Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have my judgy-pants on?

39 replies

RunningDay · 16/04/2011 21:47

Went to a bbq today. One of the dads was tucking into a plate of grilled meat and pasta salad etc. and when his 11 month old reached up very keenly to get to the food, the dad swiftly moved it away like you would if your baby was reaching for, say, a glass of wine or hot cup of tea.

Turns out that this child is fed only on jars. Jars for breakfast, jars for lunch, jars for dinner. The poor boy was practically salivating at the sight of real food, so I was really surprised by the dad's reaction!

Am I wrong to judge? Before I am flamed to a nice shade of charcoal, I of course kept these thoughts in my head and continued to make pleasant conversation with the parents Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
RunningDay · 16/04/2011 23:04

I accept there could be a back-story, but from talking to them, it seemed more like it hadn't occurred to them that he didn't have to have purées just because he is a baby.

OP posts:
greenbananas · 16/04/2011 23:05

GloriaSmut, my MIL had her babies around 45 years ago, so much, much earlier than you, and I'm not sure she was typical of the whole country even at the time. Still, it was interesting to listen to her. She wanted so much to do the right thing for her babies and really felt that jars were the best thing for them. She also refused to consider breastfeeding because she had been sold the idea that formula was the 'modern' way to feed babies (I am not criticising people who choose to formula feed, just the way that formula was marketed in the 1960s.)

TransatlanticCityGirl · 16/04/2011 23:35

As a rule I try not to judge other parents for making different choices to me.

Everyone has different beliefs. Unless they are feeding their kids brownies laced with marijuana, let it go.

And speaking of letting it go.... why are you letting this bother you to the point of needing to post about it on mumsnet? Time to re-focus on what's important!

ll31 · 17/04/2011 01:49

their child, their responsibility and their choice.. truthfully, even at 11 months andgetting nothing but jars, he's prob getting reasonable ok diet... Also for allyou know he's say egg allergy so maybe they need to be very careful.... but hey we all judge... its good to feel superior!!!!

Tee2072 · 17/04/2011 07:11

Transatlantic if we only post on MN about what was 'important' the board would shut down.

I would have judged as well. And, seeing as I have a big mouth, probably said 'really? at his age he only has jars? Does he have allergies or something?'

And I used jars quite often with my son until he was over a year, but not every meal. I liked the convenience and he liked the taste.

EricNorthmansMistress · 17/04/2011 08:19

Like Tee I would probably have said something too! It's fairly typical of modern, over anxious, more money than sense parenting IMO.

practicallyimperfect · 17/04/2011 08:35

I would have judged. Inside my head. I do it a lot though, you would never know

Pretty sure I get judged all the time, I hope I provide people with entertainment and pondering!

Wallace · 17/04/2011 08:44

lostlady - was wondering what "yen weaning" was! Grin

muminthecity · 17/04/2011 12:28

My Aunt fed my cousin on stage 1 baby jars until the age of 18 months! Shock I was a bit judgy too, though to be fair her DD had slightly choked on a rice cake at around 7 months and that had scared my Aunt and put her off giving her DD any lumps at all. Her DD is 6 now and the fussiest eater I have ever met. She still prefers plain, sloppy food, doesn't like anything too hard or chewy Sad

I remember my Aunt looking like this Shock when she saw my DD munching on a sandwich at around 8 months Grin

AuntiePickleBottom · 17/04/2011 12:33

was the baby born premuture, as 11 months maybe not his corrected age ???

onceamai · 17/04/2011 12:38

The jars no - the 11month old should be learning to eat a varied diet. The child should have been given a small plate with some appropriate food on it. The child should not have been allowed to take food from his father's plate - that is plain bad manners at any age and the father was, IMO, quite right not to allow it.

libelulle · 17/04/2011 13:53

Onceamai - really?! At 11 months you think it's bad manners for a baby to take food from a parents plate? Honestly had no idea anyone thought 'manners' was a concept that could apply to an 11 mo-old!

I actually think it's a really bad principle, because many children will eat stuff from their parents plate that they wouldn't touch on their own, so you are effectively denying them the chance to try new and more adventurous flavours.

OP - my DD at that age would actually only eat jars, turning her nose up at my beautiful home-cooked food. I used to actually put home-made stuff in jars in a vain attempt to trick her! She does have food allergies though which may factor in. At 3, she now eats a good and varied diet.

Tee2072 · 17/04/2011 15:03

Actually, Onceamai, it's anthropology, to eat off a parent's plate. It's how babies knew the food was safe back in our hunter gather days. It's certainly not rude at that age.

ChippingInLovesEasterEggs · 17/04/2011 15:21

11 months - rude - don't make me laugh.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread