Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

She ate all the biscuits

565 replies

Imissmusic · 19/03/2026 21:24

I got a pack of chocolate chip cookies for today after dinner for everyone to have a few-Dd has a balanced diet but we don’t have a dessert or biscuits, crisps etc every night or in the house that often-more on weekends or if we bake something.
I hid the rest of the biscuits away for another day.
I went to have a shower, when Dd came up to bed, she told me she looked everywhere for them, found them and ate them.

Would you be cross? She’s 7

OP posts:
bumptybum · 19/03/2026 23:32

Velumental · 19/03/2026 21:38

Why are you so bothered by her eating? And so aware of the food in that way? My youngest will head off with a packet of cream crackers or rich tea biscuits at 4 if they're left sitting out but I just roll my eyes and put them back in the cupboard. She loves biscuits.

You seem to have gotten into food as a battle with her, do you have eating issues?

Show quote history

And then when a child is obese people blame the parents for not having better controls set up 🙄

Original poster
Imissmusic · 19/03/2026 23:30

ISpyNoPlumPie · 19/03/2026 23:07

Agree. Of all of my peers when I was a child, my children and all their peers, the only one I know who would do this has serious issues with impulse control (he once took food out of my hand). He almost certainly has a behavioural disorder. He is globally a very challenging child - not just with food. Screens are also very problematic in particular.

@Imissmusic, is your DD only like this around food?

Show quote history

Never seen her take food out of anyone’s hand

OP posts:
Original poster
Imissmusic · 19/03/2026 23:27

Clangershome · 19/03/2026 23:06

Read the book chocolate cake by Michael Rosen, it’s great!! Maybe she has prada Willy or something else going on? How many was in the pack?

What is prada willy 😬

OP posts:
Happyjoe · 19/03/2026 23:26

Beaniebobbins · 19/03/2026 23:23

I would be cross. She is old enough to know that if you hide something it’s because it’s not for her. Also I think eating the whole packet so there are none left for anyone else is selfish.

you have made it sound like she has eaten a lot of cookies so i also think it’s worth talking about portion control but not when you are cross. It’s a tricky subject so I think it needs to be raised carefully and not at a time when emotions are high. You don’t want to make her feel guilty for eating any cookies. But then maybe she feels a bit sick after eating them all so might have taught herself a lesson.

Didn't eat a whole packet.

Original poster
Imissmusic · 19/03/2026 23:24

Iloveburgerswaymorethanishould · 19/03/2026 22:58

I have a full kitchen cupboard and drawer filled with mini chocolate bars, biscuits little cakes etc, then crisps in the bottom cupboard. I fill it once a week (and I mean fully fill it). My 2 help themselves whenever they fancy. Surprisingly the once a week turned into every 10 days, then 14 etc. They also have yoghurts in the fridge and lollies in the freezer. Knowing they can have them whenever stopped them going mad on them. Don’t get me wrong, if a new treat appeared there, they wouldn’t last 2 mins!!! But after a few weeks of them being bought, they don’t go as quick. Mine are 16 and 6. They also get desserts and other treats as well. Being more relaxed about it means they feel like they are in “control” of eating them. So they don’t eat them as fast. Maybe buy her a pack of biscuits on a Monday and tell her they are just for her, nobody else but when they are gone they are gone until next week. Plus, if she eats them all in one go and makes herself sick, she won’t do it again!!! (As both my children have discovered!!)

I have thought about doing something like this. Her friend on the road has this (as a result she loves going to his house) he barely touches it…however, he’s a very different child to Dd..! Very calm, compliant in all ways…Dd is energetic, strong willed…they’re different types of kids. My fear in trying this is it would be gone in a day

OP posts:
EnfysPreseli · 19/03/2026 23:24

Iloveburgerswaymorethanishould · 19/03/2026 22:58

I have a full kitchen cupboard and drawer filled with mini chocolate bars, biscuits little cakes etc, then crisps in the bottom cupboard. I fill it once a week (and I mean fully fill it). My 2 help themselves whenever they fancy. Surprisingly the once a week turned into every 10 days, then 14 etc. They also have yoghurts in the fridge and lollies in the freezer. Knowing they can have them whenever stopped them going mad on them. Don’t get me wrong, if a new treat appeared there, they wouldn’t last 2 mins!!! But after a few weeks of them being bought, they don’t go as quick. Mine are 16 and 6. They also get desserts and other treats as well. Being more relaxed about it means they feel like they are in “control” of eating them. So they don’t eat them as fast. Maybe buy her a pack of biscuits on a Monday and tell her they are just for her, nobody else but when they are gone they are gone until next week. Plus, if she eats them all in one go and makes herself sick, she won’t do it again!!! (As both my children have discovered!!)

