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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to give my dc 3 weetabix?

148 replies

Mumof3xox · 13/07/2014 07:32

Following on from the thread about a 3 year old weighing a little too much where several people have commented it's "crazy" to let a 3 year old eat 2.5 weetabix, and how they themselves as an adult would only eat one

I am now wondering Aibu to let my 5&6 year olds eat 3 each? Sometimes they follow it with a piece of toast or fruit

They are both healthy weights and tbh, in the past they have eaten 4/5 each. I have actually cut them down to three as it was costing a bomb!

Actually. Aibu that my 15 month old eats 2 weetabix sometimes?

OP posts:
MrsDavidBowie · 13/07/2014 07:35

My D's can eat up to 7.
But he's 15

OpiesOldLady · 13/07/2014 07:39

All kids are different. My two year old will eat one and a half, my four year old three and my nine year old four. Then they have days when they don't want to eat any and that's ok too.

If they are eating them because they are genuinely hungry as opposed to just being greedy then I don't see an issue.

JapaneseMargaret · 13/07/2014 07:43

I can't imagine my 4 and 5 year old eating more than 1.

I always ate 1 growing up, with some fruit and yogurt.

3+ seems huge portion-wise, even for an adult. I often don't think people realise how tiny portions are for this age. But if they're hungry, they're hungry, I guess.

makeminea6x · 13/07/2014 07:43

One weetabix isn't even a serving!

My DD used to have 2 when she was 18 months but only wants 1 to piss about with for about half an hour now

Original poster
Mumof3xox · 13/07/2014 07:44

Mixed opinions I see!

If I gave 5&6 year olds one each I think they would eat me

OP posts:
MagnificentMaleficent · 13/07/2014 07:45

3 Weetabix is about 180 calories so less than two pieces of toast.

I think if they are hungry 3 Weetabix is fine! Mine often fill up at breakfast and the 3yo might not bother with lunch, or have more of a snack.

Weetabix are much better for them than an awful lot of breakfast foods.

Squitten · 13/07/2014 07:49

I give two each to mine (3 & 5). They are usually still hungry after that but I think that's a reasonable portion so prefer to give them fruit, yogurt, etc so they get a variety in the meal.

IAmAPaleontologist · 13/07/2014 07:53

at that age dd could put away 4 and then have toast.

She is 5 now and usually eats 2 abs some fruit.

Young children tend to be pretty reliable at self regulating. After a couple of servings of cereal I'll tend to suggest they have some fruit before they have more cereal or toast.

oddsocksmostly · 13/07/2014 07:55

I actually think that Weetabix are much smaller than they used to be, (unless I am comparing looking at one with a child's eyes rather than an adult's)

Trazzletoes · 13/07/2014 07:55

Maleficent but presumably they have them with milk which adds calories.

1 weetabix for an adult is not common IMO. I've given my 2 pre-schoolers 2 plenty of times in the past. I don't see a problem with 3 as long as (as a pp said) it's because they're hungry for them, rather than greedy.

The other day DD who is 2 had for breakfast: porridge (made with 20g porridge oats) with banana and honey and then 2 slices of toast with jam. But there are plenty of days she doesn't eat.

Also as someone else said, there are far far worse things you can eat for breakfast than Weetabix. I really wouldn't worry about it.

tumbletumble · 13/07/2014 07:59

My DS1 sometimes eats up to 4 weetabix! He's 8 and v skinny - 14% on the children's BMI scale.

I agree that my DC are good at self regulating. They eat when hungry and stop when full wish I could do the same!

Personally I would never say no to a child who asks for more of something healthy at a meal time.

MsJupiter · 13/07/2014 08:01

My 20 month old DS eats a massive bowl of porridge in the morning, an adult portion. He will also have a handful of fruit while I'm preparing it. It's often his biggest meal of the day which I think makes sense, he's eating after a long sleep and getting some energy in his body for the day.

Badvoc2 · 13/07/2014 08:04

Iirc bmi is now quite a discredited method of weight calculation?
IMO that 3'year old eats very healthily.

Sandthorn · 13/07/2014 08:27

Well, if you aim to split calorie intake roughly equally between meals, then 3 weetabix doesn't seem like a lot to ask. On the other hand, it isn't very balanced... The bit of milk they have with it hasn't got a vast load of protein in it. I'd rather they had a couple of weetabix, a piece of fruit, and either a boiled egg or a yoghurt.

ladymariner · 13/07/2014 08:29

Surely if your children are healthy weight and enjoy three Weetabix there's your answer? Ds would polish that off, he loved weetabix when he was younger and he was as fit as a racing snake, bit too healthy for him now!!!
You carry on doing what you think is best, you will always get people on here saying they and their children eat a quarter of avocado and seven mung beans between them and they are completely full.... makes me feel even more of a glutton than ever and I have no idea why I read them

Cardilover · 13/07/2014 08:39

Does it matter how much they eat at one meal if it all balances out over the day? I can't get my 4yo to sit still long enough to eat much at lunchtime so I'm more than happy for her to fill her boots at brekkie!

Sirzy · 13/07/2014 08:43

3 weetabix followed by toast does sound like a lot

Birdsgottafly · 13/07/2014 08:46

I would be starving if I ate the quantity of food some MNers do.

I think, for older children/adults, balance over three days, is what matters and daily for young children.

MrsBungle · 13/07/2014 08:47

They must all just be different. My two are 5 and 2 and both could only eat 1. Usually there is some fruit in there too. My 2 year old would be more likely to eat 2 than my 5 year old though, he definitely has a bigger appetite. 3 does seem a large portion to me, I would only have 2 and I have a big appetite

m0therofdragons · 13/07/2014 08:48

Wish my dtd1 would eat that, so far she's had one spoonful of porridge with chocolate powder on top to encourage her (desperate attempt). She's apparently having a break :(

QueenofKelsingra · 13/07/2014 08:49

my 3 DC (4, 2 and 2) will eat 2x Weetabix, a small bowl of other cereal and a piece of fruit or a yoghurt. some days fruit and yoghurt.

they are all healthy weights (25th centile) and very active.

it is not unusual for my kids to eat more than me on some days, on others they will hardly eat anything. (a piece of toast, a few mouthfuls of dinner).

I look at the week as a whole and find it will balance out between the major eating days and the nibbling days. when hungry they eat, when they aren't, they don't. I don't ever force the issue and it is rare for me to stop them eating more (although do limit it to fruit/veg sticks after the main meals).

in short YANBU, if they are a healthy weight and they don't eat adult portions all day every day its fine.

m0therofdragons · 13/07/2014 08:50

Dd1 used to have 2, but now has one with banana chopped on top. She's 6.

Idontseeanyicegiants · 13/07/2014 08:52

My toddler can eat 3 weetabix and a yoghurt and she's roughly the size if a full stop. If I Gave her just one she'd go and get her own and eat it dry.

pillowaddict · 13/07/2014 08:53

21 month dd regularly has 2 breakfasts as she gets toast or cereal at home then fed at nursery. We tell them she's eaten but she's offered it and if she's hungry will eat it. She's small for her age and perfectly healthy. In particular breakfast shouldn't be a problem if it's a big meal so long as the rest of the day is active.

Idontseeanyicegiants · 13/07/2014 08:53

Should say, she has a cold light lunch most days.