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Original poster

MIL added sugar to baby’s food

126 replies

sunflowers365 · 27/12/2023 10:34

I’m cross because my MIL added sugar to porridge she made for my daughter (15 months). Makes me fed up as I have been keeping her off sugar all this time. There’s no need for her to add sugar when she enjoys her porridge as it is and obviously sugar is terrible for babies and kids😡.

OP posts:
whatsappdoc · 27/12/2023 11:07

Sugar = not poison. Always worth bearing in mind before you start frothing. About mil.

JenJenJenJenJenJen · 27/12/2023 11:13

Looks like you’re going to have to prepare meals for your child yourself in future.

Silverbirchtwo · 27/12/2023 11:14

My mum never put sugar in anything (in the 50s/60s) she didn't use sugar so neither did we. I never gave my DD sugar, when she was old enough to get offered tea at friends houses they were amazed she didn't take sugar and when they automatically put sugar in her tea she thought they were trying to poison her it tasted so bad (to her). I wouldn't get too worked up about one sprinkling of sugar but say please don't do it any more. It's empty calories and a bad habit to get into putting sugar on and in everything.

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SouthLondonMum22 · 27/12/2023 11:16

Let it go. It really isn't a big deal.

Holly60 · 27/12/2023 11:17

LightDrizzle · 27/12/2023 10:50

My reaction would depend on whether she knew this was something you didn’t want. Otherwise it’s just an innocent mistake.

Lots of people wouldn’t equate no sweets and sugary snacks with no sweetener in porridge.

This.

If you've specifically asked her not to add sugar and she did it anyway that's worthy of being angry about

If it's just a difference in how you prepare porridge for a child then you just need to ask her to not add it next time.

If it's the latter and you've been rude/off with her- I think you need to apologise/make nice. She'll be wracking her brains thinking what it was about the lovingly prepared porridge that you didn't like.

BlueberryVelvet · 27/12/2023 11:21

whatsappdoc · 27/12/2023 11:07

Sugar = not poison. Always worth bearing in mind before you start frothing. About mil.

Too much of anything is poison.

Im anti sugar too OP but if it’s a one off I’d let it go.

babysharkdoodoodedoodedoo · 27/12/2023 11:23

You sound exactly the same as me with my first … I cringe about it now!

Scalottia · 27/12/2023 11:24

This can't be real. Is it real?

If so, you are being precious. Verrrry precious.

MerryChristmasToYou · 27/12/2023 11:26

I'm on your side @sunflowers365 . Sugar does not belong in porridge. My DM fed my cousin's baby sugar on a spoon. I was furious. Cousin said nothing.

DM was never allowed near my babies.

Devilsmommy · 27/12/2023 11:32

SparkyBlue · 27/12/2023 10:58

My mum would have always done the same but growing up in the fifties that's what people were told to do as children had otherwise very little sugar in their diets. Not something to I'd do but my mum would have rarely been feeding my children so I wouldn't get worked up over it. However I did get annoyed when she gave my six month a twix to suck on lol

🤣 my neighbour gave me sisters first child who was 6mo a freddo to munch on, my sister didn't know what to say. OP just don't add sugar yourself and your little one won't miss it

OverTheGrip · 27/12/2023 11:35

Sugar is bad for everyone.

I wouldn’t have a problem with this as only occasionally. I was brought up with sugar on cereal and survived.

I generally find the parents obsessed with stuff like this consume loads of crap themselves

Itsbeginingtolookalotlikexmas · 27/12/2023 11:36

If she was aware that you don’t give your baby sugar then it’s unacceptable that she ignored the wishes of the parent. It doesn’t really matter that it’s only sugar. The point is she thinks she can make those decisions for you. My MIL used to do the exact same stuff. Always sneaking them things they weren’t allowed. Pissed me right off.

notfeeblebutPhoebe · 27/12/2023 11:37

I have brown sugar or honey on my porridge. Anyone here who has Golden Syrup?

