Kids often consume caffeine in the form of soda, teas, coffee and chocolate. While America does not set recommendations for caffeine consumption, Canada recommends children should only consume 45 to 85 mg of caffeine each day, with the lower amounts suggested for younger children, reports the Baby Center. Even a small amount of caffeine, such as the 5 mg found in an 8 oz. glass of chocolate milk, has an effect on your child.
Fatigue
Caffeine may increase the amount of fatigue your child experiences. Kids often feel tired as the false energy produced by caffeine starts to wear off. "The simple sugars and caffeine in caffeinated drinks and chocolate bars cause a boost of metabolism that can leave your child's body running on empty," advises pediatrician Anil Pradhan. Caffeine also acts as a diuretic, which increases your child's urine production. Excess urination can lead to dehydration, which also increases feelings of fatigue, explains Lisa De Fazio, a registered dietitian and media nutritionist based in Los Angeles, California. Additional fatigue may result from difficulty sleeping and frequent night wakings that often occur with excessive caffeine consumption, explains Pradhan.
Cardiovascular Effects
Excessive caffeine intake may cause your child's heart to beat faster or irregularly and his blood pressure to increase. An increased blood pressure makes it more difficult for your child's heart to pump blood from his heart to the rest of his body and back. Pradhan reports that, while rare, when a child's blood pressure increases too often or stays elevated for an extended period of time it can result in heart problems and damage her eyes, brain and kidneys. Pradhan continues that as long as you do not allow your child to consume extreme amounts of caffeine, it is unlikely that your child will develop severe caffeine-related side effects.
The United States has not set limits on safe caffeine consumption, but Canada regulations state that you should limit a child's daily caffeine intake to 45 mg for children ages 4 to 6, to 63 mg for children 7 to 9 and to 85 mg for children ages 10 to 12. The caffeine content of foods and drinks varies. For instance, the average caffeine content of 12 oz. of soda is between 34 and 71 mg, 6 oz. of coffee is 115 mg, 12 oz. of iced tea is 70 mg, 1 oz. of dark chocolate is 20 mg and 1 oz. of milk chocolate is 6 mg, according to Akron Children's Hospital.
The United States has not set limits on safe caffeine consumption, but Canada regulations state that you should limit a child's daily caffeine intake to 45 mg for children ages 4 to 6, to 63 mg for children 7 to 9 and to 85 mg for children ages 10 to 12. The caffeine content of foods and drinks varies. For instance, the average caffeine content of 12 oz. of soda is between 34 and 71 mg, 6 oz. of coffee is 115 mg, 12 oz. of iced tea is 70 mg, 1 oz. of dark chocolate is 20 mg and 1 oz. of milk chocolate is 6 mg, according to Akron Children's Hospital.
Growth Effects
Caffeine may affect your child's growth and development. Caffeine causes a child's body to excrete nutrients such as caffeine and magnesium in their urine. When this happens too often, a child's body does not have the nutrients it needs to produce strong bones, De Fazio explains. Caffeine consumption in the form sodas containing phosphoric acid may erode your child's tooth enamel, which can result in dental caries and acid reflux, De Fazio continues. Dental caries and acid reflux increase the amount of bacteria living in your child's upper digestive tract, which can lead to frequent occurrences of colds, ear infections and the flu, De Fazio warns.
Mood Changes
The stimulant effects of caffeine may increase the number of mood changes your child experiences, reports the Baby Center. As caffeine stimulates your child, she may become upset more frequently. Excessive caffeine consumption can also cause your child to become addicted or dependent on the drug. If this happens, she may become irritable, jittery, agitated or unfocused when she cannot consume any caffeine or you try to decrease the amount of caffeine she consumes.
Physical Discomfort
The physical discomforts caused by caffeine include headaches, stomach upset and weight gain. Pradhan explains that caffeine headaches occur when the stimulant effect of the drug causes blood vessels in the brain to constrict and limits the amount of blood reaching your child's brain. Stomach upset may occur due to the effect of caffeine of the stomach or due to the unhealthy food choices that often accompany caffeine consumption, adds KidsHealth. These bad food choices may also lead to weight gain and obesity, which can make fitting into clothes or exercising uncomfortable.
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