How much caffeine is too much for kids?
As of right now, health experts in the United States say there is no recommended daily limit for caffeine consumption for children.
Some in the medical field are suggesting an age restriction for kids and caffeinated beverages.

The Kaufmans say they are just your typical American Family.
But when it comes to what their four kids can drink any type of caffeinated beverage is out of the picture.

I've had people say how do you get your kids to say not to drink it.
Well, you just don't buy it for one and then talk to them about how bad it is," says Tim Kaufman.

Since they've never had it, it's really been pretty easy if you ask are oldest who will be thirteen she will say I have never had it.

Inside the Kaufman's refrigerator you can find a myriad of healthy food and drinks...from grapes to milk.
O–S–F Saint Francis Medical Center's Dietician Kelly Collet says there aren't any official recommendations about kids and caffiene..

"The problem is there are no set guidelines right now in the United States with how much caffeine children should have, so therefore it's a good idea to keep it to a minimum," says Kelly Collet.

Dr. Tim Kaufman and his wife say there are no minimums...the only exception to the rules in their house maybe during this family board game time.
And they reiterate the no caffeine policy by practicing what they preach.

"I've totally cut it out also because I felt a little hypocritical having a coke at the movies theater when the kids are drinking water," says Melinda Kaufman.
"Hopefully our influence and our example are really good.
I don't think at any age caffeine is good for you", says Tim Kaufman.

"Recently its became a big thing that teenagers and younger children are drinking more of these beverages that have caffeine.
So now we are realizing that maybe this is something that needs to be looked at a little more especially the long–term affects it can have," says Kelly Collet.

Melinda Kaufman says about two years ago she paid a price when she cut caffeinated drinks out of her life and doesn't want her kids to suffer the way she did.
"I was really sick for about three days and I don't get headaches and for about a day and a half I had such a severe headache that I could barely get out of bed."

Collet says those are just some of the side affects adults and kids can experience from excessive caffeine consumption.
"It can cause headaches stomachaches it can make them more irritable, difficulty concentrating."

Dr. Kaufman is not just concerned about kids' and caffeine.
"We have enough behavioral problems things like that and health concerns and then we dump caffeine on top of it that's a problem."

"They are finding that even as little as 200 milligrams and less can have some affect on children the lower the bodies weight the more kind of punch the effects can have," says Kelly Collet.

You might think of caffeine as just coffee and soda.
The Kaufmans say their children will occasionally consume candy, which is usually also caffeinated.
"After Halloween for example or after Valentines Day they'll have their two days even maybe have a piece in their lunch box or something then after that we are done," says Melinda Kaufman.

While Collet applauds the Kaufman's efforts, she says exposing your kids to caffeinated beverages at a certain age is okay...just not too much.
"You can have a soda here and there around the age of ten or so but again trying to instill in them that this is an occasion versus an everyday thing."

Collet won't have to worry about the Kaufman family going caffeine overboard.
In their house the no caffeinated beverage will see the light of day in their refrigerator.