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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To NOT give DS (6 months) a "taste" of chocolate

78 replies

Misswrite89 · 24/03/2016 16:22

On a board on another parenting forum, where all our children are around the same age, someone has asked whether we will be giving our babies a "taste" of chocolate over Easter.

I am certainly not but another poster has said that those who don't are "Scrooges" and that a little bit of chocolate does no harm. In fact it seems quite a few posters will be giving their kids a bit of Easter egg and I'm in the minority.

AIBU by NOT giving my six month old son even a bit of chocolate? I don't want him having any added sugar for the next few months whilst he's in the early stages of weaning and for this reason have avoided giving baby jars/pouches and have made homemade purees. I hadn't thought about when to allow chocolate and other junk food but I suppose the first time I would is on his first birthday when he can have a bit of his cake if he likes. I'm certainly not going to deprive him of treats as he gets older as I don't want them to be "forbidden" and want him to have a healthy relationship with food but I just hadn't intended to give him food with added sugar and other crap until he's old enough to ask for it.

AIBU or indeed a "Scrooge"?

OP posts:
Stylingwax · 24/03/2016 17:01

Alicia I want to copy and paste your comment on every ridiculous 'oh my god my toddler LOOKED at a Coke' or 'my nipples have fallen off but my DP says I MUST BF our baby' thread I ever see again.

escapedfrommordor · 24/03/2016 17:02

Another older brother syndrome household here. I was very strict with my son but this time around I feel things have relaxed.
I respect each parents right to make that decision for their child though. You're not unreasonable.

LaurieMarlow · 24/03/2016 17:06

Yanbu. No need to give them a taste for it this young.

Fine, you might not feel so bothered when it comes to DC2, but stick to your guns and don't let your peers sway your decision, which is imminently sensible iyam.

srslylikeomg · 24/03/2016 17:07

I am with Alicia, mine are also in primary, almost in primary, nursery and just weaning and I would file this under "Who Gives a Shit?"

sleeponeday · 24/03/2016 17:08

I think six months is very small to be giving sugar. I mean, I don't think it's like shooting them up with heroin, and it should be parental choice... but really, they're only just on solids. It does seem a bit unnecessary. Def. not a Scrooge.

Lottie2611 · 24/03/2016 17:19

Yeah your being a Scrooge. And a bit precious

dollydaydream123 · 24/03/2016 17:19

I don't see the point in giving a young baby chocolate. They're almost certain to love it and want more, so I'd prefer to wait a bit. I used pouches (on rare occasions with my first, more often with my second) and although I think there's nothing wrong with the good quality ones, fresh home cooked food is best.

WorraLiberty · 24/03/2016 17:23

I'm pretty sure you don't have to ask if you're unreasonable or a Scrooge OP.

As others have said, just do what you want.

There will be 100s of parenting choices you'll make that others won't etc.

fakenamefornow · 24/03/2016 17:33

I was called mean, even cruel, for not feeding my babies crap. This was by my mum who gave my two week old baby a 'little taste' of instant gravey. While they're very little you have complete control over what they eat, that control doesn't last very long, so I wanted to make the most of it.

NerrSnerr · 24/03/2016 17:38

Do what you think is best. Everyone is doing what they think is best. As Alicia says in the grand scheme of things it doesn't matter.

MoreGilmoreGirls · 24/03/2016 17:40

YANBU. My DS was 1 before he had a taste of chocolate. They don't know what they are missing at that age so how is it being a scrooge. He had lots of other healthy treats.

Phalenopsisgirl · 24/03/2016 17:42

Yanbu - a 6 month old has no concept of what chocolate is, they will not feel they are missing out, why on earth does it make you a Scrooge ?

PolkadotPlate · 24/03/2016 17:44

A taste of chocolate is not going to make him suddenly want haribo for breakfast, lunch and dinner! It really doesn't matter at all, not worth getting stressed over!

You will look back and smile that despite your best intentions and keeping the baby's diet 'oh so pure' they will turn 2 and demand nothing but chocolate buttons for dinner!

My first dd got no sweets, chocolate, nothing remotely 'bad' until around 15 months; my second did from 8 months or so as she would scream blue murder if she was left out from getting any sort of food!

Is this your first?

Mousefinkle · 24/03/2016 17:45

You're not a Scrooge whatsoever. DC2 was ten months old her first Easter and that was the first bit of chocolate she had. She spat it out! Didn't bother again for a few months. DC1 had some on his first birthday, packet of milky buttons. Likewise DC3 had some after she'd turned one. None of them had it very often and still don't TBH. They have it slightly more now they're at school and come out with chocolates from so and so's birthday or like today they both came out with a chocolate bunny lolly. It doesn't matter now because it's just following the 'everything in moderation' way of life isn't it.

Someone on my FB gave their TWO MONTH OLD chocolate the other week, I was Shock. They shouldn't even be having food at that age let alone chocolate. Had to bite my tongue... they also regularly post pics of him sat right in front of the TV.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 24/03/2016 17:46

I've got a ds age almost 6 months and he's just started weaning stealing food off our plates, mostly vegetables, meat etc. I will not be giving him chocolate and neither will anyone else. I'm not precious about many things and fully support my parents and in laws when they take care of my children, but he doesn't need sugar and sweets. My older ds didn't have anything sweet until 18 months and while he does eat sweets now, age nearly 4, he was given the chance to fully develop his pallate and tastes without being biased with sugar. I wish my parents had done this with me, as I'm literally unable to control myself around sweet food and chocolate, and it makes me very unhappy.

