What age should I give my son Soda?

Question

I have a friend who has a 2 year old daughter, and she gives her soda all the time. I have a 17 month old son, and I don't give him soda at all because I know that it isn't healthy for him, but I was just wondering what age should I introduce soda to him?

Answer 1

I wouldnt introduce it until he starts wanting some.

Your way is better - the longer you can keep him off soda the better.

My kids did drink non caffeinated soda's occasionally at around 2.

Answer 2

You said yourself soda isn't healthy. the answer to your question, you don't. If they don't grow up with it in the house or having it introduced to them they won't want it as much as kids who do.  The minute you do you introduce a heap of problems from filling up on soda instead of healthy alternatives like milk or water, dental cavities and other problems.  

If your friend is giving a 2 year old soda then your friend is an irresponsible mother.

Answer 3

Don't... there is no reason for you to introduce it to him.  

Answer 4

Maybe introduce it around 3 or 4, but only for special occasions.  Such as a birthday or something like that.  I have a 3 yr old and I will give her ginger ale from time to time if she complains about her stomach hurting.  It has no caffeine in it, so it's not horrible.  She only gets soda once in a blue moon.  We went to a birthday party and the ONLY thing that was available to drink was soda.  

Answer 5

i'd say around 6 or 7, but don't buy a lot;just give it to him once in a while.

Answer 6

don't introduce it.  wait til he asks to try it.  then only let them have diet soda because then there is no sugar.  my 6 yr old son still hates soda.  he tried it once and hates it.  that's fine w/ me.  my 11 yr old i only let her drink diet/caffeine free if any because of the sugar.

Answer 7

i'm not a parent by any means but personally, i think 2 is way too young to be drinking pop.  they have so much energy as it is and you're right, it isn't good for kids (or anyone, for that matter).  I would put it off for as long as you possibly can before you son actually starts wanting it or pestering you about it or something.  juice should be just fine (until his friend lets him taste pop and then he'll never want juice again).  my parents-in-law let their 9yr old twin girls drink pop but only decaffeinated.  hope that helps.

Answer 8

sodi is very bad i was weaned on soda and now im addicted i also have very bad teeth no matter how much you brush the acid will eat away the enamal and them work inwords i think the only exception is if its only once in a while and you rince then bruch imidiatly afterwards

just for a little reference i brushed my teeth three times a day since i was little never mised a day  

Answer 9

You don't *have* to, at all. Eventually, he'll discover it at friends' birthday parties and such, but my parents never kept soda around the house. Until we were about 10-12, soda was something we only got when we went out to eat, or when we were at friends' places or church pizza parties or whatever. When we got a little older, my parents would get a 2-liter of soda with 2 pizzas one night a week (it was the local pizza place's special) but it was still until after I graduated, when we had loads of soda left over from the party, that there was any really sitting around the house to drink when we wanted. Even now, with soda machines in the dining halls in college, I still almost always take juice or water or something similar instead of soda. Do your son a favor, and don't get him used to it - it's really healthy and not impossible at all.  

Answer 10

why introdice something unhealthy? I would at least wait until they are old enough to know what it is and ask for it and even then it should be limited. My kids are older and they only get it when we eat out or special occasions aside from sprite once in awhile because it doesn't have caffiene.

Answer 11

Never! Soda is very bad for you! I grew up never having it and didn't even taste it until my late teens. I don't like it, I don't drink it... so if you don't give your son soda he won't grow a taste for it. There is nothing good about it... so why do it??

Answer 12

NEVER! NEVER! NEVER!

SODA IS TERRIBLE, AWFUL, BAD

Answer 13

When he is 18 and will either leave your house for college or become independent and can afford to drink whatever he wants. Soda is not good for anyone.

Answer 14

Well it's unhealthy to give your son soda at all, but it is important to let them have sugar once in a while. Don't give it to them at that young age of 2 years old. at least wait until their 3.5 years old to 4. That's around an appropriate age to start drinking soda.

