Background Information
Decaf coffee is a type of coffee that has had most of its caffeine content removed. Depending on the decaffeination process used and the original caffeine content of the beans, decaffeinated coffee may still contain trace amounts of caffeine. While decaffeinated coffee can be part of a balanced lifestyle for adults, many people are asking a common question: Can an 8-year-old drink decaf coffee?
Health Consequences Of Caffeine
While caffeine is recognized by the United States Food and Drug Administration as generally safe for the public’s consumption, varying amounts of caffeine can still have an effect on a person’s health. Depending on a person’s gender, age, and weight, too much caffeine can lead to upset stomach, headaches, restlessness, difficulty sleeping, irritability, increased heart rate and raised blood pressure. Furthermore, young people need adequate rest for healthy growth and development, and regular intake of caffeine can disrupt their sleep cycles and lead to fatigue and malaise.
Safe Coffee For Children
The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that children under 12 years of age drink no more than 120–170 mg of caffeine a day. To put this in perspective, an 8 oz cup of regular coffee contains around 102–190 mg of caffeine on average. Therefore, children of this age should not be drinking coffee, even low or decaffeinated coffee, on a regular basis.
Decaf Coffee For 8 Year Olds
Despite the generally accepted conditions mentioned above, a study conducted by Florence Peterson Kendall and coworkers in 1998 reported that decaf coffee could be consumable for 8-year-olds. The study concluded that children under the age of 8 did not have any negative reaction to 40 mg of caffeine per day, equivalent to one cup of decaf coffee. The study was sponsored by the National Coffee Association of the USA.
Expert Opinion
Dr. Brooke Alpert, registered dietician nutritionist, advises parents to refrain from giving any coffee beverages to children aged 8 and younger. According to her, it is better to let them wait until older age where their bodies can better tolerate the possible effects of ingesting caffeine.
Leading pediatricians and health experts in the United States also agree that children of this age should avoid caffeine, period. At the same time, given the results of the 1998 study, it is plausible that decaf coffee may be given to children 8 years or younger in a very sparing and monitored manner.
Current History Of Caffeine Intake By Young People
A survey by the Center for Science in the Public Interest found that almost 70 percent of American children under 18 years of age take caffeine on a regular basis. About half of these children get the majority of their caffeine from soft drinks and the rest from coffee, tea, and other caffeinated beverages (energy drinks, etc.). The survey also showed that in certain age groups, 40 percent of children and teenagers have more than 100 mg of caffeine intake per day – amounting to more than 4 times the recommended amount for this age group.
Conclusion
Given the potential health issues caused by caffeine intake in young people – it is advisable to avoid giving any kind of caffeinated drink such as an 8 year-old’s decaf coffee. It is recommended that only when a child is over the age of 12 years should they be allowed to drink decaffeinated coffee. Furthermore, it is recommended that parents should maintain moderation and monitor the amount of caffeine consumed by their children. Careful assessment of the intake of all caffeinated products by young children is essential, so that health and developmental issues are not triggered.
