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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that giving lemon to a baby is not funny

80 replies

fibrecruncher · 14/07/2014 10:46

Just that really - I don't understand why people think its funny. Perhaps its the hormones, but the poor little blighters trust us completely. A few people have tried to encourage me to give my 10 month old lemons to taste, AIBU to think this is a bit cruel?

OP posts:
Beehatch · 14/07/2014 10:48

Well I laughed when my DD grabbed a slice of lemon from my plate at 7 months. The face she pulled was amazing. However she went back for more, and we couldn't prise it out of her paws.

EmmanuelWoganberry · 14/07/2014 10:49

YANBU, it's cruel

ChaosTrulyReigns · 14/07/2014 10:50

Is this your first?

Idontseeanyicegiants · 14/07/2014 10:51

Giving it to a baby for an adults amusement isn't funny but like Beehatch's DC my youngest pinched a slice out of my drink (tonic water) and ate it. The look on her face was the funniest mixture Oh My God and Mmm! She asked for another one... weird kid Grin

PedlarsSpanner · 14/07/2014 10:51

Lemon, whole lemon, to play with is top sensory stuff* but a slice, nah, not nice.

*supervised of course

HeeHiles · 14/07/2014 10:52

My dd2 loved sucking lemons when she was a baby! Apparently the taste buds they need to taste the bitterness don't develop until 5yrs. She can't do it now!

Original poster
fibrecruncher · 14/07/2014 10:52

Of course PFB!! Its the hormones isn't it! Ha. NO really I do think its cruel, I also prefer to wake people up nicely i.e. soft voice, cup of tea/bottle of milk etc.

OP posts:
BoomBoomsCousin · 14/07/2014 10:52

My kids loved lemon at that age. One of them still does. There wasn't anything particularly amusing about it though.

Tasting something sour is not "cruel". The baby is not hurt. They've just experienced a different taste.

MagnificentMaleficent · 14/07/2014 10:53

Ha yes to asking for another slice! They usually pull the most shocked face and then straight away want more.

A kinder way to get a similar reaction is to give them ice cream.

WowserBowser · 14/07/2014 10:54

I loved my little boys face when he first tried ice cream.

I wouldn't purposely give him something, but it is funny.

Pooka · 14/07/2014 10:54

Golly mine loved sucking on lemon slices at that age.

I assessed that they were enjoying in spite of the faces they pulled by the fact that they kept on sucking and got very cross if denied more sourness!

PurpleWithaMysteryBun · 14/07/2014 10:54

My dd grabbed some lemon at about 7months from a plate, it was very sour.
However, she loved it and then wouldn't leave it alone! Someone then told me it can be soothing on teething gums?

I don't think there is anything wrong with it tbh

Original poster
fibrecruncher · 14/07/2014 10:54

Didin't mean to capitalise the no there :)

Mmm not cruel, but they really don't look too happy either.

I love lemons myself.

OP posts:
natwebb79 · 14/07/2014 10:55

My DS pulled my lemon out of my lemonade aged about 10 months and refused to give it back. Aged 2.5 the weirdo still asks for lemon and, despite my warnings, still seems to like it :-/

natwebb79 · 14/07/2014 10:56

On a similar note, my dad thought it was hilarious in the early 80s to dip my dummy in his beer and get his friends to watch me pull a face. Very different times...

cheerybear · 14/07/2014 10:57

No, it's a natural fruit, I think it's crueler to give a baby processed crap and sugars tbh

RelocatorRelocator · 14/07/2014 10:57

Have some funny pictures of ds1 sucking a quarter of a lemon at that age - he swiped it off my plate. He refused to give it back and I seem to remember him going to bed clutching it and me sneaking in to prise it from his fingers once he was asleep.

Can't see the problem really. It's good for them to experience new tastes.

cogitosum · 14/07/2014 10:58

I encourage ds to try everything (obviously within reason). I gave him lemon to try he made a funny face and then like others had more. He seems to quite like it. Sour taste is a pleasant thing for some hence the sour haribos etc. I will admit though the face is funny!

vrtra · 14/07/2014 11:00

I used to love chewing on slices of lemon, at least from 1yo to about age 7!

LST · 14/07/2014 11:01

Both mine love lemon. thought ds2 would grow out of it but he's still eating them at nearly 3 Shock Shock

Messygirl · 14/07/2014 11:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ApocalypseThen · 14/07/2014 11:03

I think it's quite funny. And perfectly harmless.

RachelWatts · 14/07/2014 11:04

I used to love eating slices of lemon when I was little. It's not cruel to let them try different flavours.

ApocalypseNowt · 14/07/2014 11:06

It is a bit funny. DD1 used to love lemons, she pull a silly face but then keep stuffing it in her mouth so it can't have been that bad.

EmmanuelWoganberry · 14/07/2014 11:07

It's different when they grab it and enjoy it to giving it to them because you think the pained expression is hilarious.