Answer 15

never it is horrible for their teeth and their health causing them to start an addiction to caffeine.

Answer 16

I wouldn't ever give my son soda.

but if nana spoils him with a cup of it every now and then I'll let her. But that's just me. We don't keep it in the house anyway. I know a lot of people do though. I don't keep junk food in the house either... We have cancer, heart disease AND stroke in our families... this kid needs all the healthy foods he can get!!!  

Answer 17

Never give your kids soda,give them a sugar free squash, milk, water its much better for them. Soda will only make them hyper and will cause massive dental problems (I see it all the time,i'm a dental nurse).

Hope this helps.

Stacey x*x

Answer 18

dude, never give your son soda, unless u want him to have yellow teeth

soda is the worst thing in the world for your teeth, it is like acid eating away at them after time

Answer 19

Stay away as long as possible.  I won't give it to my son till he was 5 yrs old.  After that, his horizon is wide open by soda, he will only want soda all time.  When they are young, we still can control it, better start educating them how bad soda is.  I know a kid, right now is 18yrs old, who is my former employer's son.  He doesn't drink soda at all, only water.  Regulate him wherever he goes.  He is a counselor in camp, like playing basketball.  Very healthy.  

Answer 20

Don't give him soda. Soda is bad for the human body if you give it to him older give him atleast 1 every two days or so

Answer 21

I gave my daughter a sip of sprite when she was 2, she's had some sprite since, she's 2 1/2. I only allow her and my older daughter to have sprite when we go out to dinner, and we hardly ever go out.  

Answer 22

hopefully never but i'd say 7, anything earlier you might as well just put a sprite in his baby bottle

Answer 23

Around 5 I would let my kids have a "weekend soda" with me and it was only diet and caffiene free (diet sprite, diet squirt, fresca, diet/caffiene free coke). Kids don't need all the sugar and buzz. Now my kids look forward to their weekend soda with dad while we're doing jobs around the house and they know that they can't have them any other time - and they always ask first.  

Answer 24

never, until he is a teenager and gets it himself.

Answer 25

Why introduce it at all? Why not wait till your son comes to you and asks you for some? Or how about if you "have to" wait till at LEAST 7  or in my opinion...for the NON caffiene ones..like seirra mist...or ginger ale.

I didn't drink pop until I was in high school...it didn't bother me in the least...and you know what I have never had a cavity in my life i am 24. When i did start drinking pop i went a lilttle "pop happy" but that only lasted like a school year because i didn;'t have any at home only at school....still dont have any at  home...still will drink water before pop...come on now...why introduce something bad for your kids? They will before you know it will ask for it...and really its no good for them...its full of sugar and caffiene and the carbonation is bad for their teeth...not to mention it dehydrates you. Hold off as long as you can....more or I think you shouldn't "introduce it" just if hes older and has some jsut perhaps dont make a big deal about it.

Make it the same as ice cream or candy...its a treat/reward...its not something you have regualrly just because.

Answer 26

it really depends if he can take it without loseing control. If he doesn't have a hyperactive personality then 4 or 5.  Try to limit it to special occasions

Answer 27

When he is a bit more mature, and calmer.

Maybe around the 5 year old mark, maybe a few years more up to 8.

Just don't give it to them every day. ;)

Answer 28

I would say never if you can help it. But if you do dont do it now, wait until he is older, how much older is up to you.

My kids have never had soda and i dont ever want them to start on it. Its not healthy at any age.  

Answer 29

I think as a father myself, do not even expose him to soda my son is 8 years old and I never gave him soda. He can have it now but he prefers lemonade or juice packs and loves water and gator aid. He is very active. But soda does nothing for your body and isnt good for you. But it is your child.  

Answer 30

my advice would be to try and keep him away from soda as long as possible. kids go CRAZY with soda. so until he starts whining for soda then don't give it to him. he has his whole life for drinking soda.

Answer 31

I would say way later in life, 4 or 5.