Can Babies Drink Tea? At What Age Is It Safe?

Babies do not need tea, and most pediatric guidance says to wait until about 6 months, when breast milk or formula should still be the main drink. After 6 months, a few small sips of plain, caffeine-free herbal tea may be offered, ideally after you check with your pediatrician.

When can babies have tea?

Most pediatric guidance says babies do not need tea before 6 months, when breast milk or formula should be their only drink. After 6 months, small sips of caffeine-free herbal tea may be offered in an open cup, ideally after checking with your pediatrician.

The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that breast milk or formula meets a baby's needs for roughly the first six months, with small sips of water introduced alongside solid foods after that. Because tea fills little tummies without adding nutrition, it can crowd out the milk a young baby needs to grow. Solid Starts, a pediatric feeding resource, also notes that plain herbal tea is optional rather than necessary once solids begin.

Can babies drink tea at 8 months?

At 8 or 9 months, a few small sips of plain, caffeine-free herbal tea such as chamomile or fennel is generally considered fine for healthy babies, served lukewarm with no honey or sugar. Tea should never replace breast milk, formula, or meals.

Keep portions tiny, about a few sips up to an ounce or two, unless your pediatrician says otherwise. Offer it in an open cup or a straw cup so your baby practices drinking skills, and always sit with your baby while they drink. If this is the first time your baby has tried a particular herb, wait a few days before adding another so you can spot any reaction. Chamomile belongs to the daisy family, and the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health notes that people allergic to related plants such as ragweed may react to it.

Is tea good for babies?

Tea is not necessary for a baby's nutrition, so it is optional rather than good or bad. Breast milk or formula supplies what babies need. Some families use mild herbal tea as a calming evening ritual, but it adds no required nutrients.

It helps to think of tea as a small extra, like a taste experience, and not as a source of nourishment. Regular black and green tea are a different matter, since they contain caffeine and tannins that can interfere with iron absorption, which matters because babies need plenty of iron as their stores from birth run low around 6 months.

What kinds of tea should babies avoid?

Avoid black, green, white, oolong and matcha tea because they contain caffeine. Also skip sweetened tea, tea with honey before 12 months, and any herbal blend your pediatrician has not cleared. Tannins in regular tea can also interfere with iron absorption.

Honey is not safe for babies under 12 months because of the risk of infant botulism, a warning the AAP and CDC both give. Flavored blends for adults often contain extra herbs such as licorice, hibiscus or strong mints, so read the ingredient list and choose a simple single-herb or baby-specific tea. Never use tea in place of oral rehydration fluids when a baby has diarrhea or vomiting.

How do you make tea for a baby?

Steep one bag in hot water, let it cool until lukewarm, and offer only a few sips, up to an ounce or two, in an open cup after a milk feed. Never serve hot tea, and never add honey or sugar.

Test the temperature on your wrist first. Make a fresh cup each time rather than storing it, because brewed tea can grow bacteria within hours. Use filtered water, and skip tea bags with staples or string tags that a curious hand could pull off.

What about herbal teas made for babies?

Baby-specific herbal teas are made from gentle, caffeine-free herbs like chamomile and fennel, which are traditionally used to support digestive comfort. They are meant for babies who are old enough, so check the age on the label and with your pediatrician.

Many parents who have talked it over with their pediatrician rely on our Babies Magic Tea, a USDA Organic, caffeine-free blend made for little tummies, or the single-herb Baby Catnip Tea. Neither replaces milk feeds or medical advice. For herb-by-herb detail, read our guides to whether chamomile tea is safe for newborns, catnip tea for babies and catnip and fennel drops for infants. If you are still deciding on gripe water, see when you can give a baby gripe water. For more everyday support, visit our new parent guide, baby colic relief page and the Secrets of Tea wellness guide.

When should you see a professional about giving your baby tea?

Talk to your pediatrician before giving any tea to a baby under 6 months, and call right away for fever, repeated vomiting, a swollen belly, hives, trouble breathing or fewer wet diapers than usual. Tea is never a substitute for medical care.

Crying that lasts for hours may be colic, but it can also signal reflux, an allergy or illness, so a check-up is worth it. Our article on how long colic lasts explains what is typical. Sources named above: the American Academy of Pediatrics, the CDC, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, and Solid Starts.

This article is for general educational purposes and is not medical advice. Secrets of Tea products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement.