Kids always want to be like their parents, so it’s no surprise they want a drink from Starbucks just like the adults.
But if you don’t want to give your kids coffee, what do you do when they’re tagging along for a Starbucks run and ask for a drink of their own?
You reference this article.
We’ve combed the internet for the most popular kid drinks at Starbucks, so your children will have a variety of drinks to choose from the next time they head to Starbucks with you.
Keep reading to learn which drinks kids should avoid and how to order the beverages that are perfect for them.
Is a Frappuccino kid-friendly?
A Frappuccino from Starbucks can be similar to a milkshake, so it tends to be a fan favorite among kids. That said, some Frappuccinos are made with a coffee base, making them unsuitable for children.
Frappuccinos made with a coffee base include the Mocha Cookie Crumble, Caramel Ribbon Crunch, Espresso, Coffee, Caffe Vanilla, Caramel, Mocha, Java Chip, and White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccinos.
On the other hand, Starbucks also makes Frappuccinos with a creme base, making them kid friendly. Currently, Starbucks offers the following creme-based Frappuccinos.
Chocolate Cookie Crumble Frappuccino
This Frappuccino starts with a base of milk and ice blended with mocha sauce and Frappuccino chips before being topped with whipped cream, mocha drizzle, and cookie crumble.
Caramel Ribbon Crunch Creme Frappuccino
This drink begins with a base of milk and ice before it’s blended with buttery caramel syrup.
The Frappuccino then gets topped with dark caramel syrup, whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and caramel sugar topping.
Strawberry Creme Frappuccino
The Strawberry Creme Frappuccino starts with a base of milk and ice blended with strawberry puree before it’s topped with a splash of strawberry puree and whipped creme.
Double Chocolaty Chip Cookie Frappuccino
This Frappuccino has a base of milk and ice blended with a rich mocha-flavored sauce and chocolate chips. It’s then topped with whipped creme and mocha drizzle.
Vanilla Bean Creme Frappuccino
The Vanilla Bean Creme Frappuccino is one of the more basic Frappuccinos on the menu.
The drink’s base consists of milk and ice and is blended with vanilla bean powder. Like all other Frappuccinos, it’s also topped with whipped cream.
White Chocolate Creme Frappuccino
The White Chocolate Creme Frappuccino consists of blended ice, milk, and white chocolate sauce and is topped with whipped cream.
Pumpkin Spice Creme Frappuccino (Seasonal)
The Pumpkin Spice Creme Frappuccino is part of Starbucks’ seasonal fall menu and is the perfect drink for kids who want a festive fall drink.
This drink has a base of milk, ice, and pumpkin spice and is topped with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spice.
Apple Crisp Oatmilk Creme Frappuccino (Seasonal)
Like the Pumpkin Spice Creme Frappuccino, the Apple Crisp Oatmilk Creme Frappuccino is part of Starbucks’ seasonal fall menu.
It consists of a base of milk, ice, apple spice, brown sugar, and cinnamon. It’s topped with whipped cream and spiced apple drizzle.
If you’re ever unsure which Frappuccinos have a coffee base or a creme base, double-check with your barista when ordering.
Can 12-year-olds drink coffee?
All this talk about coffee-based drinks versus creme-based drinks begs the question, can children drink caffeine?
There are no federal regulations regarding children consuming caffeine, but the American Academy of Pediatrics advises against children drinking caffeine.
That said, this advisory is regarding children 12 years of age and younger. Studies show that one cup of coffee a day for children over the age of 12 is perfectly safe.
While the American Academy of Pediatrics provides some guidelines to follow, it’s ultimately up to you as a parent to decide when your child can begin drinking coffee.
If you decide your kid is too young for caffeine, make sure you double-check with your barista that the drink you’re ordering for them is caffeine free.
Drinks like Refreshers seem like a good option for kids, but there are actually 35 milligrams of caffeine in a tall Refresher!
Which Starbucks drink do kids love best?
Ultimately the Starbucks drink your kid likes the best can only be determined by them, but we have collected a few all-star drinks your kids are sure to love.
Hot Chocolate
It’s hard to go wrong with a classic drink like hot chocolate. Starbucks makes its hot chocolate with steamed 2% milk, two pumps of mocha sauce, and whipped cream.
When you order this drink, make sure you ask your barista to make your drink “kid temp” to ensure it’s not too hot.
White Hot Chocolate
A close second to the classic hot chocolate is the white hot chocolate. This drink is made with steamed 2% milk, two pumps of white chocolate mocha sauce, and whipped cream.
Steamers
Steamers are similar to hot chocolate, but instead, they’re steamed milk with any flavor syrup added.
Popular flavors are vanilla or caramel, but they can be customized however you like them.
