Pageant Mom Gives 6-Year-Old Caffeinated Energy Drink: OK or Irresponsible?

by Good Morning America Posted February 08, 2012 13:19:42

Related Topics: Toddlers And Tiaras, Pageants, Beauty Pageants, Mom, Drink, Energy Drinks, Health, Alana Thompson, Lifestyle, Red Bull, Mountain Dew, Go Go Juice, Honey Boo Boo

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	I think it’s OK in moderation.	3,160 votes	8%
	I think it’s irresponsible.	36,273 votes	92%

A "Toddlers and Tiaras" pageant mom recently went under fire for giving her 6-year-old daughter, Alana Thompson, a mixture of Mountain Dew and Red Bull (a.k.a. "Go Go Juice") in order for her to stay awake and alert during beauty competitions. Is it okay or irresponsible?

+46

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Adam Julian February 09, 2012 18:12:50

I think it’s irresponsible.

+22
Pageant moms should be in jail and the show should be cancelled.
>> See Replies

Jayfeather February 28, 2012 22:35:42

I think it’s irresponsible.

Caffeinated energy drinks are terrible for ADULTS. Imagine how bad they are for kids.

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rocko February 23, 2012 22:10:46

I think it’s OK in moderation.

92% of a judgmental society that I would bet more than half has given their kid some sort of caffeine before the age of six. Almost anything is ok in moderation and it is not up to any one person to judge the moderation of another. I know what Caffeine and a lot of forms of candy and sugar do to a child. I raised 2 children but that does not mean I let them live on it. And I am glad no one video taped me slipping my 9 year old son two mountain dews before his tournament baseball game final. Actually back then I probably would have bought him a 5 hour energy drink so he didn't have to pee in the 3 and 7th innings. :-) Damn the two year old grandchild just grabbed my espresso gotta go!!

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captainquiggle February 13, 2012 19:04:45

I think it’s irresponsible.

There's way more with that mother than her giving a kid some caffeine drink before a pageant.

"dollas make me holla" is a VERY telling statement from a 6-year-old to me. It's just seriously disgusting to me that this girl isn't alone in this insanity. :(

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~Anne's Soldier girls Veron... February 13, 2012 18:25:42

I think it’s irresponsible.

Caffeine can have a very negative impact on liver function in children.

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rocko to ~Anne's... February 23, 2012 23:34:57

True, but so can the thousands of over the counter remedies we give our kids everyday. Read the small print on children's Tylenol. God forbid you accidentally gave them two tablespoons instead of one or dosed them at 3 hours instead of four. Just don't video tape it.

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~Anne's... to rocko February 24, 2012 22:09:04

I agree but I'm going to make a foolish assumption (alway a risk) and say that *most* parents don't dose thier children with these medications regularly or to boost their performance. My brother was premature and had episodes of apnea (failure to breathe) and was given caffeine concentate (by perscription which was especially mixed at the pharmacy based on his MD orders calculated by his weight) so that he did not get into the deep stages of sleep where his brain forgot to tell him to breathe. He had to have weekly blood tests to monitor his liver functions to be sure he did not go into liver failure from the meds. Forunately, he outgrew the problem before he was a year old. at least enough that he did not need the medication.

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unaff February 13, 2012 18:13:02

I think it’s irresponsible.

+1
Kids don't need this stuff. The best prescription against lack of energy is more sleep, especially for kids.

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rocko to unaff February 23, 2012 23:26:15

Who decides what our kids need? You unaff, The Government, The Doctor, The Priest, The Neighbor, The Police(no not the band) or just maybe The Parent(s)? I will agree that the real remedy for a tired child is more sleep. But the real remedy for a judgmental society is to Love thy Neighbor, so sleep on that one.

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unaff to rocko February 24, 2012 15:29:47

Kids aren't allowed to have alcohol or tobacco either. Too bad the government and the doctors have decided that as well? We preach the evils of Marijuana and these other items to our kids, but then accept some of the other poisons we feed them. Nothing in my post stated that I wanted to legislate against this practice. I'm allowed to say it's irresponsible, but that's as far as it goes. Seems like someone is being judgmental as well.

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cm February 13, 2012 17:52:12

I think it’s irresponsible.

child abuse

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rocko to cm February 23, 2012 23:26:59

Not so much.

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Resp February 13, 2012 17:47:04

I think it’s irresponsible.

I cannot imagine any 6-year-old not having enough energy to begin with. The mother should be arrested.

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rocko to Resp February 23, 2012 23:14:02

Have you ever had a six year old? They may choose to sleep at almost anytime. Especially when we need them to be up. Plus I could see the jail overflow now when we start arresting every parent that gives their kid a Mountain Dew!! Mall Police Get ready!!

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Resp to rocko February 24, 2012 17:55:54 (edited)

Not just Mountain Dew but a "spiked" Mountain Dew. The question was about "Energy Drinks" like Red Bull. There is a difference. You sound like you've been drinking.

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Bunk11 February 13, 2012 17:28:47

I think it’s OK in moderation.

I have a much bigger problem with the woman entering her daughter in this ridiculous competition than with giving her an energy drink. My kids had at least small amounts of caffeinated soda at that age and suffered no ill effects. I'm sure I did too. The current fear of caffeine and sugar for kids is overblown.

