Kids and Caffeine

About 73 percent of kids and adolescents consume caffeine daily, according to a 2014 study published in Pediatrics. And although there have been studies to calculate the prevalence of caffeine consumption in our society, the long-term effects that caffeine has on a child’s health have not been adequately studied.

“There isn’t an established U.S. guideline on how much caffeine is safe for a child to consume,” says Dr. Julie Ehly, pediatrician at St. Luke’s Health System. However, Dr. Ehly notes that Canada does have recommended guidelines for caffeine consumption for an elementary-aged child: approximately 43 milligrams of caffeine per day.

Even though there may not be hard evidence dictating how much caffeine is safe for a child, certain side effects may signal that a child is consuming too much of the substance. They can include headaches, jitteriness, nervousness, stomachaches, difficulty sleeping or insomnia, anxiety, high blood pressure, high heart rate, irritability, restlessness, weight gain and dehydration. Rare but severe side effects, including seizures, hallucinations, cardiac arrest and even death, also have resulted from high caffeine consumption, but mostly from consuming purified forms of caffeine or medical grade caffeine.

“It can also aggravate a problem that parents may not know that their child has, like an underlying heart issue, anxious condition or behavior problem,” says Dr. Ehly. 

To avoid disruptions in sleep, Dr. Jason Graff, medical director of sleep disorders for St. Luke’s Health System, says that children should avoid caffeine 6-7 hours before bedtime. “Caffeine will not only prolong the amount of time it takes a child to fall asleep, but also can increase the number of awakenings, which negatively affects sleep quality,” he says.

When you work to eliminate caffeine from a child’s diet or lessen his consumption, be alert for withdrawal symptoms, which are uncommon but still possible. “It just depends on how frequently the child is ingesting caffeine,” says Dr. Stephen Thornton, medical director of the poison control center at the University of Kansas Hospital. “It’s a good idea to wean a child off caffeine products slowly with a good plan in place, in order to avoid any withdrawal symptoms.”

“If they get used to the caffeine and then stop using it, they can get headaches and experience fatigue,” says Dr. Stephen Lauer, associate chair of the department of pediatrics at the University of Kansas Hospital.

“In a perfect world, when it comes to kids’ health, they shouldn’t consume any caffeine,” says Dr. Graff. “The goal is to have kids not drink caffeinated drinks,” says Dr. Lauer. “It’s a stimulant drug, so it’s not a good idea to give it to a child.”

Alyssa Klimek is an adjunct instructor at Johnson County Community College and a local freelance writer. She currently lives in Kansas City.

As always, please consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns.