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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:
gnarlynarwhal · 27/12/2023 13:27

Would you be as angry if it had been your own mum who did it OP?

Mumof118 · 27/12/2023 13:41

Not really relevant to your op, but my mother kept me off sugar until I was about 15 and I starting working and earning some pocket money. I desperately wanted to eat what my friends had been having, so starting buying myself snacks when Dm wasn’t around. I’d buy 4 x 4 stick kitkats and eat them all in one go. I’d pop to McDonalds from school and claim to have missed the bus. I snuck pastries into my bedroom and hid them in the wardrobes

Im 43 now and have been up and down with my weight since. I have a very unhealthy relationship with food, particularly desserts. I’d rather just eat desserts to be honest.

What I’m trying to say is that sugar isn’t the end of the world. My son was allowed whatever he wanted, so sugar isn’t special to him. He loves weird stuff like broccoli and salmon, neither of which I eat. He’s six foot two, and athletic. He loves a sweet snack now and again, but his diet is amazingly balanced.

DemelzaandRoss · 27/12/2023 13:47

A relative’s DC were never allowed sweets, Easter Eggs or anything to drink other than water.
Now they have their own DC they allow them to eat all these items. They feel they were deprived & controlled.
Nothing bad will happen from one teaspoon of sugar.

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Mumof118 · 27/12/2023 13:49

Mumof118 · 27/12/2023 13:41

Not really relevant to your op, but my mother kept me off sugar until I was about 15 and I starting working and earning some pocket money. I desperately wanted to eat what my friends had been having, so starting buying myself snacks when Dm wasn’t around. I’d buy 4 x 4 stick kitkats and eat them all in one go. I’d pop to McDonalds from school and claim to have missed the bus. I snuck pastries into my bedroom and hid them in the wardrobes

Im 43 now and have been up and down with my weight since. I have a very unhealthy relationship with food, particularly desserts. I’d rather just eat desserts to be honest.

What I’m trying to say is that sugar isn’t the end of the world. My son was allowed whatever he wanted, so sugar isn’t special to him. He loves weird stuff like broccoli and salmon, neither of which I eat. He’s six foot two, and athletic. He loves a sweet snack now and again, but his diet is amazingly balanced.

Just to elaborate, my unhealthy relationship is that I am now addicted to sugar. It’s something that in the moment makes me feel good, comforted and happy.
However, after I’ve eaten it, I feel guilt, disgusted in myself and I will make myself vomit.
By 18 I had gained a lot of weight, so much it stopped me doing my sports. By 21 I was skinny again due to the bulimia I developed. And that’s been the ups and down of my life since.

Mrsjayy · 27/12/2023 13:49

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😡.

i mean did you say to her ? id put it down to experience and move on it was a bit of sugar.

ChateauDuMont · 27/12/2023 13:51

I've always added a little sugar to porridge and it didn't do mine any harm and they are all adults now.

Sugar in a small amount really isn't the enemy!

quisensoucie · 27/12/2023 13:53

It's sugar, not ricin

LegoHeads · 27/12/2023 13:53

From the title I thought this was going to be about a MIL sneakily adding sugar when your back was turned. If it’s just that she made porridge and added sugar because that’s how she makes porridge, YABU.

This post reminds me of one years back where someone complained their child had been given a fruit shoot and it turned out that they had stood by and let the child have it and hadn’t spoken up because they were so aghast at the idea of a child having a fruit shoot that they were unable to speak.

Singleandproud · 27/12/2023 13:55

Is that just how she made it and has always made it though? My nan would make a big pot of porridge, dish it up with a sprinkle of sugar and some cold milk on top. I could see her doing this for a toddler as a) its how she made it (originally from an Irish farm, I'm sure a bit of sugar was needed after farm chores when she was younger) b) it's very easy to forget the currant recommendations - I know I'm out of date and my DD is only a teen now. She may just not have thought.

blackpanth · 27/12/2023 13:59

It's totally fine

blackpanth · 27/12/2023 14:02

MerryChristmasToYou · 27/12/2023 12:27

@Alalalalalongalalalalalonglonglilong , it does matter. I'm a vegetarian and my sugar-shovelling mother is a feeder, I did not want her dishing out chunks of meat to my DC.

Just because you're a vegetarian your child doesn't have to be. Meat is good for their brain development

Chickpea17 · 27/12/2023 14:03

Get a grip for the love of god.

MerryChristmasToYou · 27/12/2023 14:05

@blackpanth , my toddlers' diet was my DH and I's to decide, not my mother's.
Also, my mother is a feeder.

