It is generally recommended to avoid giving tonic water to children due to the presence of quinine.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
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Quinine Content: Tonic water contains quinine, a medication historically used to treat malaria.
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Potential Risks: The reference states, "Avoid giving your child foods or drinks that have quinine, such as tonic water" and specifically mentions a risk of low blood sugar. Low blood sugar can be particularly dangerous for children.
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Diabetes Consideration: For children with diabetes, quinine can further complicate blood sugar management, as indicated by the reference: "If your child has high blood sugar (diabetes), you will need to watch your child's blood sugar closely." This suggests that careful monitoring would be needed, and avoiding quinine altogether is the more prudent approach.
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Alternative Drinks: There are many other safe and healthy beverage options for children, such as water, juice (in moderation), and milk.
In conclusion, because tonic water contains quinine and poses potential risks to children, it's best to avoid giving it to them.