OhPuddleducks · 24/03/2016 17:47

Totally up to you. DD (my pfb) didn't have sweets/chocolate until her first birthday cake (and even then a small, small piece) and then nothing much until her second birthday. DS is two years younger than her so had loads more sweet things earlier because DD was already there and eating treats etc (and also u was waaaaay more relaxed about weaning). His palate is definitely more towards sweet foods than hers but that could just be a coincidence.

Ultimately it's no one else's business and you aren't scroogey imo.

StrawberryQuik · 24/03/2016 17:52

I don't think you are being Scroogy at all...but I'm from a country where the weaning advice is very prescriptive. e.g. Only puréed fruit and veg for the first few weeks, then a few weeks later you can introduce x then you can introduce y.

I think chocolate is on the things you can't eat until you are 1 list because it is 'difficult to digest'.

Nomorechickens · 24/03/2016 17:52

Hm, yes, sugar is bad and it's best not to give it to young children for as long ad you can avoid it. But I was brought up to regard chocolate as a good thing, more of an essential human right than a confectionery, so I would definitely give it to a 6 month old! I don't have a sweet tooth and never much liked other sweets. DGS (5) likes a square of Waitrose 70% dark chocolate as a treat.

glueandstick · 24/03/2016 17:52

My two week old will get plenty of Easter eggs. I shall selflessly eat them all and produce chocolate milk right?

Do what you feel is right. Ignore people. Too many people are too interested in other people's lives.

Original poster
Misswrite89 · 24/03/2016 17:55

Thenewaveragebear1983 - yes I too was fed lots of sugary and salty things as a very young child and do believe it affected my taste buds growing up and I would only eat crappy (unhealthy) foods and wouldn't touch the good (healthy) stuff as I was never given it so hadn't grown accustomed to it.

Yes polkadotplate he is my first which is probably why I'm acting so "precious" as Lottie2611 kindly called me! I admit I probably am overthinking this and, as others have suggested, I'm sure I won't even remember at what age he first ate chocolate when he is older.

WorraLiberty, I felt I had to ask because, on the original post on the other parenting forum, I was in the minority and began to question my own decision.

Thanks everyone - a mixed bag of answers but an overall feeling of 'do what's best for you and you won't even remember this in years to come!'

OP posts:
Lindy2 · 24/03/2016 18:04

I can't even remember when my 2 first had sweets or chocolate. I've always aimed for a balanced diet with everything in moderation.
He is 6 months so really won't know or care if this Easter is chocolate free.
You should be aware though that fruit contains a lot of sugar, so assuming you are giving him things like banana, he is eating sugar. Naturally occurring sugar but sugar all the same.

Original poster
Misswrite89 · 24/03/2016 18:08

Thanks Lindy2 - yes, I am aware that fruit contains sugar.

OP posts:
Katarzyna79 · 24/03/2016 18:10

I did the same OP I never gave my kids chocolates sweets or crisps under 1 year old. Even after 1 I wouldn't buy them a bag of crisps or chocolate. if my child wanted to try some of my crisps id give her/him a piece but not a packet. chocolate I never encouraged, but as they got older same they had tiny bits off me.

Desserts with chocolate were permitted as part of a meal. I also made my own baby food the ready made stuff didn't seem worth it, and my kids got bored. Plus I couldn't give them any meat no halal options. The halal ones now available don't look very appetising I don't like the thought of the meat sitting in jar for months. I wasn't fed like that so I wanted same for my kids. But you can't knock egg custard and rice even I love that Grin

as a result my kids will happily munch on crisps now theyre older, but they don't go ape for chocolate sweets or sweet drinks their choice drink is water, milk or milk with a big of flavouring powder. all measl are provided with water nothing else. again I'm prob just copying what my mother did.

Katarzyna79 · 24/03/2016 18:11

yes but fruit is natural sugar in the body it is good for you in moderation of course, it's far different from added synthetic sugars. with fruit especially pure fruit juices i'd get the kids into a habit of using a straw its acidic not so great for teeth, and limit the juices.

tellmemore1982 · 24/03/2016 18:12

I don't understand why you felt the need to start a taat from another board rather than addressing it directly in its original forum, I'm not sure what you are looking for?

You don't need MN to endorse universally accepted health guidelines which is largely what you're following. You come across as someone who is actually equally critical but on the opposing side of the argument. Not because of your specific views on added sugar in chocolate, but actually because you have extended the same principle incorrectly to other products such as pouches and jars with the implication being that they are also inferior. To better your argument in the future should know that they actually don't all include refined / added sugars, what they actually contain is high levels of naturally occurring sugars which is different (though not a whole lot better).

I wholeheartedly believe in teaching children good habits and healthy eating from a young age, like you I also make all my own food and they rarely have anything processed / packaged. I do try my best not to be too superior about it though and I totally accept other people's choices, mostly because my kids will model my attitude.