From the very first days of their life, babies need not only regular feeding, but also adherence to the drinking regime. Until a certain age, the balance of water in the child's body can be replenished with breast milk, but in the process of growing up, you will have to introduce other fluids into the baby's diet. If the use of pure water, juices and fruit drinks does not cause doubts among parents, then the question - at what age can a child be given tea, gives rise to significant controversy.

Properties of tea and its effect on the child

This drink has been considered healing since ancient times and is of great benefit for an adult. But, before you start giving your child tea, you need to find out how these beneficial properties can affect the child's body.

Properties:

• An invigorating effect that energizes the nervous system. If for an adult this means an increase in efficiency and the appearance of energy, then a one-year-old baby will result in sleep disturbance and tearfulness.
• Helps to quench thirst. However, it is important for infants that the drinks are nutritious as well.
• The tannins included in the composition dull appetite, which adversely affects the baby's body, which needs to eat well and grow.
• Purine bases provoke an increased production of uric acid, which puts a greater strain on the kidneys of the child.
• Oxalic acid has the ability to bind calcium in the body, which can lead to tooth decay and inhibit the development of the skeletal system.
• Theine slows down the absorption of vitamin D and can lead to the development of rickets

Of course, tea contains many trace elements, as well as vitamins C and B, but since the child's body is very sensitive and can react sharply to new components, doctors recommend starting to introduce tea into the baby's diet only from a certain age and in acceptable amounts.

The harm of tea can manifest itself in the following:

• Development of allergic reactions.
• Lack of concentration.
• Sleep disturbance.
• Hyperactivity and tearfulness.
• May lead to the development of cardiovascular disease.

Tea varieties in the children's diet

The variety of teas makes you wonder what varieties are best to start with. It is the different concentration of active substances that determines when a type of tea can be introduced into the child's diet.

Of the adult drinks, black tea is more preferable for a child.

Its leaves are most processed. In small quantities, it will even be useful for a child in the morning, as it tones up the muscles well. Of course, black tea should be free of artificial additives and flavors. Sugar should also be discarded.

But the answer to the question whether children can use green tea will be negative. A high concentration of tannin, essential oils, caffeine can negatively affect the baby's body. If a child has problems with the digestive system, then it is better to postpone acquaintance with green tea until a later period.

Hibiscus is allowed for children, but from the age of three. It does not give a pronounced tonic effect, but it contains many vitamins that support the immune system. However, we must not forget that hibiscus can cause an allergic reaction.

The modern market offers to purchase specialized tea for children made from natural herbs. For example, the trade marks "Babushkino Lukoshko" and "Hipp" produce a wide range of teas for any age. Such drinks are safe and are weak decoctions, used not only to quench thirst, but also as a therapeutic and prophylactic agent.

On sale there are soothing (mint), tonic (based on St. John's wort and caraway seeds), anti-inflammatory (chamomile, lime) children's drinks. Especially popular with parents are fennel and dill teas, which help to solve the problem of colic and indigestion.

Moreover, the packaging always indicates how many months tea can be given to the child.

When to introduce into the diet

Parents, first of all, are interested in how many months a child can be given tea. For newborn babies, such drinks can be introduced into the diet only after consulting a pediatrician.

From the first month of life, you can try to give fennel tea - it has a beneficial effect on the child's digestive tract and helps fight colic. However, a month-old baby should start testing with a teaspoon in order to track the baby's reaction to a new product.

From the 4th month, it is allowed to introduce chamomile and linden tea into the diet - they well replenish the fluid balance, normalize sleep and have an anti-inflammatory effect. But from the fifth month, the baby can be given mint tea, which has a beneficial effect on the baby's nervous system.

From the age of two, pediatricians are allowed to brew black tea for children, provided that the drink is not strong. But acquaintance with the green variety is better to postpone until 10 years, since the high content of caffeine, tannin and tannins is contraindicated for the child's body.

How to brew

If you allow your child to drink tea, make sure that the drink is weakly brewed. For 200 ml of water, take half a teaspoon of the tea leaves. Insist infusion for no more than three minutes, as the tea infusion contains a high concentration of essential substances. The tea must be cooled to room temperature before serving.

Consumption rates

• At the age of 2 years, a weak infusion is given up to 4 times a week, and a portion is no more than 50 ml.
• From the age of 3, a single serving can be increased to 100 ml.
• For older children, the infusion can be brewed stronger and given 200 ml of tea at a time.

