Safer Child Products

In our house we very rarely drink Soda and I buy herbal or decaffeinated tea, because I don’t like how caffeine makes me feel. Coffee is not something any of us drink. Though we do have the occasional Gatorade, or Powerade type drink, I’ve worried more about the sugar content than caffeine.  Energy drinks do have caffeine, and too much of it can be dangerous for our children.  Did you know there are recommended limits on how much caffeine a child should have based on their weight?

“Based on average body weights, the maximum daily caffeine intake for children between four and 12 years is:
45 milligrams for children aged four to six.
62.5 milligrams for children aged seven to nine.
85 milligrams for children aged 10 to 12. 

Emergency rooms across the country have seen a dramatic spike in caffeine overdoses, up from 1,128 in 2005 to 16,055 in 2008 and 13,114 in 2009, according to a report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.”

According to an article in the New York Times, Business Day sections on October 22, 2012, “Under current F.D.A. rules, companies are not required to disclose caffeine levels in their beverages and can choose to market them as drinks or as dietary supplements. Those regulatory categories have differing labeling and ingredient rules.”

Back in May of 2011 the American Academy of Pediatrics even took a stand, saying that kids should not drink energy drinks and generally do not need sports drinks, they should stick to water. “Energy drinks contain substances not found in sports drinks that act as stimulants, such as caffeine, guarana and taurine. Caffeine – by far the most popular stimulant – has been linked to a number of harmful health effects in children, including effects on the developing neurologic and cardiovascular systems. Energy drinks are never appropriate for children or adolescents, said Dr. Schneider and Dr. Benjamin. In general, caffeine-containing beverages, including soda, should be avoided.” They also found that “In many cases, it’s hard to tell how much caffeine is in a product by looking at the label,” Dr. Schneider said. “Some cans or bottles of energy drinks can have more than 500 mg of caffeine, which is the equivalent of 14 cans of soda.” In addition to the health affects relating to your heart and blood pressure, Energy Drinks can be linked to Obesity, Sleep Disorders, Calcium Deficiency and Dental problems.  Be aware that if your child is Medicated for ADD, Depression or even Pain, there can be serious interactions.

Let’s keep all our children safe!