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Effects of Caffeine on Children

Caffeine is a stimulant that affects adults and children in a similar way; however the amounts required for its effects are comparatively lower in children than in adults.

Caffeine occurs naturally in coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa and cola nuts. It stimulates the central nervous system and people become more alert and energetic with caffeine consumption, thus it is classified as a drug.
Coffee is not the sole source of caffeine.

There are many other foods and beverages that provide substantial amounts of caffeine and parents sometime unknowingly (or even knowingly) can serve these beverages to their juniors. Soda, carbonated beverages, cold drinks, caffeinated soft drinks, chocolates, coffee ice creams, tea, iced tea, hot cocoa and many cold medicines supply caffeine.

Effects of caffeine on children

Even a small amount of caffeine can affect children in many ways and can cause headaches, stomach upsets, concentration and sleeping problems, nervousness and jitteriness, increased blood pressure and increased heart rate.

Besides these effects there are many other reasons that confirm that caffeine should be avoided in children.

A child’s risk for obesity is increased by 60% just by consuming 350 ml sweetened soft drink per day.
The vitamins and minerals that are required for a child’s health are often replaced by sweetened caffeinated drink that provides empty calories (no other nutrients).

This can increase the risk of many nutritional deficiencies in a child. For example, milk when replaced with soda, a child may miss the calcium that is needed for strong teeth and bones.
The high sugar content in the sweetened caffeinated drinks can lead to dental cavities and erode the enamel of the teeth from acidity.
A glass of water is recommended with every ounce of caffeine consumed, as caffeine is a diuretic it causes water loss from the body (through urination).

Especially in summers caffeine is a very bad choice for children and it may cause dehydration.
Caffeine is addictive and if stopped abruptly can cause many withdrawal symptoms like headache, irritability, temporary depression and muscle ache.
Caffeine can have effects on the nervous system and may aggravate heart problems in children.
Regular caffeine consumption can reduce caffeine sensitivity that means the caffeine required is higher to achieve the same effects. Thus more caffeine a child takes the more will be its need to feel the same effects.
Although caffeine is not stored in the body and is passed through the urine, if a child is sensitive to caffeine he/she might feel its effects up to six hours.

Cut down the caffeine your child’s diet gradually. Offer healthy options like fresh fruit juices, water, milk, flavored seltzer, decaffeinated soda or tea. Make sure to read the nutritional fact labels for caffeine before giving them to your child.

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