• To brew a drink for your child, use unflavored leaf tea, not sachets.
• The tea must be freshly brewed; it must not be diluted with previously prepared infusions.
• Any new tea should be introduced gradually into the diet. Start with half a teaspoon and follow your baby's reaction.
• Such a tonic drink is suitable only for the first half of the day, and it is strictly forbidden to give it before bedtime.
• You can not give a baby tea at a temperature and digestive disorders.

Having figured out the basic issues of drinking tea in childhood, you no longer have to rack your brains - when and which drink is preferable.

Teas are the most popular drinks. They are drunk to quench your thirst, warm you up, enjoy your time. However, the main feature of most of these drinks is their healing properties. This is especially true for herbal options. They are accepted at any age. Special care is required for young consumers. What drinks qualify for babies?

Indications for use

• quenching thirst (the best option for a child under six months of age is clean water);
• replenishment of essential vitamins and minerals.

Prescribing such folk remedies, pediatric specialists are guided by therapeutic goals. The indications for their use in infancy are as follows:

Tea for infants under one year old should not be administered alone. This should be done by a qualified technician.

Compositions for babies and their healing effects

A toddler drink can be brewed using the following plants:

Allowed Plants	The effect of using.
Dill	fight against intestinal colic (used part - seeds).
Fennel	solving the problem of obstructed stool; promoting the release of gases; fight against intestinal colic.
Caraway	elimination of bloating; solving the problem of gastric discomfort; fight against intestinal colic.
	increasing the efficiency of the stomach and intestines; increasing the effectiveness of the treatment of colds (anti-inflammatory effect); fight against insomnia; stabilization of the state of the nervous system.
Linden	decrease in elevated body temperature; fight against insomnia; removal of increased excitability (calming effect).
Mint	help in the treatment of colds; calming effect.
Raspberries	accelerating the healing process for viral and colds; fight against vitamin starvation.
Melissa	calming effect.
Ginger	increasing the body's immune defenses; fight against worms; cleansing the body; recovery from serious illness; combating coughs of dry and wet nature; anti-inflammatory effect; help in the fight against a runny nose (relieving nasal congestion).

It is advisable to buy fees at pharmacies. Self-procurement can threaten the choice of environmentally contaminated raw materials. The first approach does not exclude this either. However, the need to comply with strict manufacturing procedures and a number of sanitary and hygienic requirements reduces the likelihood of this.

Age restrictions

At what age are the plants in question allowed? In this question, one should be guided by:

• medical recommendations(you shouldn't believe blindly, it's better to double-check);
• manufacturer's recommendations(applicable to purchased products);
• certain age restrictions.

The latter are shown in the table:

The information provided is current. with an urgent need to use herbal infusion. The optimal age for the painless introduction of such a product is six months. This coincides with the start of complementary feeding.

Black and green tea varieties

It is not recommended to use regular tea for children under one year old. It contains caffeine. This substance is harmful to the child's body. Green options can lead to bowel disruptions. Harm from black varieties:

• excessive agitation;
• sleep disorders;
• increased moodiness (the reason is a feeling of anxiety).

Flavored formulations are under a double ban.

Potential harm

Herbal drinks can have a negative impact on the health of the baby. The usual soothing or cold tea for crumbs may turn into the following facts:

Allergic reaction. You can avoid it:

• Subject to age restrictions;
• When choosing a composition based on information about individual tolerance (if any);
• If you use the minimum dosage.

Excessive activity. It manifests itself through:

• Increased excitability;
• Violation of the regime of day and night.

1. Abnormalities in the functioning of the heart. The root cause is an increase in the rhythm of the organ's work.
2. Changing the color of the enamel of the teeth.
3. Temporary memory loss, scattered attention.
4. Blocking incoming calcium. This mineral is involved in the formation of bone tissue.

Recipes

The described plants can be used separately. However, their combination is not excluded. In the latter case, the medicinal value of the drinks for the child increases. The most effective drinks:

Baby Soothing Tea

Let's apply:

• to relieve emotional stress after going to the clinic;
• for a good night's sleep.

Required plants:

• linden (flowers are used);
• Melissa;
• chamomile.

Cooking procedure:

• the ingredients are used in equal proportions at the rate of one large spoonful of the composition per one liter of water;
• the composition is filled with water;
• put on fire;
• brought to boiling point;
• removed from fire;
• insists.

The best time to consume is before bedtime.

