Mum Roasted For Letting Toddler Drink Coffee

A mum-of-four has angered parents with her admission that she lets her two-year-old drink coffee, saying she doesn’t know why ‘so many people are upset’.

Mara, from the US, shared a video titled ‘Things I do as a parent that others don’t agree with’, which including footage of her toddler Indy drinking coffee.

“I don’t know why so many people are upset because I said Indy drinks coffee. I mean, don’t you drink coffee every day? We went to the best place in town and got him his coconut latte. It’s his favourite. Plus they roast their own beans. And I mean how can I tell him no to coffee. Look how cute his little face is.”

@theamazingmara Some things I do that others don’t agree with. I could’ve made this video so long lol #controversialopinion #barefooting #naturalmom #crunchymom #boyscanweardresses ♬ Possibility – Lykke Li

Here are some of the other things Mara says she does with her kids that other parents don’t like:

She lets her kids go barefoot in public, including when visiting a public bathroom
Not restricting food
Letting her sons wear dresses
Letting the kids have outside showers
Letting her toddler eat sand
Letting her toddler play with marbles
Letting her daughter shave her head
Not forcing her children to share
Gentle parenting, not spanking kids
Not forcing her children to hug family members
Let her son pierce his ears
Co-sleeping from birth
Breastfeeding until her children self wean

But it was the coffee drinking that caused the most outrage, with parents slamming the mum, after she asked why so many people were upset.

“Maybe because caffeine is a stimulant drug and it’s highly addictive…?”

“But if cigarettes were his favourite would that be ok?”

“Because caffeine stunts brain development and growth?”

@theamazingmara Replying to @wbernald he loves coffee! It’s his fav ???? #controversialopinion #toddlertok #coffeetiktok #crunchymom #babyindy ♬ She Share Story (for Vlog) – 山口夕依

According to Health Direct, caffeine affects the central nervous system, muscles, heart, lungs and kidneys, and it’s addictive.

Associate Director of Dietetics and Food Services at Children’s Health Queensland Dr Melinda White recommends waiting until the end of adolescence to start drinking coffee regularly.

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36 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 13 Sep 2024
    10:05 am
As an adult if you drink coffee daily and then stop you will end up with a crashing withdrawal headache…..this is proof that its a drug….the caffine in it is what you become addicted to. This is not good for adults but to allow your toddler to drink coffee just because adults do is the most foolish thing i have ever heard. Is she going to allow them to drink wine as well just because adults do? foolish

- - Ellen said
  - 22 Jul 2024
    4:06 am
There are plenty of parents who allow their kids cola which has caffeine too

- - mom101628 said
  - 07 Nov 2022
    12:46 am
I guess she will have to cope with whatever happens in the end – she does have four children.

- - smart_ass said
  - 28 Oct 2022
    9:43 am
I don’t agree with a lot of what the kids are allowed to do but at the end of the day, it’s their family/their choice.

- - Jessica said
  - 27 Oct 2022
    10:14 pm
I don’t agree with intentionally feeding a child caffeine. It’s so bad for their development

- - Mad Bean said
  - 26 Oct 2022
    10:50 am
Wow. I don’t really agree with a lot of what she lets her kids do and have but it’s her choice and she will have to deal with the consequences of it.

- - mom485263 said
  - 24 Oct 2022
    9:48 pm
I certainly wouldn’t allow my kids coffee at such a young age but then that isn’t my child.

- - whiteredeye said
  - 23 Oct 2022
    11:56 pm
That is a lot of coffee for such a young child!

- - My Little Buttons said
  - 23 Oct 2022
    1:23 pm
The photo the little boy looks like he is really enjoying it hahaha
- Ellen replied
  
  22 Jul 2024 , 4:10 am
  he surely looks like he’s enjoying it indeed !
- - BellaB said
  - 22 Oct 2022
    6:46 pm
I don’t disagree with everything she does, but yeah, I don’t think she should be letting a toddler have coffee.

- - cassy26 said
  - 22 Oct 2022
    11:41 am
Yeah “no” is a good word sometimes!

- - romvar said
  - 21 Oct 2022
    2:17 pm
Attention seeker!

- - Lividanke said
  - 21 Oct 2022
    1:39 pm
Not something that I agree with and there’s no way I’d let my children do this.
Each to their own though.

- - mom334554 said
  - 21 Oct 2022
    12:26 pm
Some of her parenting styles aren’t for me but that’s her business. But with all the info that’s so readily available now days about the affects of caffeine I’d have to agree with other commenters that it’s not appropriate for children. Have educated my own kids on why they’re not allowed tea/coffee/cola

- - sars_angelchik said
  - 21 Oct 2022
    7:28 am
What is wrong with her??? Some people really shouldn’t reproduce!

- - mom486400 said
  - 20 Oct 2022
    8:27 pm
There are some things on the list that you think “ok that’s fine everyone does that” but there’s things on the list where the role of a parent needs to be implemented.

- - tessie said
  - 20 Oct 2022
    11:55 am
Sounds more like she lets her kids tell her what they are going to do instead of the other way around. Coffee is a definite no-no in my book unless it’s decaf. That would be more acceptable

- - ella12 said
  - 20 Oct 2022
    11:42 am
Does she ever say no to her kids?

- - rovermum said
  - 20 Oct 2022
    9:30 am
Um, for very real health reasons. And I would feel the same if it was cola, soft drink, etc. every day. She can do what she wants but as parents we need to teach our children, keep them safe, protect them, and say No sometimes.
- Ellen replied
  
  21 Oct 2022 , 9:05 am
  Yeah I feel so too, but there are plenty of parents who do give their kids cola, soft drinks, cordial and junk without feeling concerned about it.
  - Ellen replied
    
    22 Jul 2024 , 4:09 am
    
    But in the end it are her children and it’s her choice and it’s not important what I/we think
- - Ellen said
  - 20 Oct 2022
    8:54 am
I wonder how many people would respond negatively in this way if she gave her child cola ?