AIBU to not feed my 11mo chocolate?

[vamosbebe]

Both a very close friend (who is godmother to countless children and a primary school teacher) and my Dad have, in the space of a week, been a bit 'eh? that's stupid' about my refusal to feed DS chocolate.

I'm trying to keep him interested in fish and vegtables and meat and fruit and all the lovely fresh, healthy food I can. Besides, I don't think he'd be able to bite a Cadbury's button let alone chew it.

I know chocolate is not the food of Satan - I eat more than anyone I know! - but for an 11mo? I'd like to hold back until DS is 2.

Sensible or control freak?

[valiumredhead]

We held back until ds was 2 - 2.5 ish

Although he did have chocolate buttons from his Auntie when he was a year and as far as I am concerned she is a fab mum and has 4 fabulous children and was babysitting while dh and I went out for the day, so she could feed him whatever she wanted

And he had birthday cake on his first birthday.

[Jingleflobba]

Boomerwang my DD is 8 months too. Does your DD eyeball everyone when they're eating? Mine damn near chews every mouthful with me when she sees me eat
OP YANBU to make the choice for your DC. Some people do (DD had her first taste of a tiny bit of chocolate and beetroot brownie today!) some don't. Nobody has the right to judge you for your decision.

[chocoluvva]

Other people will criticise you OP to make themselves feel better about not managing to have your high standards when it comes to feeding thier DCs. That's their problem though......
Your baby - your choice. (As long as you don't go around being sanctimonoius about it they really shouldn't harass you about this).

[IneedAsockamnesty]

Arrrr I ment to just change the 5 to a 4 because I glanced up to be faced with a photo of one of them at 4 covered in choc mouse and chuckled.

Not sure how it redid the whole thing

[IneedAsockamnesty]

My kids have very little interest in that sort of thing none of them even tried it until they were about 4, and we don't really have it in the house but if they ask at a shop then they get some.

[IneedAsockamnesty]

My kids have very little interest in that sort of thing none of them even tried it until they were about 5, and we don't really have it in the house but if they ask at a shop then they get some.

[Boomerwang]

vamos I think it's because when she was born her life was in danger and they're just so pleased she's still here that they let her have what she wants. She is full of energy but it's sad to see her with an overhang which her tshirt doesn't cover at the grand old age of 5. I must say the whole family has weight issues.

I'm fat and my feet ache when I stand up, my back hurts, I can't walk far without getting out of breath and I generally feel unhealthy. I need to sort this out, but I sure don't want my child to grow up in a house where unhealthy food is the norm so I'm careful that even at this young age she only sees Mommy and Daddy eat healthy food. even if we eat crap when she's in bed

[DaveMccave]

Oh, apart from the time when she was about 10 months when she found a lindt ball thing under the table and ate it. I was so upset I nearly cried. I admit now that was a bit... ok a LOT pfb.

[DaveMccave]

I was the same. Didn't let her have any till she was 2. After that, my suspisions were confirmed... She wanted MORE and I could no longer eat things out of a foil wrapper without her crying for some. I had to move my snacking to nap time. What a ball ache.

She does still adore fruit etc and has a very varied diet, and I do think restricting so she could learn to love less sweet stuff first probably helped. And everyone did act as though I was hitler, you get used to it.

[ScumbagCollegeDropout]

YANBU. Your baby, your choice.

DD1 was well over a year before she was given chocolate by relatives.

DD2 is a different story. She quickly hoovered up a fallen advent calander choc when she was 7 months

[2rebecca]

Should have put carbohydrates, FAT....., not double carbohydrates

[2rebecca]

Chocolate does have nutritional value. It contains carbohydrates, sugar, flavonoids and antioxidants.
None of these are part of an essential diet for a baby but the antioxidant properties of chocolate (strongest in the dark bitter 70% stuff) have been discussed in medical publications.
If I'm doing alot of exercise I appreciate the fact that chocolate has high calories in a low weight bar.
I think my kids had it at under a year, neither of them are big sweet eaters now, but then neither am I, I don't keep sweets etc in the house very often. Chocolate sometimes is still nice though, and after a long run it's very nice.

[vamosbebe]

Oh boomewrang that's so sad about your niece, poor girl. Why on earth would they still feed her crap?

[Boomerwang]

I'm not worried about nutritional value. As long as the rest of my kid's food is good for her.

I want her to taste everything. She's nearly 8 months and so far the worst I've given her is a lick of ice cream. She loved it. In the past two weeks she's started taking an interest in other people's food when they eat, so she's been given bits of chicken, mashed potato, cream cake and others and as long as it's not more than just a taste, it's ok. I certainly will not allow a full size portion of anything full of sugar and definitely not added salt.