Remedy for colds

Required ingredient - Linden (flowers). Brewing process:

• the feedstock is filled with boiling water;
• insists.

Give the child to use in a warm state. The addition of sweeteners is allowed from the age of six months. The selection is limited to honey and fructose. Sugar is a forbidden product for up to three years.

Colic Colic Treatment Drink

The medicinal composition is a mixture of fennel and dill. Recipe:

• the original plants are combined in equal proportions;
• the resulting tea leaves are poured into the selected container at the rate of 1 large spoon per 200 milliliters of boiling water;
• poured with boiling water;
• closed with a lid;
• infused for 60 minutes;
• thick is separated.

Sufficient dosage is 1 small spoon before meals.

Composition for the treatment of obstructed stool

Constipation often accompanies infants. This is explained by the adaptation of the gastrointestinal tract to a new lifestyle. This is especially true of the period of introduction of complementary foods. The problem can be solved by the composition of such plants:

• thyme;
• fennel;
• chamomile.

Herbal teas can help solve many health problems in babies. However, they can also harm. Therefore, the younger the child, the more obligatory is to obtain a medical consultation. Determining the composition of the healing collection and the duration of the course is the work of physicians.

Despite the fact that tea for babies is not an obligatory or even recommended part of the diet, many parents quickly introduce it into the menu of babies. This is often explained by the desire to quickly introduce the baby to a traditional family drink. In addition, there are cases when the baby has certain problems that can be eliminated with the help of a composition prepared on the basis of special fees.

At the same time, the most common questions deserve special attention: at what age is it best to introduce the drink, and how safe is it to give babies a traditional liquid, for which green or black tea is used.

Arguments for and against regular tea

According to pediatricians, ordinary teas for babies are not suitable, no matter what age they are introduced from. This is due to the following arguments:

1. In the composition of such fees appear tannins, or tannins. They have a destructive effect on iron molecules, which leads to a decrease in hemoglobin levels. At the same time, they also reduce appetite, irritate the delicate mucous membrane of the stomach. Moreover, green tea often contains these components in a much larger volume than black tea.
2. Oxalic acid spoils the child's tooth enamel that has not yet been fully formed, provoking the development of caries.
3. Caffeine, which is also quite abundant in store-bought tea, regardless of the type, negatively affects the state of the child's heart and blood vessels.

Tip: It is strictly forbidden to give your child a drink made from so-called sachets. Conceptionally, in the composition of such a mass there is not even a real tea leaf, only a residual product, which contains a maximum of harmful components and there are almost no useful substances.

Among the most common consequences that black or green tea, offered to a child before he reaches a conscious age, can cause hyperactivity, a tendency to allergies, sleep problems, and memory loss. Some of these phenomena will appear only after some time, as a result of the gradual accumulation of harmful products in the tissues.

On the other hand, when certain conditions are met, babies can be given an "adult" product, but this applies only to absolutely healthy children:

1. The child has already reached the age of 1.5-2 years.
2. The daily volume of the drink does not exceed 100-150 ml.
3. We start with herbal, fruit and berry or black varieties. Green tea should be the last.
4. We make the tea leaves as light as possible.
5. It is recommended to add milk to the liquid (proportion 1: 1). This will neutralize potentially hazardous substances and compounds.
6. We do not add sugar, honey and lemon to tea for children!
7. Green tea has a pronounced tonic effect. It can be given to children only in the morning, otherwise daytime or nighttime sleep disturbances are guaranteed.

And yet, the best option for tea drinks in the first months of life will be children's counterparts, developed taking into account all the characteristics of a growing organism.

Ready-made formulations for babies that we buy at the pharmacy

Today, in pharmacies and specialized stores, you can find simple and multicomponent herbal preparations that not only have a pleasant taste and aroma, but also have a number of therapeutic effects. Some purposefully strengthen teeth and bones, others improve the condition of blood vessels and heart muscle, and still others have general strengthening properties. Some products contain both vegetable and fruit and berry components. It is much easier for a child to prepare tea from them than to mix the collection on their own, especially when there is sorely enough time for everything.

When choosing a suitable product, you need to pay attention to its composition. High-quality mass does not contain preservatives, colors, artificial flavors and GMOs. It's good if it is gluten and sugar free. The finished drink should be given to the child as soon as it cools down to the desired temperature. It is not recommended to brew the product the day in advance; baby teas should always be fresh. Opened packaging with tea leaves should be used within 2-3 months, after which it is better to throw away the leftovers.

