Coffee has always been a crowd favorite drink among all age groups. But we all know that caffeine has a different effect on everyone. Doctors often express how young kids and teens should be careful about caffeine but new guidelines regarding this set a firm boundary when it comes to teen health and caffeine. Health experts, working with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, have new advice on healthy drinks for kids and teens in the age group of 5-18. The guidelines say that water and milk are the best drinks for them. They want kids to get into good drinking habits early so they can stay healthy. They're also worried about kids drinking too many sugary and caffeinated drinks. This new guide helps parents know what's good for their kids to drink.

How Did Caffeine Become So Popular Among Teens?

The new guidelines are especially relevant because caffeinated drinks have become increasingly popular among teenagers. Coffee shops, like Starbucks, are popular hangouts for teens, and energy drinks, often packed with caffeine and promoted by social media influencers, are widely available. And a very popular theme on social media is coffee, people enjoy having different varieties of it, making to a very affordable and trendy thing to enjoy! There are accounts dedicated to coffee consumption and often kids and teens partake in these trends.

A recent poll by the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital found that nearly a quarter of parents say their teens consume caffeine almost every day. The most common sources are sodas, followed by coffee and tea, and then energy drinks. Even chocolate contributes to caffeine intake. The amount of kids who consume coffee raises concerns about the potential health effects of caffeine on young people, whose bodies and brains are still developing. The easy access to these beverages and the marketing strategies targeting young audiences contribute to the problem.

Could The Lack Of Guidelines Be A Reason?

Right now, there aren't any official rules about how much caffeine kids can have. This makes it hard for parents and doctors to know what to tell kids about caffeine. The new report tries to fix this by giving some advice based on research. Experts are worried about how caffeine affects kids' sleep, mood, and health. Kids are more sensitive to caffeine than adults. Caffeine can keep them awake, make them anxious, and might even affect their hearts. Because there aren't any rules, it's important to have experts telling us what's safe.

How Caffeine Affects Kids

Caffeine is something that makes your body speed up. Adults can usually handle some caffeine, but it's different for kids and teens. Their bodies are smaller, and their brains are still growing, so caffeine can affect them more. It can make it hard for them to sleep, make them nervous, and even give them headaches or stomachaches. It can also raise their blood pressure and heart rate. Caffeine can also change their mood, making them cranky or unable to focus. We don't know all the ways caffeine affects kids in the long run, and that's another reason to be careful.

The report says that plain water and plain milk are the healthiest drinks for kids and teens. They say it's okay to have a little bit of 100% juice, plant-based milk, or flavored milk, but not too much. They also say kids should stay away from sugary drinks like soda, sports drinks, and lemonade. And, very importantly, they shouldn't drink caffeinated drinks or other things that give you a jolt. This advice is based on what we know about how these drinks affect kids' health. Sugary drinks can cause weight gain and other problems, and caffeine can mess with sleep and other things.

A healthy childhood begins with timely protection, and vaccination remains one of the most effective ways to keep children safe from serious, sometimes life-threatening diseases. With updated recommendations for 2026, parents are being urged to take a fresh look at their child’s immunization schedule and ensure that no essential dose is missed.

“Parents often think of vaccines as optional or something that can be delayed, but infections do not wait,” says Dr Nishant Bansal, Consultant Pediatrician and Neonatologist at Motherhood Hospitals, Noida. “Vaccination at the right age gives a child the best possible start and prevents complications that we still see far too often in hospitals.”

Children’s immune systems are still developing, which makes them more vulnerable to infections. Vaccines work by training the immune system to recognize and fight germs without causing the disease itself. This reduces the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, long-term complications, and even school absenteeism. On a larger level, widespread vaccination protects newborns, elderly family members, and children with weaker immunity by limiting the spread of infections.

Vaccines Recommended for All Children in 2026

According to Dr Bansal, the 2026 vaccine list continues to focus on preventing both long-standing and emerging health threats. He explains that these vaccines are backed by years of research and real-world evidence showing their effectiveness and safety.

Some of the key vaccines recommended for children include:

Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP or Tdap): These protect against serious bacterial infections, including whooping cough, which can be life-threatening for infants.

Polio (IPV): Prevents paralysis caused by poliovirus and remains crucial despite India being polio-free.

Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR): Protects against highly contagious viral illnesses that can lead to complications like hearing loss, brain inflammation, and pregnancy-related risks later in life.

Chickenpox (Varicella): Prevents painful blisters and reduces the risk of severe skin infections and pneumonia.

Hemophilus influenzae type b (Hib): Offers protection against meningitis and pneumonia, especially in young children.

Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV): Helps prevent pneumonia, meningitis, and serious bloodstream infections.

Hepatitis A and B: Protect the liver from viral infections that can lead to chronic disease.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV): Recommended for older children and adolescents to protect against cancers linked to HPV later in life.

Meningococcal vaccines (MenACWY and MenB): Recommended starting at 9 months and 1 year, though they can be given later as well, to prevent serious brain and blood infections.

Rotavirus, Influenza (Flu), and COVID-19 vaccines: These continue to be important in reducing severe disease, hospitalization, and complications.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV): Especially recommended for infants at higher risk of severe infection.

“Each of these vaccines has a role,” Dr Bansal explains. “Some prevent infections that spread very fast, while others protect against diseases that cause long-term damage. Together, they form a safety net for the child.”

The Importance of Follow-Ups and Booster Doses

One common misconception among parents is that skipping or delaying vaccines is harmless. Dr Bansal strongly disagrees. “Missing follow-up doses can weaken the protection a vaccine offers,” he says. “Some vaccines need multiple doses to build strong and lasting immunity, while booster shots help maintain that protection as the child grows.”

He adds that parents should not panic if a dose is missed. “In most cases, the schedule does not need to be restarted. A pediatrician can guide you on when to safely take the next dose.”

