Sometimes the coffee run includes a small passenger who wants “a drink like yours.” Fair enough. Starbucks has a few drinks that work for kids, but several of the kid-looking ones contain caffeine, and most pack more sugar than you would guess. (For what kids should drink day to day, see our healthy drinks guide.)
Easy kid-friendly orders
- Kids’ hot chocolate. Ask for it at “kids’ temperature” so it is warm, not hot. A short (8 oz) is plenty, and you can ask for fewer pumps of mocha to cut the sugar.
- Steamed milk. Plain steamed milk in a short cup feels like a grown-up drink. Add a single pump of vanilla if they want it sweet. Some locations call the vanilla version a “Vanilla Crème.”
- A “babyccino.” Not on the menu everywhere, but many baristas will pour a little frothed milk into a small cup. Ask nicely and tip.
- Milk or juice boxes from the cooler. Usually the simplest choice with the least added sugar.
One detail for the under-twos: Starbucks makes its steamed milk and hot chocolate with 2% milk unless you ask. If your pediatrician wants your toddler on whole milk, just say “with whole milk” when you order. It costs nothing extra, and the baristas swap milks all day.
Watch out for hidden caffeine
These look harmless but are not caffeine-free:
- Refreshers, including the Pink Drink and Dragon Drink. The base contains green coffee extract, which means caffeine.
- Anything with “chai,” “matcha” or “tea” in the name. These contain caffeine unless it is specifically an herbal tea.
- Frappuccinos that are not “Crème.” Regular Frappuccinos contain coffee. The Crème versions are made without coffee, but some flavors with chocolate still have a small amount of caffeine.
If you are unsure, ask the barista “Does this have caffeine?” They get the question all day.
Keep the sugar sensible
Starbucks drinks for kids can easily match a can of soda in sugar. What we do:
- Order the smallest size. Short or tall instead of grande.
- Ask for fewer pumps. One or two pumps of syrup instead of the default.
- Skip the whipped cream and drizzle. Kids rarely notice once the drink is in their hands.
- Keep it occasional. In our house it’s a Saturday thing.
Our go-to order
For toddlers and preschoolers: a short steamed milk at kids’ temperature with one pump of vanilla. It is warm, a little sweet, mostly milk, and they get to hold a cup like ours. It also has no caffeine, which matters at 4 pm.
