Why do many parents let their children drink soda like it was water?

Question

Would you agree with me that a child's primary beverage should be water/juice/milk and not coke/7up/mountain dew? Soda should be a treat, not a mainstay.

Answer 1

I agree. I drank soda so much that now i get paid $20 a month from my parents for not drinking pop at all. i feel so much better now that I am drinking water a lot more!

Answer 2

Yep.  

I don't see any reason a child needs to have soda.  On special occassion fine, but daily heck no!

Answer 3

I know. Because it's hard to get them to drink water or something else?  It seems like child neglect to me.  

Answer 4

my daughter doesn't drink soda at all because I don't drink soda. she drinks water a lot she actually prefers it over juice but she does drink juice and milk.

Answer 5

While I was in paramedic school I had to do a clinical rotation in a pediatricians office.  Most of his patients were either sore throats or scheduled check ups of toddlers and preschool aged children.   Most of the children were over weight and the only thing he would tell them to do about it is not let them drink soda.   He would always mention this particular statistic, I wonder if it is true.  If your child eats the normal amount for his age and then drinks a soda every day, then they will gain a pound a week.  Not to mention the damage done to their teeth.  

Soda's are bad even for adults.  Most of them are loaded with high fructose corn syrup which is like poison, not to mention they are loaded with caffeine and other additives that probably don't do you any favors.  Even gatorade has way to high of a sugar content.  When I work the aid stations at football games, I get a lot of dehydrated adults and we have been told by doctors to not give them gatorade unless we dilute it 50/50 with water.  

Answer 6

I agree. I only let my kids have pop as a treat or at a party...At home they mostly drink water and milk and sometimes juice.

Answer 7

i agree. my oldest is the only one who can drink soda she can have soda on ocassion and not every day. the only soda she can have is sprite or ginger ale. she can only have coke on her birthday.

Answer 8

Definitely agree with you here, it's only a treat on occassions here. oh and to answer the question - so many parents allow it because they are too lazy to take an interest in their child's health both of their bodies and minds but also couldn't give a toss what it does to their teeth... Have you seen the posters of decayed teeth from softdrink at the dentists like ewwww, no way is that happening to my children.

Answer 9

I would never let my kids drink soda. It makes them overweight and hyper. who wants to deal with that? To answer your question, I don't know why. Maybe they figure it's better to give in and let them eat junk then to fight over what they are eating. Which is a terrible habit to get into.  

Answer 10

If I could present a different point of view, that perhaps hadn't occurred to other parents - I let my kids drink caffeine free, sugar free soda.  Not like it was water, but fairly freely.  I always have a pitcher of crystal lite in the fridge, and water of course.  

They were never allowed to have any kind of soda, but my daughter has type 1 diabetes now, so I pick my battles.  Sugar free, caffeine free soda is something she can drink without blood sugar consequence, when she's looking for a carb-free alternative to crystal lite.  By default, the other kids can have it because I don't want to segregate Gina's food intake any more than I already have to.  

They never have coke - way too much sugar and caffeine.  I keep a can of sprite in the fridge for an emergency.

Answer 11

my daughter gets mostly water, with milk a few time a day, and juice a special treat once a week or so... she eats plenty of fruits and veggies instead of juice.

i'll let her have sprite at her 3rd birthday party this weekend though.

I agree, there is a reason that so many kids are overweight these days

Answer 12

I absolutely agree with you.  And even though I drink coke myself...I know its just so bad for you, its like drinking acid.....so I wouldnt want any child of mine drinking it if they were under 10....also for the pure sugar factor.  Ice tea is another alternative.  I mean some of these parents might just give in to make the child happy and to leave them alone, but with all that sugar...they would just be worse!

Answer 13

because it is their child and their decision.  now i am NOT saying it is right,,,and i do Not allow my children to drink it as they wish,,what i am saying is that it is not up to me,,you,,or anyone else to decide how to raise their child/ren.  too many people are in too many other peoples business.  more people should worry about their own families,and their own business and leave others alone.

Answer 14

My kids drink soda, but only every once in awhile. And that every once in awhile is MAYBE once a week or less. So for them its a treat. And they only get one can to share between the two of them. They are 4 and 7 yrs old. They do not need to both drink a whole 12 oz can. So yes I guess I do agree with you.

Answer 15

I cringe when I see young kids drinking soda! I think it is fine as a treat, like when you occasionally go out for dinner or something, but kids should not drink more than one soda a week!