Again, when you order a Steamer, make sure to ask your barista to make it “kid temp” to ensure it’s the perfect temperature for your child to enjoy right away.
Babyccino
You won’t find a Babyccino on the Starbucks menu, but it’s simple enough to explain to your barista when you order. To order a babyccino, ask for steamed milk with extra foam in a short-size cup topped with cinnamon or cocoa powder.
The Babyccino gets its name from its similarity to the popular cappuccino, the only difference being, the Babyccino has no espresso.
Strawberry Lemonade
You can always get a lemonade at Starbucks, but to make it a Strawberry Lemonade, ask your barista to add a scoop of strawberry puree.
Blended Strawberry Lemonade
The Blended Strawberry Lemonade is a great choice if your kid loves strawberry lemonade but wants something a bit more refreshing. This drink is made up of strawberry lemonade blended with ice.
Pink Drink
The Pink Drink took over social media a few years ago, so there’s a good chance your kid has already asked for it during one of your Starbucks runs.
If you order this drink right off the menu, it’s made as a Starbucks refresher, which has caffeine. To make it kid-friendly, ask your barista for iced coconut milk and strawberries.
What are the healthiest Starbucks drinks for kids?
Kid-friendly Starbucks drinks don’t necessarily mean they’re healthy. While you don’t have to watch out for caffeine, many Starbucks drinks are high in sugar content and calories. If you’re looking for a healthy Starbucks drink, it’s best to avoid Frappuccinos or opt to get them without the added whipped cream.
If you want something a little bit healthier for your kids, check out one of the following drinks.
Steamers
Steamers are a great healthy option for kids because they are highly customizable – they’re only steamed milk and flavored syrup.
A Vanilla Steamer made with whole milk will have roughly 180 calories and 19 grams of sugar. If you want something a bit healthier, you can opt for a non-dairy option or ask to reduce the number of pumps of vanilla syrup.
Steamed Apple Juice
Apple juice has a fair amount of sugar, but compared to other drinks on the Starbucks menu, it’s a healthier option when your kids want a little treat.
Steamed Apple juice in an 8-ounce kid-size cup has about 120 calories and 27 grams of sugar.
Lemonade
Like apple juice, lemonade can have a fair amount of sugar, but it’s a summer classic. A 12-ounce child’s size lemonade at Starbucks has about 120 calories and 21 grams of sugar.
Iced Passion Tango Tea Lemonade
If your kid loves lemonade, but you’re looking for something with a bit less sugar, check out an Iced Passion Tango Tea Lemonade.
This drink is a combination of lemonade and water infused with a passion tango tea blend. A 12-ounce kid’s size drink delivers about 35 calories and only 8 grams of sugar.
Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk
An Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk is a shaken espresso without the espresso. Instead, it’s made with oat milk, brown sugar syrup, and a dash of cinnamon. This drink contains about 100 calories and 12 grams of sugar.
Iced Strawberry Milk
If you’re looking for a healthy kid-friendly drink, you can’t go wrong with ice-cold milk. Ask your barista to include strawberry puree or blend it with ice to make frozen Iced Strawberry Milk.
Infused Water
An infused water is possibly the healthiest entry on this list because it’s low in calories and sugar content. Simply ask your barista for iced water with your favorite freeze-dried fruit option. A popular option is ice water with strawberry pieces.
How do I order a kid’s drink at Starbucks?
Ordering at Starbucks can be confusing, and it can be even more confusing when you’re ordering for one of your kids.
Luckily for you, we have a few tips to make ordering your kid-friendly drinks at Starbucks that much easier.
Choose a smaller size
Many people think a tall drink is the smallest size you can get at Starbucks, but you can actually order one size smaller for hot drinks.
If you have a younger child that won’t be able to finish a tall (12 ounces), order their drink in a short size (8 ounces).
Ask for kid-temp
A typical hot drink at Starbucks is served at 160 degrees Fahrenheit, and if you drink your coffee hot, you’re no stranger to how hot that first sip can be. Adults know to wait a little bit for their coffee to cool down, but a kid might not have that patience.
When you order a hot drink for your child, make sure to ask your barista to make it “kid-temp.” This means the drink will be served at 130 degrees Fahrenheit and is perfect for your child to enjoy right away.
Know which drinks have caffeine and which don’t
Starbucks doesn’t have a specific kid’s menu, so it can be difficult to determine which drinks have caffeine and which don’t.
All the drinks we’ve mentioned in this article are coffee-free, but if you’re still unsure, ask your barista before you place your order.
Tell the barista it’s for a kid
If all else fails, tell your barista the drink you’re ordering is for a child. By making it clear you’re trying to order a kid-friendly drink, your barista can make suggestions and steer you away from the drinks with heavy coffee.
They also might suggest a drink that didn’t make it onto this list!
Happy Caffeinating!
