This seems to be more about **caffeine** than coffee.

In 2008, due to [this study][1] that suggested that **caffeine intake during pregnancy could increase the risk of fetal growth restriction**, the **"UK Government's Food Standards Agency"** issued [new advice to pregnant women on daily caffeine consumption][2]:

> **Pregnant women are being advised to
> limit their daily caffeine intake,
> ideally keeping this below 200mg a day**
> (previously it was 300mg). This is
> roughly two mugs of coffee a day,
> although caffeine is also present in
> tea, chocolate, some soft drinks, and
> certain medicines.

...

> **Too much caffeine might result in a
> baby having a lower birth weight than
> it should**, which can increase the risk
> of some health conditions for the baby
> in later life, or could possibly
> result in spontaneous miscarriage.

...

> **We would emphasise that the risks are
> likely to be very small** and believe
> our new advice, which is based on new
> research and has been considered by
> leading independent scientists, is
> sensible and proportionate.


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Caffeine isn't just in coffee, it can also be found in (ice-)tea, soft and energy drinks, cocoa and even chocolate. I'd guess these sources for caffeine are more common for children than coffee.

[Here][4] is a list of caffeinated beverages (including the amount of caffeine in it).


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[BabyCenter][3] has this to say:

> No. Caffeine has plenty of undesirable
> effects, but interfering with a
> child's growth isn't one of them.
> 
> The United States hasn't established
> recommended limits for kids' caffeine
> consumption. In Canada, it's
> recommended that kids ages 4 to 6 get
> no more than 45 mg a day, kids ages 7
> to 9 get no more than 62.5 mg, and
> kids ages 10 to 12 get no more than 85
> mg.


  [1]: http://www.bmj.com/content/337/bmj.a2332
  [2]: http://www.food.gov.uk/news/pressreleases/2008/nov/caffeineadvice
  [3]: http://www.babycenter.com/404_is-it-true-that-caffeine-can-stunt-a-childs-growth_10310763.bc
  [4]: http://www.energyfiend.com/the-caffeine-database