Surprisingly, babies are the new coffee drinkers we should be worrying about.
Boston Medical Center researchers reportedly found that coffee consumption among toddlers in Boston is actually quite common as about 15 percent of 2-year-olds consume as much as 4 ounces of coffee each day, according to the Boston Globe.
“Our results show that many infants and toddlers in Boston — and perhaps in the United States — are being given coffee,” Anne Merewood, the study’s principal investigator and the director of the Breastfeeding Center at BMC, said in a statement.
Researchers reportedly followed 315 pairs of mothers and infants in an analysis of whether weight change during each child’s first week had an effect on body mass index at age 2, according to the U.K.’s The Independent. When giving details about their child’s diets, it was reportedly found that mothers admitted to giving their children coffee.
While 1-year-olds were reportedly found to drink coffee at a rate of 2.5 percent, by the time the children reached the age of 2, more than 15 percent were consuming coffee.
The study reportedly found specific patterns in coffee drinking among infants as well.
Infants and toddlers of Hispanic mothers were reportedly more likely to drink coffee than those of non-Hispanic mothers, although it was not discovered why this was the case. It was also reportedly found that female infants were more likely to drink coffee than male infants.
For parents who are allowing their children to drink coffee, there are some precautions that should be taken. Previous studies have reportedly shown that children and adolescents who drink coffee and caffeinated drinks have a higher chance of developing depression, sleep disturbances, obesity and type 1 diabetes.
“Given what the current data shows about the effects of coffee consumption among children and adolescents, additional research is needed to better determine the potential short and long-term health implications of coffee consumption among this younger age group in Hispanic and other populations,” explained Merewood.