Why shouldn't I give my baby chocolate?

[Aranea]

Obviously I don't give my baby chocolate. And I try to avoid giving her anything sugary, too.

Why do I do this? I don't think I actually know why chocolate is bad for babies, or why sugar would do any harm. Do you?

[giddykipper]

How old are you talking?

Once weaned, it's only the sugar on the teeth that is an issue, and as far as I'm concerned, as long as you brush teeth, then I don't see the problem.

[bigstripeytiger]

Apparently chocolate can act as an allergen, so it is sometimes suggested that you dont give it till the baby is 1 year old.
I dont know if that is current advice though.

[Aranea]

yes, she's 11 months old, I'm not talking about a 12-weeker!

That's rather what I was beginning to suspect. In which case maybe I'll just relax and let her have chocolate and sugary stuff if it's just about the teeth.

[Aranea]

Ah, didn't know that, tiger.

[giddykipper]

IMHO life is too short to withhold the good stuff. We all like chocolate so why not let the children enjoy it too. All things in moderation.

[giddykipper]

I didn't know that either tiger.

[overmydeadbody]

It's all about moderation.

Obviously an 11 month old shouldn't have nothing but sugary food but a bit of chocolate as part of a healthy diet won't do any harm.

The oly other reason to withhold it is so delay them getting a sweet tooth and a taste and preferece for very very sweet things.

When I introduced chocolate into DS's diet I made sure it was dark chocolate with a stronger more bitter taste tha, say, galaxy, ad he liked it and now prefers dark chocolate to milk chocolate

[Tombliboobs]

Because she doesn't need it, doesn't know what it is and it is seen as a 'treat' by adults. Why give it when at this stage you could give her something so much better for her. Wait until she is even aware of what it is and asks for it.

I don't agree with denying children sweets and chocolate, but I wouldn't give chocolate to a baby who wasn't old enough to want it themselves.

[inveteratenamechanger]

Because once she knows about chocolate and related treats, she will embarrass you in front of your friends/MIL/health visitor by constantly demanding 'biccit' and shouting 'cake!' as soon as she sees a cafe.

[Aranea]

Well, she does want it because she is a second child and wants everything she can see everyone else having!

But I suppose really the point is that I have been avoiding giving her 'treat' foods just because she is (allegedly) too young to ask for them, but am now wondering why really. I don't suppose she technically needs rice cakes either, but nobody would have an issue with her rice cake habit would they?

[Aranea]

lol namechanger, I fear I am doomed on that front anyhow. Actually aren't children programmed to demand things they have never been allowed in front of the very person most likely to disapprove? I don't know how they do it.

[Harimosmummy]

I brush my 15MO's teeth morning and evening and he is allowed chocolate and crisps...

Mainly because we have two much older kids (11 and 14) who eat it and he wants the same as them.

Reasons NOT to: Try to get them to eat fruit if they even SENSE chocolate is on the cards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was happily feeding DS cheesy peas and brocolli recently until he clocked DSD2's pizza and chips. Needless to say, the cheesy peas didn't go down too well after that.

Nothing wrong (IMHO) with moderation, but it's difficult to get healthy stuff into them once they know there is an alternative... esp. difficult with kids too young to be reasoned with, IYSWIM

[Tombliboobs]

Rice cakes are completely different from chocolate, so you are right, no one would have a problem with them, except for the fact that they taste like cardboard! They are not full of sugar. If you want to feed your DD chocolate, then do it. You don't need anyone's permission. I personally wouldn't give a baby chocolate.

As for her wanting everything you have, you wouldn't give her everything you have, so why chocolate?

[Aranea]

I wasn't asking for anyone's permission. I was wondering if there was actually some important health reason not to give her chocolate or sugar. It seems not. (I had a vague notion that chocolate might contain caffeine and that this might be bad for some reason but don't know)

If the only issue is that she might prefer to have it rather than proper food, I'm not too worried. My 4yo is very sensible on that front and I don't believe that given the choice a child will automatically choose to live on sweets. In any case since I don't put a bowl of maltesers on the table at the same time as a bowl of broccoli, she won't be getting to choose chocolate over nutritious meals.

[Meglet]

Because once they know chocolate exists you will never hear the end of it. Better to give yourself a year or two of trying to get decent food in them without the lure of chocolate and junk to tempt them.

I don't let my dc's (2.10 and 1) have choc at home so it's not on their 'radar'. I, however, eat it every day hiding in the kitchen .