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AIBU?

To be disgusted at the amount of sugar in baby products?

21 replies

MrsCK · 31/03/2015 23:10

I was on a postnatal parenting course where we were shown a tiny bottle of cow and gate baby apple juice suitable from 4 months. Inside is 4 cubes of sugar in probably about 60ml of liquid. today I was looking for calpol to have on hand in the cupboard for ds1 who is 7 weeks. I was shocked to see there is a sugar free version. it would never have crossed my mind there would be sugar in baby medicine!

AIBU to wonder why these companies can get away with it when obesity and the amount of sugar consumed is a huge issue?

OP posts:
FarFromAnyRoad · 31/03/2015 23:14

Sugar is going to turn out to be the next tobacco. I gave it up and it wasn't even all that hard - believe me when I say I was a hardcore addict. Now everything tastes sweet and I dont enjoy even a bite of milk chocolate. If I had my time over I'd have made sure my kids never got the taste for it.

MangoJuggler · 31/03/2015 23:17

Wrt sugar in meds, iirc there is an analgesic effect of sugar in young babies. Or something. #unscientific

The babyfood manufacturers are I think quite disingenuous full stop.

Overall, yanbu

bonzo77 · 31/03/2015 23:18

YANBU. And don't be fooled by the "healthy" organic snacks with no added sugar. Full of fruit concentrates and purée which is just as bad. Everyone looked at me like a nutter because my babies got fresh fruit, plain bread sticks and buttered toast as snacks and plain water to drink.

arethereanyleftatall · 31/03/2015 23:24

Luckily, there's no need to give babies any baby products whatsoever.

Mumyum1 · 31/03/2015 23:27

YANBU. At all.
I give DS everything fresh from my kitchen. 17mo and no sugar and only occasional salt. Water to drink. Has had cows milk maybe 4 times. I went to a talk by lead scientist for major formula company who opened by saying 'I would urge all doctors to push breastmilk breastmilk breastmilk' and went on to say that the formula companies have got it all wrong and they had lots of work to do to fix things. So I trust nothing. And bless him so far DS eats really well - lots of fresh fruit veg and loves his water.

IgnoreMeEveryOtherReindeerDoes · 31/03/2015 23:28

That apple juice is concentrated yes? Also is it natural sugar?

Mumyum1 · 31/03/2015 23:30

Ps am SO not having a go at moms feeding formula !! Just wanted to highlight that such a 'trusted' area has admitted a 'mistake' so much better to avoid the supermarket shelves as far as possible!

FarFromAnyRoad · 31/03/2015 23:30

All sugar is 'natural' sugar. Some of it is refined but in the end it all does the same thing.

angelikacpickles · 31/03/2015 23:34

It's not possible to make sure your kids never get the taste for sugar - both breastmilk and formula contain sugar and taste sweet. We are programmed to like sweet tastes.

I also don't think it's shocking that medicine contains sugar. Unadulterated paracetamol doesn't taste very nice (ever let a tablet dissolve in your mouth?) If you need a child to take medicine, it's going to be easier if it's sweet. The sugar free version is just as sweet - it just contains artificial sweeteners instead.

Baby juice is a totally unnecessary product and easily avoided. But yes, it is irresponsible for companies to market these products.

IgnoreMeEveryOtherReindeerDoes · 31/03/2015 23:41

Mrsck well it may shock you then that they give newborns in hospital sugar water as pain relief as they did my newborn for first few days, every time they had to prod him with needles and shit loads of sugar water during/after his lumbar puncture

shitebag · 31/03/2015 23:46

YANBU.

Mumyum having tasted both breast and formula milk of say breastmilk is FAR sweeter and I'm shocked to hear that a "leading scientist" within a formula company admitting they have "got it all wrong" hasn't hit the news as presumably whatever issues they're openly discussing could presumably effect the health of millions of babies? Hmm

Qwebec · 31/03/2015 23:58

Farfrom the first time I smelled something sweet I was 4. I puked it revolted me so much. I never developped the sweet tooth. Even fruit juice is too sweet to me, I add water. My brother was a year youger when the famous chocolate cake was presented to us. He is wild for sugar.
I guess the inclination is v personal.