Sorry, but this is a ridiculous approach. It's worrying that you think it's something to boast about. If it's true, you are also wasting money on overpriced goods with little nutritional value and making it less likely that your children are able to get the nutrients they need to grow and thrive from real food. Has public health education really had so little impact?

Happyjoe · 19/03/2026 23:24

Imissmusic · 19/03/2026 23:19

Not at all. My issue is should I be stronger with boundaries and the fact she should not have just taken them…or accept she’s little and it’s tempting for her and let it go

Show quote history

Bit of both? She is little and will make loads of childhood mishaps but she should be starting to learn that taking without asking is a no.

Beaniebobbins · 19/03/2026 23:23

I would be cross. She is old enough to know that if you hide something it’s because it’s not for her. Also I think eating the whole packet so there are none left for anyone else is selfish.

you have made it sound like she has eaten a lot of cookies so i also think it’s worth talking about portion control but not when you are cross. It’s a tricky subject so I think it needs to be raised carefully and not at a time when emotions are high. You don’t want to make her feel guilty for eating any cookies. But then maybe she feels a bit sick after eating them all so might have taught herself a lesson.

IdentityCris · 19/03/2026 23:23

I would be concerned about the fact that she went looking for the sweets. She must be well aware that she isn't allowed them, so she's chosen to disobey you deliberately. I would also be cross that she at the whole packet, because that's selfish as it leaves none for anyone else.

Soontobesingles · 19/03/2026 23:21

It's done now. My response would have been something like, 'that's very naughty, you know not to eat all the treats at once — but it's done now so let's remember next time.' Then forget it. I agree with PPs that if you make these foods an unusal and rare treat you do somewhat raise their value and encourage hoarding/gorging.

ForNoisyCat · 19/03/2026 23:20

Imissmusic · 19/03/2026 21:24

I got a pack of chocolate chip cookies for today after dinner for everyone to have a few-Dd has a balanced diet but we don’t have a dessert or biscuits, crisps etc every night or in the house that often-more on weekends or if we bake something.
I hid the rest of the biscuits away for another day.
I went to have a shower, when Dd came up to bed, she told me she looked everywhere for them, found them and ate them.

Would you be cross? She’s 7

be thankful she was honest and told you, but suggest kindly to her itv would have been nice to have saved some for the rest of the family . Then leave it there and carry on.

Angelicake · 19/03/2026 23:20

Ok, then why wasn't he supervising if the biscuits are a big deal?

I bet he ate some too.

Original poster
Imissmusic · 19/03/2026 23:19

Arregaithel · 19/03/2026 22:54

So what are your thoughts @Imissmusic?

Are you worried for her health or you are concerned that her lack of control (albeit your girl is only 7, after all) will spiral and eat all the pies too?
😛

Show quote history

Not at all. My issue is should I be stronger with boundaries and the fact she should not have just taken them…or accept she’s little and it’s tempting for her and let it go

OP posts:
Happyjoe · 19/03/2026 23:18

ISpyNoPlumPie · 19/03/2026 23:11

That’s the way you grew up? You would take things out of a cupboard that had been put away and just eat them all for yourself age 7??? My mum would kill me 😆 not because it’s biscuits but because I’d taken without asking and I’d eaten more than my share. The family is a collective!

Show quote history

Grew up with the eating very quickly the treats otherwise my brothers would just look for it and take it. Grew up with little in the way of extra treats because of it, mum wasn't going to pay for 4 kids having endless sweets, let alone for health reasons. My mum would buy a packet of choc biccies to share on a Sunday and we had pocket money on a Sat to buy our own sweets and that was it.

If anything was open in the cupboard, be an extra packet or something of mums (she liked honeycomb for example), my brothers would pinch it.

IdentityCris · 19/03/2026 23:17

Velumental · 19/03/2026 21:27

Not really. She's 7, left to her own devices and there were biscuits left out, she clearly didn't think it was off limits as she told you about it. If shed sneaked them and said nothing I might be concerned. You say she came up to bed like she was just wandering round by herself and appeared upstairs not like she was brought up to bed.

OP didn't leave them out. She said she'd hidden them away, so her daughter went looking for them.