My niece will only eat macaroni and pizza and she's been declared obese at the age of 5. I have to clamp my mouth shut when her parents give her more of this crap.

[vamosbebe]

It's not that I think DS will refuse 'real' food, I just think of the nutrition, or lack of it. I'm very wary of offering choc as a 'treat' in the future just to avoid the face-stuffing that'd go on when he's at another house. He'll have chocolate eventually - probably by jumping onto my lap to sneak a bite of whatever Mummy's eating! - but just not so early.

I don't think he'll have a chocolate advent calendar this year - too young to understand it all anyway, but perhaps next year or the year after when he 'gets' it a bit more.

Thanks for all your replies

[CailinDana]

YANBU, it's totally up to you. I don't know if it makes any difference but I don't tend to do the whole "treats" thing and DS (23 months) seems totally oblivious to the concept of sweets. That could be just his personality though. Given the choice of chocolate or an apple he'll likely choose an apple. If you forbid certain foods or give them strong "reward" associations the danger is that they'll become too much of a draw. At parties I see children frantically stuffing their faces not necessarily because they actually want the food but because they are given the strong message that this is "special" and they've had the food as rewards in the past so it's got an emotional connection.

In our house we might have sweets in or not, you can eat them or not, and DS more often doesn't bother. At parties he tends to go for things like pizza or sandwiches - he might have a bite or two of chocolate but that's it.

[TenMinutesLate]

I've the cutest picture of my DD sucking on a bar of white chocolate (green & blacks obvs!), my Dad gave it to her whilst i was in the kitchen and although I didn't want her eating chocolate so early I didn't have the heart to snatch it off her and clump my dad over the head with it. She was about 8 months x

DS was sucking chocolate buttons v early on....but he'll quite happily chew on cucumber as well.

She is your child so you do want you think is best, there is plenty if time....just make sure you have a camera ready as the delight on their face is close to heaven!

[chocoluvva]

YANBU. In fact, well done from me to you for holding out.
Your baby is not being deprived, as other posters have said.
It's not a shame.
I know people who go bananas if their dog gets a titbit, but let their tiny DCs have rubbish to eat! It's outrageous.
My DD had almost no sweets till DS came along when she was 29months and kindly friends gave her sweets to make her feel included in the baby present. (Now aged 16 she eats loads of sweets and biscuits but I'm still glad she had an excellent diet when she was little).

[plutocrap]

You know your own children, so you know how they're likely to react. Also, you're the one who gets the consequences of any sugar high or fussiness (if your child is prone to these), not your "well meaning" friends and relations, so put your foot down if you have to.

[ilovemybum]

My DS is 11 months and has the occasional chocolate button. Not everyday, I would say about once a week. He still very much loves his veg and will be quite happy after just having the 1 button.

Completely upto you though.

[Lesbeadiva]

My mum gave both my children their first chocolate button at Christmas...DS was 10 months old and dd was 7 months old. She is a great gran to them, so I bit my tongue and let it slide. I didn't actively give them chocolate until a quite a bit later. But believe me, it never curbed their appetite for fruit and veg. In fact they will eat sweet things and still then go to the fruit bowl.

Your baby, your choice. So of course YANBU

I need to get off MN now and get ready for the school run!

[crazyhatlady]

YANBU. Hold off as long as you can. Chocolate and sweets have zero nutritional value and if they don't know it exists they can hardly feel 'deprived'. My ds didn't taste chocolate until he was 2, sweets until he was 3. when they do discover these foods you will be harassed for ever more. Handy bargaining tool though.

[DragonMamma]

It's up to you but I am from the everything in moderation camp so I think YABabitU to wait until 2.

My DC2 (18mo) is a brilliant brilliant eater. He really is a pleasure to feed and eats more than his 5 yo sister - his jaffa cake addiction doesn't stop that and just forms part of a very varied diet.

I can't imagine how you avoid chocolate giving though, especially when they are walking and climbing and are at parties where the food is laid out though? Seems a tad mean to have them watch others eat it.

[rotavirusrita]

p.s dont mean to be mean evil to anyone with mental health issues ( which I have myself) with the word "bonkers" perhaps "eccentric" would be better

[rotavirusrita]

It doesnt matter does it?? I mean I have managed to go 8 yrs without my children getting a taste for celery......thank goodness because just the smell of it makes me heave! I think I should get a big pat on the back for avoiding such an evil vegetable for so long :).

However beware if you do treat chocolate and haribo like it is crack cocaine around you PFB you may come a cross as a bit of a nutter! I remember the dressing down my husband got after giving a friends 1yr old chocolate cake plus icing at a party. We all thought she was a bit bonkers after that