Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not mind my 18month old ds have an ice cream or lolly if its hot/social occasion/on the beach

128 replies

peanutdream · 27/03/2011 18:33

me and my dh are having a right old 'debate' about whether ice cream for under 5s is ok.

i think it is basically harmless to have as a treat. dh thinks it is unacceptable. i think he is being a bit ott.

aibu or is he?

OP posts:
cairnterrier · 27/03/2011 18:36

Lolly on a stick to avoid the heartbreaking sadness of watching a little child tip his icecream cone to the side and the icecream fall off. Makes me so sad inside every time I see it. Or even the melting icecream on the pavement and you just know what's happened :(

Original poster
peanutdream · 27/03/2011 18:36

having said that - i respect his opinion enough not to make a big deal of it and i'm not that fussed either way

OP posts:
AgentZigzag · 27/03/2011 18:36

They're harmless as a treat.

Under 5s?

So he'd stop a 4 YO having a lolly because it's 'unacceptable'?

Miserable git.

What's his reasoning?

Vallhala · 27/03/2011 18:37

He is but I'm sure that loads of people will come along and disagree with me.

Apart from the "children don't need sugar" argument and the miniscule risk of bacterial illness with iced foods, is there any other reason why your DH is draconian and censorius about ice-creams and lollies?

cairnterrier · 27/03/2011 18:37

Although if he's 18 months, I'd want him sitting down if eating something off a stick.

Or maybe a cone would be better.

Gah, am not going to be able to sleep tonight pondering this one.

thanks

AngryGrin

Original poster
peanutdream · 27/03/2011 18:37

cairnterrier aaaahhhh Sad

OP posts:
freshmint · 27/03/2011 18:37

you've got to be kidding
ice cream is best appreciated by the under 5s
tell him to bog off Grin

AgentZigzag · 27/03/2011 18:38

Yeah cairnterrier, it's like seeing a split bag of penny sweets on the pavement, you're haunted by the vibes of the crying DC who lost them to the gravel Grin

Original poster
peanutdream · 27/03/2011 18:39

e numbers and the 'its a gateway to a lifelong sugar habit' or something along those lines....

OP posts:
bebemooneedsabreak · 27/03/2011 18:39

As a treat it is fine (in our house). We see no problem with it especially if it's small (and they often still will 'share' big ones with you). Obviously it should not replace a proper meal (but as a treat it wouldn't be would it?)

Vallhala · 27/03/2011 18:39

cairnterrier, one of my sweetest memories of my two DDs when small was the sight of DD2's face when she dropped her lolly and then her smile as DD1 gave her her own. They were 5 and 6 years old at the time. :)

ilovesooty · 27/03/2011 18:39

Good grief. I had ice cream as an under 5. How did I survive?

Original poster
peanutdream · 27/03/2011 18:41

dh wrote my second post btw lol

i have used the word 'dogmatic' in this conversation?!

OP posts:
Vallhala · 27/03/2011 18:41

In view of his reasons your DH is being a bot of a burk. :)

AgentZigzag · 27/03/2011 18:42

I gave 14 MO DD2 a taste of my Haagen-Dazs lemon cheesecake ice cream (I really do love her that much Grin) they like different textures and temperatures in their mouths.

E numbers and gateway to life long sugar habit?? Grin

Good luck with that one, it's just a bit of ice cream.

Vallhala · 27/03/2011 18:42

A BIT of a burk even! Or possibly both!

thekidsmom · 27/03/2011 18:43

We've got a massive blow up picture on the wall of DS when he had his first lolly. It was in a park with lots of daffodils. He was 14 months ish. He grabbed it by the wrong/cold end and toddled off with the happiest smile on his face which I see every day..... he's 20 now, doesnt seem to have suffered any lasting ill effects.....

piprabbit · 27/03/2011 18:43

Would a small scoop of ice cream with something like a fruit salad also be forbidden?

I thought everybody had a photo of themselves as a two year old, naked except for a nappy and joyously covered in melting ice cream...

Baggypussy · 27/03/2011 18:44

I gave my DD a chocolate ice cream when she was just over a year. I think the occassional treat in an otherwise healthy, balanced diet does no harm at all.

On the contrary, making certain foods 'forbidden fruit' could be more likely to lead to hang ups/cravings/bingeing in later years. (IMO)

saffy85 · 27/03/2011 18:45

Unacceptable? Confused Why?

I have numerous pictures of DD eating ice cream and having a very good time doing so Grin

ohnoshedittant · 27/03/2011 18:45

cairnterrier I feel the same when I see one of those helium balloons loose....always think of the crying child who only let go for a second....

SmethwickBelle · 27/03/2011 18:45

Even Dave in the classic children's story "Dogger" gave his baby brother "a few inbetween licks" of his ice cream. If we want to be pedantic I'd place Joe, the baby brother at well under one. Dave was certainly a pre-schooler and had one all to himself! Grin

caughtinanet · 27/03/2011 18:47

Please get your dh to report back in 3.5 years on his sucess with that rule - totally bonkers imo

AgentZigzag · 27/03/2011 18:47

Luckily DD1 was satisfied that the balloon she'd let go when she was about 3, had decided to go to America for a short holiday ohnoshedittant Grin

EricNorthmansMistress · 27/03/2011 18:49

Hahahahahahaha icecream as a gateway drug! Yeah, sure - icecream in under 5s leads to lifelong addiction and being 35 stone by the age of 35....

He is BU. Ice lollies and mini milks are completely fine. A magnum for an 18mo would be silly and wasteful mind you...