does your 4-5 yo drink soda?

[Lois]

Trying to keep the board alive here! (LOL) R has developed a fondness for my diet soda...everytime I have one she says "save me some, mommy, save me ALOT!". My older two still do not care for anything carbonated so I haven't had to face the soda question previously. I tend to let her have a few sips or finish off the last bit of my can. I don't want to "forbid" it completely because, well, she sees me drinking it, and it will just increase her "want" even more. We don't really keep any regular/with sugar soda around---should I be giving her the regular stuff instead of diet? (She is of reasonably normal weight, but does have a fondness for sweets and I'm afraid she would REALLY like the real stuff!). I am thinking a small cup for special occasions only maybe? I don't want the caffiene to hype her up or keep her awake either.

[dmbucky7]

Occasionally the boys have some. I buy those smaller cans but only Sprite, Rootbeer, or other non-caffinated sodas (usually the generic kinds though...). If we order in pizza, which isn't very often, we let them have some. Also, if we go out to eat, we allow it as well. A few times, while I've been up going to the restroom or something, the boys will order Dr. Pepper or Coke and dh lets them but they know better than to do that when I'm around Also, we occasionally have movie nights - after Addison goes to bed we will watch a movie, pop popcorn, have a few M&M's (or other candy), and a soda.
So, it's not very often, but they do get the caffiene free soda occasionally.

[LindaG]

No, the few times he has asked for a sip he hasn't liked the bubbles. We don't usually have pop/soda in the house anyway.
I'm sure the odd drink won't do her any harm, even if she does have a sweet tooth.

[GalaxyGirl]

No. Tori will sometimes ask for a sip of my diet ginger ale or DH's diet coke (the only things we have in the house). Jenna doesn't like carbonation and Tori doesn't love it enough.

I don't think an occasional small amount of a diet beverage will hurt her. Jenna likes to steal sips of my Crystal Light.

[KL]

At home, no. Then again DH and I do not drink much soda at home. All soda is kept in the basement fridge so it is out of sight, out of mind. Kaitlin does not like anything carbonated so for her it is a non-issue.
Laine would love to drink it more but with her I can not give her a treat and expect her to understand the limits. Her sweet tooth gets the best of her and she becomes unbearable asking for it over and over.

When they are at the grandparents without me around Laine drinks PEPSI!!! It was supposed to be a secret treat but Laine told me all about it. That girl tells me everything.

If we are out at a restaurant they are allowed to order lemonade, juice, milk or water. If I get a coke or pepsi Laine gets sips of it as a treat.

I am not against it as a treat but I do keep them away from artificial sweeteners (so no diet soda, no crystal light etc). They make me nervous.

[TamiK]

Abigail absolutely HATES it, so no for her.

Caleb...he gets a sip here and there, especially if my Dad is here. MIL & FIL will give him a can of Pepsi! He does like it very much and will ask for it, but we rarely have it here.

[KTJ]

Joe loves my Diet Coke and always wants sips of it. We don't let him have his own sodas but he definitely tries to swipe mine!! Charlotte likes the Crystal Light lemonade but I don't give it to her often. (Maybe less than once/week.) Campbell has no interest in any of it.
I don't know that all the sugar that mine get in their apple juice is any better for them than the artificial sweeteners.

[LostAngel212]

yes more then he should but I have stopped buying it alot and only buy it once in a while~

[nygal]

I don't mean to be rude, but I feel pretty strongly about this one. I think you should break yourself of the habit and save her from developing it. Soda is really a horrible thing to put into our bodies! Yes, I drink it once in a while - regular only, would not put the chemicals of diet soda into my body - but NO I wouldn't and haven't and won't let my little guy drink it. If he comes across it at a party and wants to taste it, the answer is "No, this isn't a drink for kids." Same answer he'd get if it were scotch or vodka, you know?

To me, diet soda and smoking are about the same thing - I wouldn't do either in front of my child for fear they'd develop the habit.