Effective teas with a therapeutic effect for children under one year of age

For the first 28 days of life, the baby does not need to be offered anything other than breast milk. After this period, water is introduced, the rest of the additional drink can be postponed until the introduction of the first complementary foods. Medicinal teas are especially popular with mothers, which are offered to a child in response to any disruptions in the functioning of the body. In this case, it is imperative to pay attention to the age of the baby:

• Fennel. It copes well with such troubles as flatulence, colic, dysbiosis. If you regularly give the baby 50-70 ml of a drink per day, you can correct the situation in a short time without resorting to drug treatment. It is allowed to be introduced into the diet from the first month of life.

Advice: When a baby is breastfed, he is given tea only from a spoon. Otherwise, the infant may give up breast, which is much more difficult to feed from than from a nipple.

• Chamomile decoction. Strengthens the immune system, allows you to quickly cure colds, helps to solve problems with the gastrointestinal tract. Applied from 4 months. The daily dose can be increased to 150-200 ml.

• Linden, lemon balm. Perfectly soothes gums when teeth begin to erupt. It is recommended to use from 4-5 months in a standard volume.
• Rosehip and raspberry. Very lightweight but quite effective. They are used separately and in combination, no earlier than the child is 5-6 months old.
• Berries. An excellent fortifying drink, which is recommended to be given to children prone to various colds. The optimal time to start is 7-8 months. The daily volume of fluid may already be 250 ml.

Children's teas with a calming effect deserve special attention. In this case, it is better to give preference to drinks, which include birch leaves, rose hips, licorice, motherwort, mint and lavender. Linden blossom, chamomile and lavender enhance the severity of the therapeutic effect of the listed components.

How to make healing tea for babies with your own hands?

Despite the responsible attitude of modern manufacturers to the creation of specialized drinks for babies, it is still better to give a child an absolutely natural product prepared at home. The main ingredients can be self-collected or purchased from a pharmacy fees.

• Rosehip tea. It has a pronounced calming effect, strengthens the immune system, relieves inflammation of the gums, and promotes hematopoiesis. It is best to give it to children 2-3 times a day within the age dose, immediately before meals. To prepare a drink, you need to grind the rose hips, pour two tablespoons of the product with two glasses of water and place in a water bath. After boiling, we keep the product for 15 minutes, after which we take it out and insist at room temperature for at least an hour. We filter through two layers of gauze.

• Mint tea. In addition to the well-known sedative effect, it has a mild diuretic and laxative effect, relieves bloating. Pour a pinch of fresh or dried mint with a glass of boiling water and wait no more than 10 minutes. We filter the liquid, dilute it twice with drinking water so that the product is not too strong, if necessary, cool it a little more.

When offering tea to a child, you must carefully monitor his health. In case of any negative manifestations, it is better to give up the drink for a while and return it to the diet no earlier than after 2-3 weeks.

Check out the article on

There are few families that don't like tea. This drink, for the preparation of which leaves of tea bushes are used, is drunk at any time of the year. In some countries, the procedure for holding a tea ceremony has even been developed and followed. The assortment of teas is huge: black, red, green, white, floral, flavored, etc.

Teas differ in the brewing technology, in the composition or in the recipe for the preparation of the drink. Black tea is one of the most common drinks in almost every continent. For its production, the leaves of the tea bush undergo complete fermentation (oxidation).

Parents, realizing that already from the second half of a baby's life, one crumbs are not enough for the baby's body, they strive to find out whether it is possible to give black tea to children, at what age and in what quantity, what kind of tea is better for a child, and whether tea will harm the child's body ?

For over 200 years, scientists have been studying the components of tea and their effect on the human body, but so far not all of them have been identified and studied. One thing is clear: the chemical composition of this plant is complex, because about 300 substances contained in tea are already known. 50% of them are water soluble. There are about 40% of such substances in black tea.

The nutrients in black tea are:

• vitamins A, K, PP, B 1 and B 2;
• amino acids;
• essential oils;
• tannins (tannins);
• alkaloids;
• carbohydrates;
• enzymes;
• organic acids.

Mineral composition of black tea:

• potassium;
• fluorine;
• copper;
• sodium;
• zinc;

The most influential nutrients in black tea are:

• caffeine, the content of which in 100 g of the drink, depending on the type of tea, is 1.8-3.5%;
• tannins, amounting to 8-19%;
• essential oils occupying 0.006-0.021% in 100 g of the drink.

