I am after some advice on how I can fairly say no to my 3 year old DS eating sweets, crisps, chocolate, biscuits etc, as when we're out with his friends at soft play or a play date, all the other mums let their kids snack continuously throughout the session on mainly junk.
A bit of of background - DS is obsessed with food, it is all he ever thinks about. He is never full and wants to eat all the time. Luckily, he will eat anything so he is fed a healthy diet and we carefully watch his portion size. He is not fat at the moment and is very active. I still have a gate on the kitchen as if he is allowed access to the kitchen then he will raid the fridge and cupboards etc. I wonder if he will grow up to be a chef because he role plays with food and when he gets up in the morning the first thing he talks about is what we're having for breakfast. An hour after a big bowl of porridge he is asking for a snack. At parties he will gorge on the party food and still be at the table long after all the other children have lost interest and gone off to play.
My snack policy is that he is allowed fruit or nuts / dried fruit. He is allowed sweets and chocolate, but these are treats and usually after a main meal. This is always accepted at home, but twice a week we go to play-dates at soft play or somewhere similar and this is where I find things tricky. DS will have his healthy snack, but all his friends will be munching sweets, crisps, chocolate etc and he will of course be wanting what they're having. He is very good at sharing, so expects his friends to share too, which normally they are happy to do. Trouble is, I don't want him eating endless sweets and crisps all afternoon. I feel bad because I am not criticising the other parents and trying to make out like I am a better mother than them - I am genuinely concerned about his health and want him to go and play and not be nagging everyone to eat their snacks and treats.
It's really hard and is getting to the stage where I'd rather not go to these playdates because the food thing just stresses me out. I don't know how to explain to DS that he's not allowed these things when all his friends are eating them at will whenever they want?? On the other hand I really don't want to stay at home on our own all day - I enjoy getting out and seeing my mum friends.
Any advice?? Sorry for long post! Am I worrying about nothing?
Please or to access all these features
Please
or
to access all these features
For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.
Parenting
3 year old snacking - how to say no when all other mums say yes?
39 replies
Nutgirl · 27/02/2015 20:33
OP posts:
abitofafixerupper ·
27/02/2015 21:11
This reply has been deleted
Message withdrawn at poster's request.
Don’t want to miss threads like this?
Weekly
Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!
Log in to update your newsletter preferences.
You've subscribed!
Please create an account
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.