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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be a bit annoyed the nursery were giving DD Fruit Shoots?

57 replies

LifeIsButtercream · 29/07/2011 08:57

DD is 2, I went to pick her up from nursery a few days ago as her room were just finishing their dinner. They were all sitting around their little table sucking on (sugar-free) Fruit Shoots........

I KNOW I sound like a PFB food-nazi, but I just don't give those to DD, I have a nasty reaction to some sugar-substitutes and am avoiding them with DD incase she has the same, DD loves apple juice and drinks that (watered down) instead. I know this will sound PFB, but even if I wasn't concerned about this I still wouldn't give Fruit Shoots to DD as they are full of weird chemicals and there is no need for her to be having them at her age (goodness knows she will encounter enough of them when she gets older!)

I had put on her nursery notes that she was not to be given products that contain artificial sweeteners, because of the reaction I have to them. The nursery states that it serves home-made meals, and avoids additives etc, so why on earth were they serving Fruit Shoots? A staff member in DD's room said that they had them with every afternoon dinner.

Deploy Biscuit

OP posts:
PuppyMonkey · 29/07/2011 09:29

Yes, Stranded, she said they have them every afternoon.

RitaMorgan · 29/07/2011 09:29

I wouldn't give squash to a toddler every day full stop - maybe occasionally but juice is a better treat, and water for everyday.

StrandedBear · 29/07/2011 09:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sharney · 29/07/2011 09:31

Rainbow, I agree, they're just awful. I did get them for dd a lot. They were always in the house and she probably had 1 a day. I took a swig out of one to take a tablet and thought she's not having these again. And she doesn't. I thought I'd have a bit of a battle but she's not even mentioned it. Just water, milk or diluted juice. phew

LoveBeingAtHomeOnMyOwn · 29/07/2011 09:32

Tbh I'm more shocked that they ate spending so much money on these and having them every day how strange.

LoveBeingAtHomeOnMyOwn · 29/07/2011 09:32

*are

PuppyMonkey · 29/07/2011 09:35

I have nothing against FS occasionally, just can't understand why a nursery would fork out for juice instead of giving water. Tap water, too, obviously Wink

Sharney · 29/07/2011 09:36

Oh by the way, op, YANBU. I'd definitely be having words with whoever's in charge. To ignore a parental instruction is surely neglect. If staff hadn't bothered to read and follow through with your requests they're probably doing the same with others. Could end up a bit of a disaster.

Elemis · 29/07/2011 09:38

Don't think you are being unreasonable at all.
I would have to say something and my DS has no allergies/reactions, but I wouldn't give him those sugar free things loaded with artificial crap.
I'm usually quite relaxed about food and drink, but I have a real problem with artificial sweeteners, I do think they are poison. ( I am addicted to diet coke)
Were they definitely the sugar free variety, I think they have changed them recently and there is a proper fruit juice one.

I'm very surprised if the nursery are giving them out at every meal, wouldn't it work out way more expensive?

chocolatchaud · 29/07/2011 09:38

lovebeing and puppymonkey I was just going to say the same - I am staggered a nursery would waste money on FS when they could get away with water.

I would be fed up with my nursery for doing this. A lot of parents try to stick to water for as long as possible before their DCs encounter other types of drink - if they are offered FS at nursery, they will want them when they see them out and about.

It's not the sugar I have a problem with, it's the aspartame. I do give them to the DCs occasionally but certainly not every day.

Roo83 · 29/07/2011 10:15

I wouldn't be happy-ds doesnt have any allergies but fs are for a treat only. Nurseries and schools should, I feel, be promoting a healthy lifestyle

ThierryHenryismyBoyfriend · 29/07/2011 10:22

I'm not sure that i believe that any nursery would serve fruit shoots everyday, sorry but I don't.

bubblesincoffee · 29/07/2011 10:24

I wouldn't be happy about this at all. I don't like frootshoots, and I feel it's up to me to give my children treats, not a nursery's.

Nurseries get free mil to give to children anyway - don't they give them that at some point throughout the day?

