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?

[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.

[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

[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]

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

[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.

[2rebecca]

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

[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

[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.

[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.

[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

[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.

[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]

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

[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).

[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.

[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.