To think banning a kid from having ANY sweets at all ever by the age of five

No always, it is often about medical conditions

This isn't just about sweets, it's about forcefully banning things and deluding yourself into thinking that this will be the future status quo. Whether Werther's Original or alcohol or TV, there'll be children counting down the days until they move away.

Spice is a slang word for sweets in some areas.

Ages ago, but a girl in DD’s year at school was never allowed to go to normal teen parties, etc. - going to e.g. Guides was apparently enough socialising. As a result she used to climb out of windows at night and sneak off, and dd said that eventually, on a mixed camping trip (still teens) she got utterly pissed and ran around the camp saying, ‘Somebody take me! I’m a virgin!’ 😂
(I never heard whether anybody did,)

Yeah, the parent I know who does this has definitely made this decision because of their own issues around food.

Banning all sweets is unrealistic

As long as they’re a normal weight with healthy teeth and have mostly balanced and healthy meals I don’t see the issue.

Even yoghurts and sauces and supposed healthier options have loads of sugar and crap in them really so where’s the harm in letting them have some sweets now and then?

I think my four year old has had sweets maybe twice. Just wouldn’t ever have them in the house for any of us. He had a few dolly mixture at a friends making gingerbread houses and a packet of haribo when given it b a friend at nursery so it’s not banned just not something I would buy him. So I can kind of see how you could get to 5 without having any.

Erm, what do you mean by spice? Do you mean spicy/hot food? Im assuming that your father wasn't drugging you with NPS as a young child, and that's what I associate with 'spice' now.

How has eating spicy food made you hate sugar?

I did my best to keep my eldest added / processed sugar free till 2 and am aiming to do the same for the second, but till 5 feels bonkers and an unnecessary battle. My theory is to avoid sugary stuff when they don't know what it is (e.g., to me, no need for my 1 year old to have an ice lolly), but completely agree with a pp that you don't want them feeling like the odd one out around their peers and at parties etc. My eldest is now 4 and has a healthy relationship with sugary goodness as far as I can see! She doesn't like sweets, but loves chocolate and cake - and is happy with eating it in moderation. I think it would be quite the stress to keep a child sugar-free till 5 - and why 5 in particular?

By sweets I’m assuming you mean like packaged candy, rather than using the word to mean like any sweet food?

I don’t think it’s unrealistic to do it until the age of 5, especially if born early in the school year. My DDs never had sweets at that age - they weren’t “banned”, we just didn’t buy them and they didn’t know they existed in order to ask. It wasn’t even a decision I made. I don’t eat sweets so just never bought them.

Lots of parents don’t allow all sorts of things when their children are under 5. I doubt many 4 year olds drink coke, but that doesn’t mean that not allowing them to drink it at that age will result in a cola addiction later on.

Once they start going to parties and having party bags, then no, I wouldn’t be confiscating items because I didn’t allow them (although I don’t allow some that are choking hazards, but I say why and swap it for another sweet/chocolate thing that I get for them).

I still don’t buy sweets. I don’t really see why I would. We do a lot of baking though so I’m not anti-sugar. I just wouldn’t spend money on horrible sweets. My DC are yet to show any lack of control around the contents of a party bag or a school fete haribo mix.

It's right up there with 'this dog isn't going to sit on the furniture' in things people say will happen but fail to achieve.

Just wait until they're old enough to move out for university and or living out for work where you can't control them.
I've known people who were raised in highly restrictive, stern households. They do go doolally eventually when they for instance go to university and don't know how to handle the freedom. Then it's drinking to excess etc.

I love this and I'm going to tell him.

😂😂

It’s the mental association with reward that’s the issue though. It creates pleasure feelings which makes you crave it more (that plus the addiction)

It’s the mental association with reward that’s the issue though. It creates pleasure feelings which makes you crave it more (that plus the addiction)

You won't be able to ban them. Wait til you see the snack swapping that goes on at school 🤫

But I think it's fine to decide you're not giving them sweets. There are other ways to have treats.

The ones that make me laugh are the ones that ban all sweets but fill up half their kid’s plate with ketchup.

I haven’t read the thread but I was practically force fed ‘spice’ by my deceased father as a kid. For anything. I fell and grazed my knee….spice. I had a shit day at primary school…spice.
I consequently hate sweet things and can’t bear cake or pudding, crisps and chocolate. In a weird way I feel grateful, so thanks Dad. You made me hate the junk that killed you.

My kid does 😂 🤣
mans we have never banned anything lol

What sort of sweets? There’s nothing wrong with avoiding buying sweets while a child is still young as long as they are allowed when preventing it would single the child out and make them miss out on an experience their peers were having.

My children had things like chocolate, cake and ice cream before five, but they didn’t have novelty candies and things like haribo until they became a thing for school friend birthdays. They are fine.

Well they are nicer though. No kid has ever liked salad more than cake.

Sorry that made me laugh Im going to say to my kids tomorrow if you clean your room you can have some broccoli

So basically your brother turned into a drug lord.

This can only work with oldest or only children.

I think it shows an uptight and controlling nature on the part of the parent, or possibly anxiety that should be brought to the attention of a medical professional.