The American Academy of Pediatrics recently warned against kids’ consumption of energy drinks, a popular beverage heavily marketed to kids and teens. Too much caffeine can have harmful effects in children, and parents shouldn’t take the warning lightly.
According to the AAP, there are many different beverages that contain caffeine, but energy drinks have the most and should never be consumed by kids or adolescents.
John Hill, MD, a Le Bonheur pediatrician, says its effects in kids can include:
- Trouble sleeping
- Difficulty concentrating
- Increased bedwetting at night
- Increased heart rate
- Increased blood pressure
The AAP’s recent report also suggested that families often confuse energy drinks with sports drinks, which are acceptable for active children. The ingredients in the two beverages are very different. While both contain sugar, only sports drinks have the added electrolytes needed sometimes after prolonged exercise, says the AAP. We recently posted information about sports drinks with helpful insight from Le Bonheur’s Director of Clinical Nutrition, Amanda Helton, RN. Refer to that post for more information about sports drinks.
Hill says the message for parents is plain and simple. “Energy drinks are not for children,” says Hill. “They’re not good for them.”