RalphGnu · 29/07/2011 10:25

If you've expressly asked for your daughter not to have ASs then no, YANBU, but at least you know she's not likely to have an allergy to them now.

I don't see the harm in them once in a while, my DS has one if we're out and I've forgotten to take his sippy cup out. They are ridiculously sweet.

They're not cheap though, it seems wrong to me that the nursery are spending money on Frootshoots. Can they not be bothered with pouring water or milk into cups?

Poweredbypepsi · 29/07/2011 10:28

I have never come across a nursery that does this are you sure it's everyday not just say once a week?.
Not sure I would have a problem with it especially if it's only occasionally but I do understand some people may. I would be a but pissed off about the possible reaction thing but good news is she hasn't had a reaction so you can relax about that at least. I give my toddlers orange or apple squash most days so I'm probably just as bad.

worraliberty · 29/07/2011 10:30

This wouldn't bother me in the slightest...other than to think it's extremely weird why they would want to go to that sort of expense and every single day too? Confused

But YANBU because they should be reading your child's notes.

harassedandherbug · 29/07/2011 10:33

I'm not precious about food or drink, but to my taste FS's are really strong squash. I'm tight, and make it weak for health reasons too although that's prob rubbish! So they're giving the kids at least one FS a day, every day. That's a lot of crappy drink, before you even to the allergy issue that was flagged!

Wouldn't it just be easier, cheaper and healthier to give them water? I really don't understand why they're not tbh.

GypsyMoth · 29/07/2011 10:53

They give every child in the nursery a fruit shoot every afternoon??

So how can they afford that then? It's not a cheap option

EricNorthmansMistressOfPotions · 29/07/2011 11:18

YANBU
I don't give DS artificial sweeteners on a regular basis and would be very pissed off if nursery were giving it daily.

belgo · 29/07/2011 11:27

YANBU. Fruit shoots are gross. And they cause plastic wastage and are over priced, you are right to complain. You pay the nursery fees and I wouldn't want my money to go on fruit shoots.

hocuspontas · 29/07/2011 11:29

I would imagine that they are a Robinson's freebie and will run out soon.

SpecialFriedRice · 29/07/2011 11:38

YANBU

You told them No, and they gave her it anyway.

We don't have anything with artificial sweetner in this house as I read about what artificial sweetner can do so cut it out totally. DD has calmed down a lot. She used to be a total handful. Now she's just a regular 3yo handful! :P I also had an itchy rash on my legs that disappeared when I stopped sweetner!

notcitrus · 29/07/2011 11:51

There's some new fruit shoots that are just diluted fruit juice, no sugar or sweeteners (as SIL pointed out when I tried hard not to go 'but you've always been so anti FS for dn!!!')

Could have been those? A rip-off but at least you then have the handy bottles to re-use (cheaper than buying bottles).

Quenelle · 29/07/2011 12:13

YANBU. I don't like the idea of giving children artifical sweeteners and if you've flagged allergies with the nursery you would be right to be concerned.

But it's not only the AS, lots of toddlers I know start refusing to drink plain water when they're introduced to juice and squash. As it's much healthier, especially for their teeth, to drink water, I would be really cross if the nursery was encouraging it. DS has diluted juice sometimes but only with food. I only give him water other times and he happily drinks it for now.

You can call me PFB if you like but I've got horrible teeth and remember having loads of fillings as a kid. DS has lovely baby teeth and I hope his adult ones will be the same, I'd be gutted if they were ruined by too much sugar. I was terrified of the dentist and used to worry all the time about having to go. I don't want DS to have to go through that.

OrdinaryJo · 29/07/2011 12:20

YANBU. If you have specifically stated DD shouldn't be given something then she shouldn't be given it, end of. I'm not PFB about food but you need to be able to trust them on these sorts of issues. What if it was a peanut allergy she had, or if you avoided pork for religious reasons???

I am also a bit Shock that they give out FS every day, our nursery had a no chocolates, sweets or crisps policy (we supplied the food) and the only drinks were water or milk. That just seems to make sense to me, why offer sweetened drinks when there's no need for them.

[cross face]