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Ideas for healthy warm teas for young children

Can young children have warm teas? Which warm teas do you recommend that are healthy? (Erika)

Foodstuff Sun, 12/06/2020 - 20:24

Warm herbal teas can be part of a healthy diet for a young child, although you may find that young children prefer their tea at room temperature or iced.

There are a variety of herbal teas that are fine for children from toddler stage onwards. The list of child safe herbal teas usually includes chamomile, rooibos, honey bush, lemon balm, lemon grass, mint, ginger, rosehips.

You should be aware there is always a potential risk. We are talking herbal teas and all herbs can cause allergic reactions. A second point to consider is that herbal teas are often given with a purpose other than to quench thirst.

Chamomile tea is quite safe, but may cause problems in sensitive children – and specifically children allergic to ragweed. It is very popular. Chamomile tea has been used for centuries. Parents swear it is calming and it can help to relieve discomfort from gas or constipation and it has been given to very young babies to relief colic – although I am not aware of medical studies that back this practice.

Rooibos is caffeine free and its tannins will help to recover from diarrhoea. The down side on rooibos is that may prevent absorption of iron.

Ginger relieves nausea, although many children find it too spicy.

Rosehips is high in vitamin C and warm rosehips tea is a nice winter drink but most kids prefer it ice rosehips in the summer. Older children can have iced green tea – it has some caffeine in it but so does a can of soda.

Some mothers add hibiscus and Indian holy basil (tulsi) to the list of safe herbal teas. I don’t have much experience with these. Even if it makes it to some lists, echinacea is the tea I would not offer to a young child – it affects the immune system and it can go either good or bad. It is not worth the risk when there are other options.

Herbal teas don’t need sugar. If your child has a sweet taste, try a little honey – honey is not recommended for children younger than 12 months and you did not mention ages.

On the point of ages, babies under six months don’t need teas. Milk is both drink and it should be enough. If it is for medical reasons, follow the advice of a pediatrician on which tea and how much. Older babies, already having a variety of food, may benefit form herbal tea, either diluted or in very small amounts - try just a teaspoon the first time and don’t offer more than half a cup to a toddler; build from there.

You don't need to try every tea in the list. Just find one or two you both enjoy. Pay attention to your what your child likes.