How Parents Can Stay on Track

Keeping a vaccination record, setting reminders for upcoming doses, and attending scheduled follow-up visits are simple but effective steps. Dr Bansal advises parents to have an open discussion with their child’s doctor and get a vaccination schedule tailored to the child’s age, health, and risk factors.

“Vaccination is not just about preventing illness,” he says. “It is about giving children the freedom to grow, learn, and thrive without avoidable health setbacks.”

As 2026 approaches, experts urge parents to prioritize immunization and make informed decisions. A timely visit to your pediatrician and adherence to the recommended schedule can go a long way in keeping your child, and the community, healthy and protected.

Parenting expert Bethany Braun-Silva in a conversation with ABC News says that 2025 was the banner year for gentle parenting, but the tide is shifting now. However, she notes, "parents are understanding now that emotional awareness and empathy is as important as setting firm boundaries and parental expectations." This is why 2026 is now becoming a year when there is a shift away from gentle parenting. She notes that gentle parenting actually stands for firm boundaries, however, "some people rode that 'gentle' train too seriously".

An article by Mother.ly notes that critics often argue that gentle parenting often blurs the line between kindness and permissiveness. It argues that this leaves parents at the risk of being seen as pushovers. In fact, new research shows that it is the Gen Z parents who are moving away form "gentle parenting".

What Is The New FAFO Parenting Style Gen Z Moms And Dad Are Switching Too?

Another Wall Street Journal piece notes that more and more parents are now embracing FAFO, which is short for F-Around and Find Out. What does it mean? The idea is that parents can ask and warn their children, but if the child breaks the rules, parents cannot stand in the line of repercussions. "Won’t bring your raincoat? Walk home in the downpour. Didn’t feel like having lasagna for dinner? Survive until breakfast. Left your toy on the floor again? Go find it in the trash under the lasagna you didn’t eat," notes the WSJ.

Parenting styles that emphasized minimal discipline have shaped child-rearing over the past few decades. Critics now argue that this approach has contributed to some of Gen Z’s struggles in adulthood. They point to surveys showing young adults grappling with workplace relationships and rising anxiety and depression, questioning whether constant parental intervention and a reluctance to say “no” played a role.

For parents who have spent years trying to balance emotional support without tipping into permissiveness, FAFO can feel refreshingly straightforward.

What Is Wrong With Gentle Parenting?

The argument is that gentle parenting puts a lot of pressure on parents, and promote unrealistic expectations. Emily Edlynn, a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in pediatric health psychologist writes for Psychology Today, that gentle parenting "adds stress to parenting that we don’t need. Higher stress undoubtedly impacts our relationship with our child in a negative way, more so than having our authentic moments of being human".

She argues that it is okay for parents to show frustration with a child who has asked the same question for the seventeenth time because the child did not like the answer. She says that expressing is better than holding all the frustration in. In fact this shows a natural demonstration of feelings and teaches the child to be expressive too.

Gentle parenting discussions often blur the line between punishment and discipline. Decades of research show that behavioral tools are not inherently punitive and can be an effective part of discipline. Discipline is meant to teach, while punishment is not. It is possible to combine emotional connection with clear consequences.

A habit that all parents hate could improve children's mental health. What is this? A new study published in The Journal of Affective Disorders is challenging one of the most common weekend arguments between parents and teenagers. Letting teens sleep in on weekends, something many parents see as laziness or poor discipline, may actually protect their mental health and lower the risk of depression.

The research was conducted by scientists from the University of Oregon and the State University of New York Upstate Medical University. They analyzed data from more than 1,000 young people between the ages of 16 and 24. Participants reported their usual sleep and wake times during the week and on weekends, including how much extra sleep they got by sleeping in on non-school days.

What Did The Study Find?

The findings were striking. Teens and young adults who allowed themselves to catch up on sleep over the weekend were significantly less likely to report symptoms of depression. In fact, those who slept in had a 41 per cent lower risk of depression compared to peers who stuck to the same early wake-up routine even on weekends.

This may sound counterintuitive to parents who believe that waking up early every day builds discipline and mental toughness. But researchers say adolescent biology tells a very different story. During puberty, the body’s internal clock shifts, making teens naturally inclined to fall asleep later at night and wake up later in the morning.

“Instead of being a morning lark, you’re going to become more of a night owl,” Melynda Casement, associate professor at the University of Oregon and co-author of the study, explained in a conversation with ScienceDaily. She added that this shift toward later bedtimes often lasts until around the ages of 18 to 20 before gradually stabilizing.

Why Does This Problem Arise?

The problem is that school schedules and daily responsibilities do not adapt to this biological change. Early school start times, homework, coaching classes, extracurricular activities, social commitments and even part-time jobs mean many teens are forced to wake up before their bodies are ready. Over time, this leads to what experts call “sleep debt”.

Casement points out that teenagers ideally need eight to ten hours of sleep each night, but most fail to get enough during the week. This chronic sleep deprivation has been closely linked to low mood, emotional regulation issues and a higher risk of depression. Weekend sleep, she says, can help offset some of that damage.

“It’s normal for teens to be night owls,” Casement notes. Allowing them to catch up on sleep over the weekend, especially when weekday schedules make adequate rest impossible, may offer meaningful mental health protection.

The study adds to a growing body of evidence supporting this idea. A 2025 meta-analysis of 10 studies found that weekend catch-up sleep was associated with a 20 per cent lower risk of depression. Taken together, the research suggests that sleeping in is not simply teenage rebellion or laziness, but a coping mechanism for an exhausting weekly routine.

At a time when concerns about adolescent mental health are rising globally, those extra hours of weekend sleep may be doing more good than parents realize. Sometimes, letting your teen sleep in might be one battle worth losing.