In addition to coffee, caffeine is also contained in tea, chocolate, chocolate milk, soda drinks, coffee ice cream, yogurt, and also your little one's favorite pudding. So avoiding coffee alone may not guarantee that it is free from the effects of caffeine.

Caffeine works as a stimulant that stimulates the central nervous system. In small doses, caffeine can make children more active and energetic. Even so, it is also important to note that it is not necessary to have high doses of caffeine to make children experience the side effects of excess caffeine. Therefore, caffeine in children is better limited.

The following is an overview of the caffeine content in drinks that can be consumed by children:

Actually, there is no official benchmark for limiting caffeine consumption in children, but Canada limits caffeine consumption to 45 mg per day for children aged 4-6 years, 63 mg for children aged 7-9 years, and 85 mg for children aged 10-12. year.

As in adults, side effects of excess caffeine in children can include stomach pain, headaches, difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating, restlessness, and increased heart rate.

In addition, the possible side effects are:

Childhood is an important time for healthy bone growth. Excess caffeine can inhibit your little one's bone development because the nature of caffeine interferes with calcium absorption.

Consumption of caffeinated beverages, such as soda, can increase the risk of excess weight gain. The reason is, the type of caffeine drinks that children like are generally also high in sugar and fat.

Caffeine is a stimulant so it can affect the levels of chemicals in the brain that regulate behavior and the way children socialize. Children who are accustomed to consuming excessively caffeinated drinks tend to be hyperactive, easily change moods, and easily feel anxious.

Caffeine can stimulate the brain and body to work harder without providing an energy supply. This can make children more easily tired during activities and decrease their performance.

Caffeine is a diuretic, so its consumption can cause your child to urinate more frequently and become thirsty more easily. This can automatically increase the risk of dehydration, especially if your child doesn't drink a lot of water.

Caffeinated drinks which generally contain a lot of sugar can increase the risk of cavities in children, especially if they are lazy to brush their teeth.

One of the side effects of caffeine is heart palpitations. This effect will have an adverse impact on children who have heart problems.

Judging from the side effects, it's a good idea to limit or even avoid caffeine consumption in children. If your little one likes to drink drinks like the ones above, you are advised to stop slowly. Stopping caffeine suddenly can upset a child's mood.

In order for your little one's health to be more awake, Mother is advised to replace their caffeinated drinks with other healthy drinks, such as mineral water, milk, and fresh fruit juices.

However, if your child finds it difficult to stop consuming caffeinated drinks or experiences complaints after consuming caffeine, don't hesitate to take him to the pediatrician.