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Amare Tuga February 13, 2012 16:46:53

I think it’s irresponsible.

any way it is not good men.

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kimmc30 February 13, 2012 16:20:00

I think it’s irresponsible.

This women has lost her mind. My 12 year old always says Mom can I buy an energy drink...And I say "NO" I know how they make me feel, so why would I wont my child to feel like crap after drinking one of these. There are other ways to energize your child. Obviously this mom has no activity because the only time she has any energy is when she uses her coupons at the grocery store...MAYBE THIS MOM SHOULD DRINK THE GO GO JUICE and give her kid fruits that will help her with the energy she needs to make it through the day....Just because 1 pageant mom gives the kid pixie sticks or an Energy Drink does not mean that every pageant mom needs to do it.....Not just because it is bad for kids to have these drinks but because you are your child's parent.

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lmnlme10921 February 13, 2012 16:15:09

I think it’s irresponsible.

Energy drink are filled with so much caffeine that in some places, you can't even buy them until you're 16. I'm not going to sit here and rant saying that energy drinks are bad and can kill you, but I think even the biggest Red Bull junkie could agree that you should be a little older before exposing your body to that type of thing. There are some things that are harder on a child's body than an adult's, and this is one of them. I heard about a ten year old who had an energy drink before a basketball game, and his heart got to beating so fast that it stopped while he was on the court. I guess the question is; is a potential tragedy worth a plastic crown?

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Bubba February 13, 2012 16:02:25

I think it’s irresponsible.

+1
Wow. Just wow.
---
This is from an interview with the mom:
"The go-go juice is just Mountain Dew and just a hint of Red Bull," Shannon explained.

The six-year-old is drinking a soda rich in caffeine and sugar and then it's spiked with a little Red Bull.

Alexander had to ask what was making Alana so energetic during our interview.

"Has she had any go-go juice today?" asked Alexander.

Shannon replied, "Not go-go juice. She just drank plain, a half a thing of Mountain Dew. And this is her, every day, all the time."

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Zelda February 13, 2012 14:53:14

I think it’s OK in moderation.

+1
A doctor once told me that caffeen has the opposite effect on children than it does on adults.

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Bubba to Zelda February 13, 2012 16:00:41

+1
"A doctor once told me..." doesn't sound very reliable.

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Zelda to Bubba February 13, 2012 21:44:48

I knew a child who was being treated for hyperactivity under doctor care with caffeen. It worked

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Bubba to Zelda February 15, 2012 20:05:37

+1
#coolstorybro

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ATM February 13, 2012 13:51:01

I think it’s irresponsible.

there is definitely a different mindset here...the mother looking to make any desperate attempts of riding the childs coattails going forward. the mirrors must all be broken in that house...

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Huntclan February 13, 2012 10:34:14

I think it’s irresponsible.

I think Energy Drinks are a bad idea for most people, let alone children. They may serve a purpose, but not to alter the behavior of a child.

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Rainbow Dash /)^3^(\ February 13, 2012 04:51:53
C.C. February 13, 2012 03:01:50

I think it’s irresponsible.

+1
Children are energetic enough at that age. I hate shows like this, it's promoting bad behavior. The outcome is being famous and earning tons of money? What happened to people actually having talent to become famous?

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StevenM February 13, 2012 02:24:57

I think it’s irresponsible.

+2
do 6 year olds really need MORE energy?!

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Loverofcountry February 13, 2012 02:17:25

I think it’s irresponsible.

Irresponsible!!!

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anonymouschic February 12, 2012 23:53:43

I think it’s irresponsible.

+2
Why is this question even being asked?

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paul February 12, 2012 23:35:15 (edited)

I think it’s OK in moderation.

+3
Nothing wrong with this........The real formula is 2 parts Red Bull, 4 parts Tequila, 2 oz cool aid, 1 shot of expresso and sweeten with sugar to taste.........

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Big O to paul February 13, 2012 03:38:49

+1
And would you give that to a kid?

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paul to Big O February 13, 2012 03:54:35

+1
God Love ya......I'd like to play Poker with you sometime.........lol

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Big O to paul February 13, 2012 05:36:55

+1
Why?

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paul to Big O February 14, 2012 01:19:38 (edited)

Because you don't know when someones Bluffing..........

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sukosaki February 12, 2012 22:38:49

I think it’s irresponsible.

+1
Like the energy drink is the worst thing for this kid? She is featured on "Toddler and Tiaras"!

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Big O February 12, 2012 22:29:05

I think it’s irresponsible.

+2
By the age of 15 she'll have Hillbilly Teeth if thee are any left...

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paul to Big O February 13, 2012 00:47:24

+1

Then she will be featured on "Teens and tin Cans"

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Big O to paul February 13, 2012 03:38:19

Exactly! LOL

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Sam February 12, 2012 22:18:58

I think it’s OK in moderation.

It's not my business weather or not it's responsible. Why can't the kid drink an energy drink ..... Because it makes you hyper or because its bad for you? It's not like it's medication where theirs a warning about dosage use it's a energy drink the kid probably thought she was wonder woman for about an hour.

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