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Original poster

Getting frustrated by everyone giving my toddler chocolate!

79 replies

Toddlerbeast · 15/04/2022 10:33

It's been almost every morning this week where someone has just handed my toddler an Easter egg or Easter chocolate gift.
Then I have had the battle of trying to prize chocolate out of a confused toddlers hands. Some days I've let him have some but he's such a fussy eater so he ends up missing lunch then gets irritable.

When I was young we had no chocolate until Easter Sunday, parents would keep all the chocolate until Easter morning then we'd wake up to all our eggs from family etc.

I've tried pointing this out to my parents but they just like the actual giving treats to my child regardless of how I feel.

Don't get me wrong, I do let my child have treats but only once he's actually eaten a meal otherwise 'real' food gets missed.

Am I being unreasonable to expect people to check with me before they hand chocolate to a 3 year old?!

OP posts:
mnnewbie111 · 15/04/2022 20:27

I know what you mean but I feel like if he's a toddler then it's pretty easy to take from him and say we will have this after dinner, or I'll give it you over a few weeks or whatever. If someone gives mine chocolate I say ooh that's lovely, let's take that home and have it as a treat some time.

sploshsplash · 15/04/2022 20:38

What are you worried about?

SophieG121 · 15/04/2022 20:58

My in laws do this and it is frustrating. Not just chocolate but mountains of gifts, it looks like Christmas morning. Three year old has got three large eggs, some smaller eggs and bags of sweets, a tin of mini eggs(!) new outfits, new shoes, books, soft toys (we definitely do not need any more of those!) and they even got chocolate for six month old!

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SophieG121 · 15/04/2022 21:00

Just realised this sounds ungrateful but we have asked them repeatedly not to buy gifts or chocolate for Easter as it isn't necessary. They go overboard at Christmas too and my tiny house cannot fit anymore toys.

Germolenequeen · 15/04/2022 21:14

Part of that is the understanding that there isn't 'good' food or 'bad' food, just food.
Chocolate isn't food 🤨

HardbackWriter · 15/04/2022 21:23

I sometimes feel like this too, but reminding myself that this 'problem' is a result of there being lots of people who love and want to treat my children helps, a lot.

MarineBio · 15/04/2022 21:28

Lol at not framing it as a treat. Every person on earth knows that chocolate is the food of the gods special. Doesn’t matter what you say about it.

MarineBio · 15/04/2022 21:29

And I agree with you OP. I show my children love by restricting their chocolate consumption and brushing their teeth. It would be nice if others could show a bit of the hard sort of love rather than the lazy sort.

girlmom21 · 15/04/2022 21:29

@Babadook76 yeah I re-read the OP after I posted and noticed his age. If he was 18 months and they're giving him unwrapped chocolate I'd get him being upset if it was removed.

At 3 you say "oh how lovely. Let's put it away for Easter" and get on with your day, surely.

Obviously there'll be a drip feed soon if the OP does come back.

Svara · 15/04/2022 21:34

A three year old isn't a toddler, I started reading thinking of a one year old. A child of two or older should be able to understand 'we keep the chocolate eggs/big eggs like that for Easter Sunday, that's in two sleeps!'

elbea · 15/04/2022 22:03

@MarineBio it’s that attitude restricting of food and giving it special status that leads over eating later in life. There are studies about it that show restricting certain foods early on leads to inability to regulate foods later in life.

MarineBio · 15/04/2022 22:14

@elbea so the idea is no restriction at all? I’m not convinced that they will naturally learn to self regulate. Personally I am completely addicted to sugar despite laissez faire parents. But I’m open-minded so would be interesting if you have links to share.

elbea · 15/04/2022 22:22

@MarineBio it’s not no restriction, but presenting it as a reward for eating dinner or a treat is the problem. Serve it it occasionally but don’t make it special or a reward for eating other food. When you do serve it serve it alongside other food, let them eat as much as they want with equal status to other foods.

I’ll see if I can find the studies, its been a while since I read them.

OceanAtTheEnd · 15/04/2022 22:35

@AGritThatThrobs

I have seen that Fortnum and Mason do a lovely looking hand painted egg. Could you not point your egg buyers in that direction? I wonder how Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge copes. Perhaps she has a great alternative choice for her precious ones…
😄 I literally can't tell if this is supposed to be funny or not.

And another poster said that chocolate isn't food!

sqirrelfriends · 15/04/2022 22:39

DS has collected a LOT but is really good at regulating his intake so doesn't pester to eat it constantly. He has access but is only allowed one sweet treat a day if he's been good so it will probably last until halloween at this point (we haven't finished his Christmas chocolate yet).

NerrSnerr · 15/04/2022 22:50

@Germolenequeen

*Part of that is the understanding that there isn't 'good' food or 'bad' food, just food.* Chocolate isn't food 🤨
What the bloody hell is it then?
FunnysInLaJardin · 15/04/2022 22:51

@AGritThatThrobs

I’m allowing mine to have a few cacao nibs as an extra special treat on Sunday - after their usual sprouted quinoa with rainbow salad/turmeric-dusted chickpeas. Apparently low in sugar and high in antioxidants, you can get them in Waitrose.
Grin me too.

Oh no wait they are 16 and 12 and can get as much chocolate as they wan in the shops

NerrSnerr · 15/04/2022 22:52

www.fortnumandmason.com/hand-painted-bunny-easter-egg-500g

Gutted- the painted egg is out of stock. I was going to ask my children's grandparents for one instead of spending £4 on a rolo egg.

FunnysInLaJardin · 15/04/2022 22:56

@NerrSnerr

https://www.fortnumandmason.com/hand-painted-bunny-easter-egg-500g

Gutted- the painted egg is out of stock. I was going to ask my children's grandparents for one instead of spending £4 on a rolo egg.

sadly they dont deliver to the Channel Islands, happily though we can still get the £100 chick egg!
Ellie5341 · 15/04/2022 23:03

My mum p*asked me off the other day as she got a chocolate bunny out of her bag, showed it dc and said in front, oh mummy can they have this today as a treat?
Ffs dc has learnt so well to put Easter chocolate to one side and dm messes it up.

Favourodds · 15/04/2022 23:07

@NerrSnerr LOL. Of all the conversations I simply can't be bothered to have with purposefully obtuse people 'is chocolate food?' is top of the list.

Kite22 · 15/04/2022 23:18

@NuffSaidSam

I think the mistake is letting them have some of it already.

Take it away as soon as it's given and say it's for Easter. Then 'lose' some of it before now and Easter. Put the rest out on Easter Sunday and explain he can eat a bit after dinner each day until it's gone.

You can control what other people do unfortunately, so you've got to find a way to work round it by altering what you do/say to your child.

This ^
Rubyroseyposey · 15/04/2022 23:22

I don't mind it. It's not like it all has to be eaten at once

Babadook76 · 16/04/2022 00:39

@Germolenequeen

*Part of that is the understanding that there isn't 'good' food or 'bad' food, just food.* Chocolate isn't food 🤨
Were you dropped on your head as a child?
autienotnaughty · 16/04/2022 06:49

@Germolenequeen I'd just like to confirm chocolate is food.

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