One cup of black tea contains 5 kcal, while the energy value of 100 g of dry tea is 150 kcal.

Varieties of black tea

There are many varieties and varieties of black tea.

Black tea has many varieties and types.

There are such types of tea:

• leaf (long leaf), which can be large-leaf and medium-leaf;
• packaged;
• granulated;
• pressed into tablets or tablets;
• soluble.

The following varieties of black tea are on sale:

• Indian ("Darjeeling", "Sikkim", "Assam" and other teas);
• Chinese ("Yunnan", "Keemun", "Sushon", "Lapsan", etc.);
• Ceylon;
• Georgian;
• tea blends (Earl Gray, Irish Breakfast, English Breakfast, etc.).

Tea varieties differ in color saturation and taste, in aroma. The price of these varieties is also different.

High-grade, most expensive large-leaf black teas are made from young leaves of a tea bush and tips (white villi). High quality (but also expensive) varieties include Darjeeling and Assam.

In the production of medium grade black teas, cut and broken leaves are used (waste from the manufacture of high quality whole leaf teas). They brew quickly, their color is rich, the aroma is delicate, inherent in large-leaf teas. Medium teas are the most in demand and popular.

Low-grade teas include granulated, packaged, instant and pressed types. They are all made from tea waste, including dust.

Tea blends can be composed of different teas and include additives. For example, "Irish Breakfast" is a mixture of Ceylon and Indian teas, "English Breakfast" is Indian with Chinese teas, "Earl Gray" - bergamot oil is added to black tea.

In high-quality tea, the tea leaves should be black or dark brown, elastic, dense, not dull, without excess moisture.

Harm or benefit to children?

Since ancient times, tea has been considered a healing drink that is beneficial to health. He is able to quench his thirst in hot weather, and become a source of energy and vigor for the whole day, and help to cope with fatigue.

The vitamin composition and tannin of black tea provide it with the properties of a natural antioxidant, which helps to cleanse the body of toxic substances, increase immunity.

These benefits of black tea are undeniable in relation to adults. But what about the kids?

The early introduction of tea into the children's diet is fraught with negative consequences for the baby's body, which can develop gradually and be unnoticeable for the parents. The effects of tea exposure will appear in the future, but even doctors will find it difficult to associate them with too early drinking of tea by the baby.

Such consequences can be:

• nervousness, increased excitability, hyperactivity of the child;
• restlessness, lack or decreased concentration of attention;
• various kinds of allergic reactions;
• sleep disturbance as insomnia;
• nightmares;
• poor memory, which affects school performance;
• a penchant for fantasy, deceit.

Experts explain such manifestations by the negative influence of the nutrients (tannins and other components) contained in tea on the insufficiently formed cerebral cortex.

According to cardiologists, caffeine is the enemy of the heart. If the child started drinking tea early or consumed it in excess of the norm, then this can cause cardiovascular disease.

The tannins of tea (tannins) combine with iron and thus prevent its absorption in the digestive tract, which can cause a baby.

The caffeine in tea is associated with tannin to form theine. Theine differs from free, unbound caffeine in a milder but longer lasting effect. It has an exciting effect on the nervous system, therefore, instead of a day's sleep, the child is awake, in an agitated state, and is capricious.

Theine can cause not only increased secretion in the stomach, acceleration of metabolic processes, increased heart rate, but even an increase in body temperature. Babies are more sensitive to theine than adults. Theine leads to disruption of synthesis in the body, thereby contributing to the development of rickets in a child.

The diuretic effect due to other tea alkaloids in infants can lead to a violation of the water-salt balance. Purine bases, which are present in significant amounts in tea, lead to an increased formation of uric acid and its salts. And the urinary system, which is immature in the first year of life, is not able to remove them from the body. Uric acid accumulated in the child's blood also increases the baby's irritability and irritability, and can cause skin rashes and repeated vomiting.

Another organic acid found in tea is oxalic acid, which combines with calcium (there is a lot of it in milk). Therefore, in the case when tea was given to the baby after feeding, calcium neutralizes acid, prevents its accumulation in the blood.

If the child was given tea between feedings, then oxalic acid combines with the calcium of the tooth enamel, which leads to tooth decay and the accumulation of insoluble salts in the urine and blood. The enamel of milk teeth accumulates coloring pigments from tea.

Consequently, the properties of an invigorating drink that are beneficial for adults and older children can cause serious consequences in infants and cause significant harm to health.

