Tea

Caffeinated teas like black or green tea are best served in moderation after 4 years of age. While sharing a sip here and there is fine, babies and toddlers should not be given caffeinated drinks like tea, as caffeine can interfere with sleep, appetite, and nervous system regulation. Decaffeinated or herbal teas are fine to offer in moderation after 12 months of age. Learn more about herbal teas. 

Tea is made from the leaves of a plant native to East Asia that has been cultivated for thousands of years. Depending on how the leaves are processed, the same plant produces green, black, white, and oolong teas. Tea holds deep cultural significance across many regions of the world, including China, Japan, India, Southwest Asia, the United Kingdom, and parts of Africa, where it is woven into daily rituals, hospitality, and social life.

• Serve tea after a meal rather than on an empty stomach to reduce the chance of jitteriness.

• To preserve the flavor of dried tea leaves, store in a vacuum-sealed container in a cool, dark area.

No. Tea presents a low risk when safely prepared for a child’s age and developmental ability, though tea leaves, boba, pieces of fruit, and other add-ins present in the tea when serving can increase the risk. To reduce the risk, serve tea in an age-appropriate way as described in How to Serve. As always, make sure to create a safe eating environment and stay within reach of baby during meals. 

Learn the signs of choking and more about choking first aid in our free guides, Infant Rescue and Toddler Rescue.

No, but reactions have been reported.^{[1] [2]} Research regarding tea allergy is in its infancy and it’s unclear if individuals with reactions to tea were allergic to the tea itself, or contaminants in the tea. Certain herbal teas, such as chamomile, can cause reactions in individuals who are allergic to pollens such as ragweed.^[3] Tea may cause reactions that are mistaken for allergies, like digestive upset, often in relation to the tea’s caffeine and tannin content.^[4][5]

For babies under 12 months of age, a sip here and there of whatever tea you are having is okay, as long as it is not too hot and there are no choking hazards in the tea such as boba or jellies. But in general, hold off on sharing tea as a drink until a child is older. 

Caffeinated teas can interfere with sleep, appetite, and nervous system regulation, and even decaffeinated or herbal teas are best avoided until around the first birthday. Breast milk and formula are forms of complete nutrition for babies, and serving tea as a drink under 12 months can take up space in the belly, which may discourage consumption of these more nutritious drinks. Do not treat medical issues like colic or digestive upset with herbal or medicinal teas before talking to your child’s medical healthcare provider. Not all herbal teas or teas with claims to treat an ailment are safe for children.

Children can be particularly sensitive to caffeine’s stimulant side effects, like reduced appetite, jitteriness, poor sleep, reflux, and more.^[6] For these reasons, it is important to avoid caffeine for babies entirely, and to minimize caffeine intake for children where possible.

Recommendations on caffeine intake for children vary worldwide. In the United States, it is recommended to avoid caffeinated drinks until 12 years of age, while Canada offers guidance starting at 4 years of age if desired (but it is not necessary).^{[7] [8]} Tea is one of the most popular and accessible drinks worldwide and plays a large role in many world cultures so do what makes sense for your family’s culture and child’s individual needs, but do aim to avoid excess caffeine intake for your child and opt for decaf tea when possible. Avoid soda, energy drinks, and other highly caffeinated drinks due to added sugars and in some cases, harmfully high levels of caffeine. 

Daily acceptable caffeine content for kids by age per Health Canada:^{[7] [8] [9]}

• Ages 4-6: 45 mg (about 1 cup of black tea or ½ cup of coffee)

• Ages 7-9: ~63 mg (about 1.5 cups of black tea or roughly 2/3 cup of coffee)

• Ages 10-12: 85 mg (about 1.75 cups of black tea or roughly 3/4 cup of coffee)

• Note: Caffeine consumption is entirely optional and not required nutritionally or for general health.

It can when consumed with an iron-containing meal. For this reason, it is helpful to avoid drinking tea with food and to serve tea to children as a drink between meals, when possible.^{[10] [11] [12]}