An occasional cup of decaf poses no real health risks to a child. In fact, even caffeine in moderate amounts should not be grounds (ha!) for concern.
However, in general, it's best to wait until a child is at least 12 years old before giving them coffee, decaf or otherwise. Caffeine is a stimulant and can have negative effects on kids, such as interfering with their sleep.
Children's bodies are still developing and they may be more sensitive to the effects of caffeine than adults. For these reasons, it is best to avoid giving young children decaf coffee altogether. The number one reason why children shouldn't drink decaf coffee is because of the potential tooth damage it can cause.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no caffeinated coffee, tea, soda, sports drinks or other products for children under the age of 12, while adolescents between the ages of age 12 and 18 should limit their intake to less than 100 milligrams per day – about the size of an old-fashioned cup of coffee.
Children below the age of 12 should not drink decaf tea. This is because, despite its name, decaf tea does contain some caffeine: approximately 2mg per cup. While this is far less than regular tea (48mg/cup), it is not recommended that children younger than 12 consume any caffeine at all.
What about decaf coffee? Decaf coffee has a small amount of caffeine in it. It is just as safe or even safer than caffeinated coffee. Decaf coffee is still highly acidic, so may affect the amount of iron in breast milk.
How much caffeine is in decaf coffee? Decaffeination removes about 97% or more of the caffeine in coffee beans. A typical cup of decaf coffee has about 2 mg of caffeine, compared to a typical cup of regular coffee, which has about 95 mg of caffeine.
Why is decaf coffee bad for you? It can cause headache, confusion, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and fatigue at higher doses, and has been shown to cause cancer of the liver and lungs in animals. The FDA concluded, however, in 1999 that the trace quantities you get in decaf coffee are too small to affect your health.
For the same reason, decaf tea, chamomile tea and other herbal teas aren't recommended during the first 12 months. Any warm or cold drink that has added sugar is also not recommended as this can lead to tooth decay.
Decaffeinated tea is NOT caffeine-free. The decaffeination process leaves a minute amount of caffeine in the leaf. By law, tea labeled as “decaffeinated” must have less than 2.5 percent of its original caffeine level, which usually equates to less than 2 mg per cup.
Caffeine Consumption
The recommended maximum intake of caffeinated teas is no more than five 1-cup servings per day. However, choosing decaffeinated or caffeine-free teas, such as herbal teas, is a safe way of drinking six to eight cups of tea per day.
In children, caffeine can raise blood pressure and interfere with sleep. It can make children less aware of being tired. It can affect their moods and make anxiety worse. They can even suffer headaches from caffeine withdrawal.
Caffeine can make heart problems or anxiety worse, and some kids might not know that they're at risk. Heavy caffeine use is associated with other unhealthy behaviors, like tobacco and alcohol abuse.
A recent study shows that caffeine intake in kids is associated with increased feelings of stress, anxiety, and even depression. Poor sleep patterns. Caffeine can interrupt kids' sleep cycles, which can stunt growth in the brain and body.
It is suggested that people shouldn't drink any more than three cups of coffee per day — which roughly equates to around 300 milligrams of caffeine per day. To compare, you'd have to drink five to 10 cups of decaf coffee to consume the same amount of caffeine as is contained in two cups of regular coffee.
How much caffeine can kids have? “There is no known safe amount of caffeine for anyone age 11 and younger,” says Buchholz. According to the FDA, for healthy adults, 400 mg a day is an amount not generally associated with dangerous, negative effects, though many people will be sensitive to lower amounts.
They recommend the following daily limits on caffeine: Ages 4 – 6: 45 mgs (about a half cup of coffee) Ages 7 – 9: 62.5 mgs. Ages 10 – 12: 85 mgs.
At what age is caffeine OK? Here's the harsh truth: No amount of caffeine is proven safe for kids 12 and under. And guidelines say teens should consume no more than 100 milligrams of caffeine per day, which amounts to one cup of coffee or two cans of soda.
Children over the age of 12 can have a cup of coffee on a regular basis, as long as they don't take extra caffeine sources from other food sources or drinks.
According to the NHS, caffeinated drinks are 'unsuitable' for toddlers and young kids. Yes, that includes your average black tea. That also includes coffee, energy drinks, and many fizzy drinks.
Decaf coffee has been shown to cause significantly less acid reflux than regular coffee ( 29 , 30 ). Drinking two or more cups of decaf coffee per day has also been linked with up to a 48% lower risk of developing rectal cancer ( 21 , 31 , 32 ).
Many people experience insomnia, restlessness, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, and anxiety from the caffeine in coffee. If you experience anxiety and drink regular coffee, perhaps think about switching to decaf coffee if you find your anxiety worsening with coffee. Digestive/dehydration problems.
If you've ever noticed negative side effects of caffeine – such as a quickening heart rate or feeling jittery, anxious, nauseous or restless, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine – after a cup of decaf coffee, you may be sensitive to caffeine, per the SELF article.
A: The teeny-tiny amount of caffeine in decaffeinated drinks is so inconsequential that it really shouldn't affect your sleep (generally less than 5 milligrams per cup, compared with 100-plus milligrams in regular coffee).
It Has Less Caffeine
One of the biggest reasons people choose to drink a decaf beverage is to avoid the effects of caffeine. While caffeine can provide a subtle energy and mood increase, there are some adverse side effects. People who are sensitive to caffeine can drink decaf coffee without having to worry.