At what age should children be given tea?

Children need to be introduced to a fragrant drink that will bring them pleasure. But according to the unanimous opinion of pediatricians, a child should be offered black tea without harm to health only after 3 years, with strict adherence to all the recommendations of specialists. If the baby has any diseases, then it is better to give tea to him at a later date, and only after consulting a pediatrician.

Babies under 3 years old can be given special teas for children. The packaging indicates for what age it is intended. In some teas, substances can be introduced to normalize the activity of the digestive system. They are usually prescribed by a doctor. But not all babies like the taste of such teas.

No less important than the age of the child is the type and variety of tea. For children, buy high-quality, no additives black leaf tea. Packaged infusions are not suitable due to their composition and poor quality.

Tea brewing rules

Ready-made black tea for a child should have a light bronze tint. It should be consumed in the morning.

It is important to brew tea correctly, as an illiterately prepared drink can cause digestive upset in the baby.

Drink preparation rules:

• for lightly brewed tea, it is enough to take ½ tsp. infusion for 200 ml of boiled hot (about 95 0 С) water;
• tea should be infused no more than 2-3 minutes, since prolonged infusion leads to an increase in the concentration of nutrients;
• strain, let the drink cool until warm and you can water the child.

Finished tea for children should have a light bronze tint. It should be introduced into the diet gradually. During the first month, only 50 ml of the flavored drink should be given in the morning. It is necessary during the day to observe the behavior of the baby, the effect of tea on the body.

If the child has become nervous, stopped sleeping during the day, then either the tea for him needs to be brewed even weaker, or the use of the drink should be postponed until an older age. If there was no negative effect, then you can start giving the child tea after a day's sleep in a month.

It is advisable to give the child tea no more than 3-4 times a week. The recommended serving for toddlers aged 3-6 years is 100 ml. After 7 years, tea can be brewed stronger (1 tsp per 200 ml of water), and the amount of drink can be adjusted to 200 ml and given up to 4 times a week.

• due to the stimulating effect of tea, it should not be given to children after 17 hours, that is, before bedtime or to a child who wakes up at night;
• you can not drink tea for a child with a fever, the drink can contribute to an even greater increase in temperature;
• you should always give the child only a freshly brewed drink: after 1 hour, the concentration of vitamins in it will significantly decrease, and when the tea is reheated, toxic substances are formed in it;
• it is better for children to give warm tea, since hot tea can irritate the gastric mucosa and the destruction of tooth enamel, and in the cold part of the vitamins is lost and its absorption is worse;
• you can sweeten the child's tea with a small amount, but it is better to teach the child to drink unsweetened tea;
• you can replace sugar with 1 tsp. (if absent), which should only be added to warm tea, because honey releases toxins when heated;
• an arbitrary (according to the child's taste) amount of milk can be added to the tea, which will reduce the undesirable effects of the drink: calcium is not washed out of the child's body and reduces irritation of the stomach mucosa with tannins;
• you can improve the taste of the drink by adding a lemon wedge or lemon zest to it;
• in tea you can add several pieces of berries or strawberries, or small pieces.

Tea with berries will be of particular benefit during winter-spring hypovitaminosis. Instead of berries, you can add carefully washed leaves, lingonberries, raspberries to the tea leaves, thereby reducing the risk of developing allergies. Milk cannot be added to such a drink (it will curdle), but honey is allowed.

Resume for parents

Acquaintance of a healthy child with teas should be started with black tea, but not earlier than 3 years. In the presence of chronic diseases, this invigorating drink will have to be introduced later, necessarily with the permission of the pediatrician. Particular care should be taken in the pathology of the nervous, urinary and cardiovascular systems so as not to harm the health of the child.

High-quality (without additives) weakly brewed leaf (and not packaged) tea, gradually introduced into the child's diet, unquestioning observance of all the recommendations of experts and consumption standards will allow children to participate in family tea drinking and benefit from the drink.

It is better for schoolchildren to give tea before leaving for school, it will help them tune in to study, cheer up. But not on an empty stomach, but always with a sandwich or a pie.

Drinking green tea in preschool and primary school age is prohibited. Caution should also be taken with herbal teas.

Pediatrician's tips on what to drink for children:

Tea gives not only an invigorating effect, but also taste pleasure. An adult can drink several cups a day without any consequences. But what about the child? From what age and in what quantity can tea be added to a children's diet?