I did not want my children being fed chunks of meat outside mealtimes, like my vegetarian sibling's children were.

MRSMTO · 27/12/2023 14:07

Flossflower · 27/12/2023 13:09

I can understand why you are cross. Next time the baby has porridge they will want to have sugar in it. You need to tell your MIL sugar is not allowed. All these people saying no harm done. We have an obesity crisis!

We shave an obesity crisis not from someone's mother in law sticking a bit of sugar in a kids porridge. Don't be so ridiculous.

We have an obesity crisis because people are far far busier, not as much time to prepare home cooked foods and so eat shit like pizza - not occasionally but every day.

We have an obesity crisis because good food is so much more expensive and not all children are taught to cook healthy meals from scratch.

rainbowunicorn · 27/12/2023 14:09

Mumof118 · 27/12/2023 13:41

Not really relevant to your op, but my mother kept me off sugar until I was about 15 and I starting working and earning some pocket money. I desperately wanted to eat what my friends had been having, so starting buying myself snacks when Dm wasn’t around. I’d buy 4 x 4 stick kitkats and eat them all in one go. I’d pop to McDonalds from school and claim to have missed the bus. I snuck pastries into my bedroom and hid them in the wardrobes

Im 43 now and have been up and down with my weight since. I have a very unhealthy relationship with food, particularly desserts. I’d rather just eat desserts to be honest.

What I’m trying to say is that sugar isn’t the end of the world. My son was allowed whatever he wanted, so sugar isn’t special to him. He loves weird stuff like broccoli and salmon, neither of which I eat. He’s six foot two, and athletic. He loves a sweet snack now and again, but his diet is amazingly balanced.

Hownon earth is broccoli and salmon weird stuff. Both are literally staples that millions of people eat daily. You couldn't possibly fi d less weird food.

Floatinginatincan · 27/12/2023 14:11

What a cunt. Go, no contact NOW

ThoughtYouKnew · 27/12/2023 14:12

Did she know you didn’t want her to add sugar and ignored your wishes? If so, that’s not ok and although a bit of sugar won’t cause any harm, she should listen to you, or don’t leave your child with her if she won’t.

If she wasn’t really aware, just ask her not to do it in future. No drama needed. Your child will be fine having had a bit of sugar on porridge.

Theoldcuriosityshop · 27/12/2023 14:13

I remember sugar sandwiches when I was a kid back in the early 50s. I'm late 70s now and it obviously didn't do me any harm. God it must be hard bringing up kids nowadays if people worry about one tiny spoonful of sugar.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 27/12/2023 14:17

notfeeblebutPhoebe · 27/12/2023 11:37

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

I went to a hotel in Scotland, where there was not only golden syrup and double cream next to the tureen of porridge, but also a bottle of whisky, in case anyone wanted a dram of it on their porridge, @notfeeblebutPhoebe!

@sunflowers365 - one bowl of porridge with sugar on isn’t the end of the world - I understand your feelings, but is it really worth getting upset about?

Ifancythegrinch · 27/12/2023 14:17

Just tell her not to do it again.

(My fist child had no sugar for ages, I would have hit the roof. My 4th, 18 years on when I was old and knackered was basically weaned on chocolate buttons and custard. This really isn’t the huge deal it feels like right now)

SmileyClare · 27/12/2023 14:18

rainbowunicorn · 27/12/2023 14:09

Hownon earth is broccoli and salmon weird stuff. Both are literally staples that millions of people eat daily. You couldn't possibly fi d less weird food.

Show quote history

I wouldn’t call salmon a “staple” food. It’s bloody expensive! I can’t afford to eat as part of a staple diet.

I think you’re nit picking really and ignoring what that poster is trying to say- she’s been very honest about her difficult relationship with food.

A lot of children might call broccoli or the very fishy taste of salmon as “weird” and wouldn’t ask for it.

Floopyfloop · 27/12/2023 14:26

Something tells me that this post was designed to incite very divided opinions and the OP has no intention of returning! #Schoolholidays

MissBuffyAnneSummers · 27/12/2023 14:44

15 months is a long time to still be in the PFB stage.

Doggymummar · 27/12/2023 14:45

margotrose · 27/12/2023 10:48

What's wrong with sugar on porridge? Confused

The sugary crust is the best but, or better still, golden syrup

Doublerainbow23 · 27/12/2023 14:49

Totally depends on her intentions....

  1. Innocent mistake whilst helpfully making breakfast for DC...no harm done, just nicely ask her not to next time as you don't add sugar
  1. She added it knowing full well you don't want her to, because she knows best etc...not okay