Original poster
Imissmusic · 19/03/2026 23:15

Namechangerage · 19/03/2026 22:45

FFS it’s nothing to do with buying the bloody biscuits!

It’s either the fact that she hasn’t been given boundaries not to eat sweet treats willy nilly without permission.

Or the fact nobody was engaging with her and she wanted attention. Your DH was so engrossed in his computer/having a poo he didn’t notice her searching everywhere and eating half a pack of biscuits and then she brings herself up to bed and tells you. So maybe attention seeking in my opinion.

it’s clearly a pattern so something is up. Buying some biscuits is so not the issue here.

Show quote history

She told me at bedtime because she knows she shouldn’t have done it really, I don’t believe seeking attention, she’s just not like that

OP posts:
canisquaeso · 19/03/2026 23:13

I wouldn’t be annoyed about her scoffing the biscuits, it’s hardly the end of the world, but I’d be annoyed at her hunting them down and then coming to tell you she managed to find and eat them all as some sort of “gotcha!” move.

Probably the time to remind her she needs to consider the rest of the family.

Original poster
Imissmusic · 19/03/2026 23:12

diamondradicchio · 19/03/2026 22:42

News at ten. Little girl has sweet tooth.

I’m probably being too worried right 😁

OP posts:
ISpyNoPlumPie · 19/03/2026 23:11

Happyjoe · 19/03/2026 23:06

It was very much the way I grew up with 3 big brothers.
See, that's just it, we are all different.

Yeah, keeping alert 100% makes sense but I don't think to label anything just yet does.

Show quote history

That’s the way you grew up? You would take things out of a cupboard that had been put away and just eat them all for yourself age 7??? My mum would kill me 😆 not because it’s biscuits but because I’d taken without asking and I’d eaten more than my share. The family is a collective!

Happyjoe · 19/03/2026 23:11

Applecup · 19/03/2026 23:06

At 7 years old she’s old enough to know it’s greedy to finish the whole pack and not fair on the rest of the family. I really don’t understand why people are minimising her behavior with the ‘naughty little scamp’ attitude.

7 year old's make mistakes, 7 year olds are young, 7 year olds don't think like adults, 7 year olds are only starting to forward think their actions and consequences.

They indeed can be naughty little scamps. They just need to keep learning that it's not acceptable to take things without asking and they will get there.

Arregaithel · 19/03/2026 23:08

Imissmusic · 19/03/2026 23:00

It was!! 😂 So I put some in a bowl for her and Dh to share whilst watching tv, put the rest of the packet away (yes out of sight) she ate the rest of the packet. No idea how much she shared with Dh, he likely got a couple

Show quote history

aha the truth will out, IT WAS HIM wot did it!!! 😉

IWaffleAlot · 19/03/2026 23:07

’pack of biscuits’ how many were there? Surely just a few left ??

Original poster
Imissmusic · 19/03/2026 23:07

Wellretired · 19/03/2026 22:34

Perhaps she's hungry, if she's slim and active? Can she get seconds of meals if she wants them? I have a sugar addiction myself and find it really hard to stop eating sweet things if they are there but its more tempting if I havent had enough to eat and dont feel full. Could she go and get an apple if she wants one?

Yes, I often say have some fruit, yoghurt, cheese…her dinner was ready but she was asking for the biscuits before she’d eaten it and just keen to get dinner done and get them

OP posts:
ISpyNoPlumPie · 19/03/2026 23:07

Calliopespa · 19/03/2026 23:01

Possibly. But neither me nor my siblings nor my dc have gone down that particular route of learning, so I guess to me it seems not a usual rite of passage.

It could well be for some, but I'm just suggesting op keep alert to issues and doesn't just treat it as a disciplinary thing.

Show quote history

Agree. Of all of my peers when I was a child, my children and all their peers, the only one I know who would do this has serious issues with impulse control (he once took food out of my hand). He almost certainly has a behavioural disorder. He is globally a very challenging child - not just with food. Screens are also very problematic in particular.

@Imissmusic, is your DD only like this around food?

Happyjoe · 19/03/2026 23:06

Calliopespa · 19/03/2026 23:01

Possibly. But neither me nor my siblings nor my dc have gone down that particular route of learning, so I guess to me it seems not a usual rite of passage.

It could well be for some, but I'm just suggesting op keep alert to issues and doesn't just treat it as a disciplinary thing.

Show quote history

It was very much the way I grew up with 3 big brothers.
See, that's just it, we are all different.

Yeah, keeping alert 100% makes sense but I don't think to label anything just yet does.