Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder why most parents don't give their toddlers any spicy food?

230 replies

laweaselmys · 25/10/2010 20:38

I understand not giving tiny babies jalepenos.

I understand (when they are confident with eating solid food say over one at least) giving them some plain options and a bit of moderately spicy stuff to try.

I don't understand waiting until they are 5, making a big fuss about it, then being surprised when they don't like it.

OP posts:
mousymouse · 25/10/2010 20:41

I don*t get it either. my dc eat what we eat from quite a young age. not mindblowingly spicey but not bland at all.

AWoodenPickle · 25/10/2010 20:43

YANBU

They eat what we eat. My 2yo would choose a curry over pretty much anything else.

NormalityBites · 25/10/2010 20:43

I don't understand this either. But then I don't understand any type of 'special food' for children - whether they are 6 months or 6 years. Also don't understand stressing about it.

Just give them real food, in sufficient quantities, at frequent intervals and there your responsibility ends.

BertieBotts · 25/10/2010 20:44

Probably because spicy food can upset your tummy if you aren't used to it. Then they get into the habit of feeding their children blander foods and don't think to try them with spicy food until they are older.

Goblinchild · 25/10/2010 20:44

A lot of Asian parents I know just make milder versions of adult food for toddlers, de-seed the chillies, add a bit of yoghurt.

CMOTdibbler · 25/10/2010 20:47

ds has always eaten the same as us from when he was 6mo and weaned. Most things he likes, some he doesn't. Doesn't stop him trying everything still, and we never pass comment as to whether he might not like something

LoopyLoupGarou · 25/10/2010 20:48

DD's (16 months) favourite foods are Thai curry, Indian curry and stilton!

misdee · 25/10/2010 20:48

mine love mild-medium spicey food.

give them a curry or mexican dish and they love it.

moomaa · 25/10/2010 20:48

I'm like the others here so far, they just eat what we eat. Maybe other people don't eat spicy food, so don't feed it to their kids?

maryjane71 · 25/10/2010 20:49

DD would sit in her highchair and say 'mmm this chilli is minty'. And DH made it rather hot. She 21 now and loves anything spicy.

Original poster
laweaselmys · 25/10/2010 20:49

Hmm yes - maybe it is just trying again later.

I know I didn't have spicy food at all as a small child apart from once some spicy gucamole which I didn't like. And I was 8 or 9 I think before my parents took me for a curry! Which I didn't like. It has taken me quite a while to get used to spice.

Possibly it has evolved into being more keen on DD trying it than other people. She had some Thai Green curry at 15mths that upset her stomach. But everything else she has been a fan of and gone back for more.

OP posts:
parakeet · 25/10/2010 20:50

Eeh, aren't you all so bloody marvellous then.

NormalityBites · 25/10/2010 20:50

BertieBotts - all food can upset your tummy if you're not used to it - and a 6mo baby isn't used to any, so why should putting a spicy dish in front of them make a lot of difference?

yama · 25/10/2010 20:51

Who says they don't?

Original poster
laweaselmys · 25/10/2010 20:51

I am laughing at 'this chilly is minty' though!

OP posts:
maryz · 25/10/2010 20:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

fishie · 25/10/2010 20:51

People who can't cook can't adjust the amount of chilli or whatever.

NormalityBites · 25/10/2010 20:52

Anyone can stir in extra yoghurt, fishie, even to a ready meal or takeaway.

scottishmummy · 25/10/2010 20:52

my dc eat chillies,moderate amount.they eat most food.we all love spicy jollof rice and chilli.yum

Original poster
laweaselmys · 25/10/2010 20:53

I'm just interested because I have seen it written in baby books to avoid spicy food. So wondering if there is a specific actual reason why it is a bad idea.

Also just from what other mums say they do, and how shocked they are if I say DD has tried something a bit spicy.

It's not a big judgement, I just want to know why they don't.

OP posts:
ChasingSquirrels · 25/10/2010 20:55

cos I don't eat spicy food myself.

Appletrees · 25/10/2010 20:55

It's a cultural thing, Asian families and parents with different food cultures will do it more. It's only now people are making their own curries it's changing. Used to be something you ate out or bought in a ready meal, which you wouldn't give your children -- something more high quality one would hope! I spose most people would start with a mild chilli con carne aged four or five? And start increasing the spiceyness?

Maybe it gets such a blleurgh on first tasting, who'd persevere unless you had to and it was part of your daily diet? It's not a part of most English daily home diets, like it would be in an Asian family.

scottishmummy · 25/10/2010 20:56

in rl,dont most familoies just make one meal and eat that?i wouldn't prepare special children meals.i dont use salt and add extra jalapeño for my own taste.same meal cooked for all of us though

BeatrixRotter · 25/10/2010 20:57

DD doesn't like it, she's 2 and has been offered curries several times from the start and she doesn't like them.

misdee · 25/10/2010 20:58

dd3 describe extra strong mints as 'spicey' lol.