Mumyum1 · 01/04/2015 00:06

Shitebag ... It was a closed medical conference. She also cited studies from Germany and UK showing a link between childhood and adult obesity, and metabolic syndrome (related to diabetes). But I really don't want to highjack this thread with a debate breastmilk vs formula. To each her own with no jusgements . As I said, I mentioned it only to highlight how the industry got it wrong. Apparently.

I don't mind my child having sweet things - he has lots of sweet fruit and yes breastmilk is very sweet. I have an issue with refined sugars that have no nutritional value and make sugar addicts of generations of children. Working in the medical profession I have first hand experience of this. Fortunately my DS now 17 eats everything - the only things he has ever turned down were icecream and cake. Not offered by me of course. It seems he did not like the taste. Go figure.

Refined sugar is a killer and I fully agree with pp it is the next tobacco!

Mumyum1 · 01/04/2015 00:08

Lol. DS is 17mo. Not 17.

deana4 · 01/04/2015 00:13

I too was extremely shocked at how much sugar was in the baby juices.
avoid baby snacks they are not good despite what the companies say, snacks I would give plain ricecakes, breadsticks, fruit, veg sticks, raisons. it actually works out a lot cheaper, those baby snacks are a complete rip of!
even so it is disgusting the way the baby food companies can get away with promoting their snacks as "healthy" when they are anything but that

as for juice, don't just give water. honestly I worried so much about my firsts fluid intake I offered juice as he wouldn't drink water. this was at 6 months when he was still drinking a lot of milk but I thought he should be having other liquids. so I panicked and gave juice and now at almost 6 will not drink water, my other 2 will as I never offered juice

gointothewoods · 01/04/2015 00:15

YANBU. A lot of supposedly child friendly food is loaded with sugar.
I recently checked the sugar in yogurt covered rice cakes vs chocolate covered ones. Surprised to find the yogurt ones have higher sugar levels.
People who buy "child juices" are marketing pawns, imo.

PeriodMath · 01/04/2015 00:20

I think making medicine sweet is pretty useful actually. It's not like you're giving to them every day and as Mary Poppins would say......

DisappointedOne · 01/04/2015 00:21

Sugar free calpol doesn't work nearly as well. ;)

most fromage frais is absolutely packed full of sugar too. I avoid sugar free stuff for DD and she can have anything she likes in moderation.

Also worth pointing out that dried fruit is basically nature's wine gums. Just sugar and acid and a little bit of fibre.

DisappointedOne · 01/04/2015 00:21

Teething powders are predominantly sugar too.

MrsTedCrilly · 01/04/2015 00:44

Shocking isn't it, you trust baby brands to provide healthy food but they're just the same as most other food companies.. I just give fresh foods or Ella's kitchen etc if I want something quick and convenient.

Rabbishes · 01/04/2015 07:08

Sugar really doesn't bother me. I give my DC a balanced, varied diet. I mainly cook fresh foods but we eat out, I use some convenience foods, and they're allowed sweets (in moderation).

I've honestly never sat down and looked at sugar content or even worried about it, instead I encourage healthy choices and everything in moderation.

Demonising one food item (additive? Not sure of the right word) sends the wrong message IMO when obesity and/or poor health are often due to a combination of factors. It's like people who think they can order a large Big Mac meal "and a diet coke" as if the diet coke will cancel out part of the meal.

The focus should be on all aspects of a healthy diet and promoting good choices as part of a balanced lifestyle rather than touting the line that sugar is evil. The message some people will take from such a headline is that saturated fat, excessive carbs, etc don't matter very much, sugar is the only/main culprit.

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