When introducing new products into the children's diet, you should first consult a pediatrician. After all, even the most harmless, according to a young mother, products can cause irreparable harm. For example, tea.

• The usual black tea contains tannins or tannins. Their action causes a decrease in appetite, irritation of the gastric mucosa, destruction of iron.
• Caffeine, responsible for the invigorating effect, affects the central nervous, cardiovascular systems.
• And oxalic acid can destroy fragile tooth enamel.

In the aggregate, the effect of black tea is detrimental to the newborn organism. Therefore, doctors strongly recommend not to give such a drink to children until they are two years old.

Is it possible to give a child tea ahead of time, even if in minimal quantities? Definitely not. Due to non-compliance with the recommended dosage or age restrictions, unpleasant consequences may not appear immediately. As they grow older, the child is highly likely to have: poor sleep, excessive excitability, hyperactivity, forgetfulness, distracted attention, various allergic reactions. Alternatively, you can use a special baby tea.

How to add black tea to your diet

When the baby grows older (2-3 years), and doctors allow the introduction of tea into the diet, then in no case should it be packaged. It has been known for a long time, therefore, it is better to refuse to brew them for a child.

When introducing a drink into baby food, you should follow some recommendations for its use and take into account that:

• the daily volume should be no more than 100-150 ml of a warm drink;
• tea should be black freshly brewed. It is necessary to cook very weak light-colored tea leaves;
• in order to neutralize the effect of substances harmful to the baby, tea for children can be diluted with milk in equal parts;
• useful additives such as honey and lemon can cause an allergic reaction;
• If a child drinks tea from a bottle, the added sugar can cause bottle decay.

For children of all ages, berry-fruit or some herbal teas will be the most useful. Small children must be administered with caution according to the scheme prescribed by the pediatrician in order to notice possible allergic symptoms in time.

Other tea options

Since there are a lot of varieties, you need to know what kind of tea and at what age you can give children. They differ in taste, color, influence on children and adults. The most common options are:

• Hibiscus. It has a mild tonic effect, while it is rich in vitamins, which have a general strengthening effect on the child's body. It can be given to children as a preventive measure against colds no earlier than 3 years old. The only contraindication is an allergy to citrus fruits, since hibiscus contains a large amount of citric acid.
• ... Contains no caffeine. But at the same time, it is very saturated with various useful substances, therefore, the use of an infusion of linden blossom should be dosed and, with the approval of a doctor, used as an adjuvant for treatment during the cold season. It is worth introducing it into the diet from the age of 6-7 years of age.
• ... It is rich in vitamin C, helps to strengthen the immune system, in the absence of contraindications, it is recommended for children from 6 months of age.
• With fennel. In some cases, from the first month, children can be given a weak one, which will help to cope with flatulence and dysbiosis. The maximum daily volume is 100 ml, but it is better not to exceed 50 ml. Sometimes between feedings, one teaspoon of medicinal tea is enough.
• Mint. It has a beneficial effect on the human body at any age. But in children, it often causes allergic reactions in the form of redness and small rashes. If these appear, you must consult a doctor. Not recommended for small children.
• can be used starting from 4 months of months. It effectively fights colds and stomach and intestinal problems.
• Green contains a higher amount of caffeine, so children can drink green tea only after reaching the age of 10 and its consumption should be minimal.

The question of when it is possible to give tea to a child must be agreed with the pediatrician. Sometimes children are allergic to the most common foods. Many herbal teas are moderately allergenic.

In a personal consultation, the pediatrician will help not only to determine the appropriateness of using any type of tea, but also suggest the optimal recipe and dosage.

Specialized teas for babies

For children under one year old, manufacturers of baby food (Hipp, Babushkino Lukoshko, Humana and others) produce herbal teas adapted to the child's body.

The product is rich in natural ingredients, vitamins and microelements that have a beneficial effect on the formation of the skeletal system, strengthen teeth, blood vessels, heart, and have a general positive effect on the entire body. The assortment differs in taste, recommended age and therapeutic goals, including elimination of bloating, colic, stomach and intestinal problems.

The manufacturer's packaging indicates the age at which children can be given special baby tea. But, like any product, it can be introduced into the baby's menu only after the approval of the pediatrician.

In the composition of such a tea drink there are no preservatives, dyes, flavors, which makes it useful and does not imply the presence of contraindications. But an exception may be an individual allergy to one of the components.

photo: depositphotos.com/ababaka, Cheese_78