JC89 · 27/12/2023 11:39

I agree with you - if porridge is something DC has every day you don't want them to get used to having it with added sugar when they were quite happy without! A spoonful on one day is fine, a spoonful every day not so good. I would be less annoyed about something like chocolate being given as a one-off!

MushMonster · 27/12/2023 11:44

It is ok. It was normal for her generation. We cannot really judge older people by today's brand new and fully different standards, because they keep changing, all the time and really fast. A bit of sugar in the porridge will not harm her.

PieonaBarm · 27/12/2023 11:49

notfeeblebutPhoebe · 27/12/2023 11:37

I have brown sugar or honey on my porridge. Anyone here who has Golden Syrup?

Yep. It's delicious. And I used to give it to my dog too...... I know he's not a child but he liked it too 😂

Benibidibici · 27/12/2023 11:52

My son's friend was raised on zero sugar by a v crunchy lentil weaving type.

Now age 7, he steals sweets/biscuits from his friends houses on playdates and takes far more than his share of cakes/sweet foods at parties.

Sugar exists in the world, they'll discover it eventually. We are programmed to like sweet tastes, breastmilk is sweet tasting and our brains need glucose to function.

It is better to have been taught to enjoy a little of it in moderation & regulate how much you take, than to make it a secret, forbidden desirable treat

A little sweetened porridge provided by grandma is no big thing, children have been spoiled a little by loving grannies & grandpas since time immemorial.

Spaghettieis · 27/12/2023 11:53

I don’t think you are being ridiculous OP. Your MIL specifically did something you asked her not to and it doesn’t matter if that’s what was normal for her, it’s not what you do and she needs to respect that. Fwiw I think it’s very reasonable to avoid introducing kids to unhealthy foods at a young age (when you should still have control of their diet, pre school age) otherwise it makes a rod for your back when they start asking for it with sugar in the future.

RafaistheKingofClay · 27/12/2023 11:55

Is there a huge back story here? Because otherwise this is a ridiculous non issue to get wound up about as a one off or for a couple of days.

Gymnopedie · 27/12/2023 11:57

Did she do it innocently because that's how she makes porridge and didn't know how you feel about sugar, or did she know but she knows best and went ahead anyway?:

festivetinseling · 27/12/2023 12:02

I'd be annoyed at that as well OP. If a child is happily eating something, why stick a load of sugar in it when it's not necessary? I once saw a neighbour of mine put a teaspoon of sugar in her baby's bottle, and when I asked her why, she said her mum had told her to do it because that's what she always did.

WhateverMate · 27/12/2023 12:02

Spaghettieis · 27/12/2023 11:53

I don’t think you are being ridiculous OP. Your MIL specifically did something you asked her not to and it doesn’t matter if that’s what was normal for her, it’s not what you do and she needs to respect that. Fwiw I think it’s very reasonable to avoid introducing kids to unhealthy foods at a young age (when you should still have control of their diet, pre school age) otherwise it makes a rod for your back when they start asking for it with sugar in the future.

I don’t think you are being ridiculous OP. Your MIL specifically did something you asked her not to and it doesn’t matter if that’s what was normal for her, it’s not what you do and she needs to respect that.

Where has the OP said she asked her not to?

Iwanttowantto · 27/12/2023 12:04

My MIL drives me mental with this so I can see where you're coming from. I don't even keep my children away from sugar completely but her endless treats, cakes, sugary cereals and yoghurts would make me extremely grateful to see a bowl of porridge at all, added sugar or not! If she's otherwise a good egg, let it go. If she's not, you have my sympathy!

tiktokontheclock · 27/12/2023 12:05

Christ, as a mother of another 15 month old, She's fine! I have an elder DD btw - she's also fine!

Spaghettieis · 27/12/2023 12:08

WhateverMate · 27/12/2023 12:02

I don’t think you are being ridiculous OP. Your MIL specifically did something you asked her not to and it doesn’t matter if that’s what was normal for her, it’s not what you do and she needs to respect that.

Where has the OP said she asked her not to?

Show quote history

I read Makes me fed up as it happening multiple times with OP’s feelings being clear