Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask our guest not to eat the baby-food?

254 replies

IslandCanary · 30/03/2016 15:02

DH's friend and his partner are staying for a few nights. I've met her on 2 occasions, she seems very nice, normal, friendly.

On their arrival I told them to help themselves to anything from kitchen, showed them the snacks cupboard, fruit, fridge etc. Plenty of biscuits, chocolate, crackers, cake, yogurts, cheese etc. Baby food is in bottom half of cupboard.

This morning I found 2 empty jars of Heinz baby porridge in the recycling, along with an empty pouch of purred mango. Mid-morning I noticed her eating a baby cocoa-vanilla dessert straight from the jar! Confused

I don't know what to do! DH thinks it's hilarious and says not to mention it. I'm irritated as the jars are expensive, they are for DS and there is plenty of other food.

AIBU to think this is really weird and rude? Should I hide the jars or let her carry on?

OP posts:
Fluffy40 · 30/03/2016 16:30

She should have hidden the jars better 😬

MrsHathaway · 30/03/2016 16:34

On the off chance she does know I'd say "I know I said help yourself to anything but I didn't mean the baby food. You're welcome to anything except that."

I think this is the way to go. Don't mention the cost, just something like "because otherwise I'll run out before I can next get to the shops" or something.

Toast3 · 30/03/2016 16:34

OMG this makes my recent 'cheeky guest request' thread look very lame.... I can't believe anyone would eat food meant for a baby without asking or mentioning it first... Maybe she's on a diet or something? Which is, of course, is her call and up to her but nicking bubbas dinner isn't on lol

ijustwannadance · 30/03/2016 16:35

I'm sorry but even people who don't have DC would surely know that it's baby food. And if in a special diet should have bought her own.

It is not rude to mention it at all. You should not have to hide food in your own home. Just tell her to please stop eating the baby food.

And next time she has a cup of tea give her it in a bottle.

LordoftheTits · 30/03/2016 16:38

I'm baffled by the people who are saying "YABU, you said she could help herself". Yes, OP did say that they could help themselves who the hell would bypass all of the other food for jars of baby food?? The guest MUST know that that's bizarre behaviour!

And I agree with pp who say not to make it about the cost, tell her that you don't want to run out as you have a limited supply and it's convenient for the baby when you're out and about.

Imchangingmyname · 30/03/2016 16:38

Is it the Hipp cocoa and vanilla one? If so, can't blame her.

Not that I used to buy an extra jar for myself. Oh no, not me....

Katarzyna79 · 30/03/2016 16:38

iwanadance ROFL

strawberrypenguin · 30/03/2016 16:42

I'd ask her not to eat them. As you say OP those jars aren't cheap and it your DS's food! Sound like you have plenty of nice adult food around for her.

KeyboardMum · 30/03/2016 16:44

Is she on one of those weird diets?

I would politely ask her not to eat the baby food, because it's specifically for baby.

ArmfulOfRoses · 30/03/2016 16:47

They're tiny though.
you'd need to eat a whole shops worth to feel full!
Tell her to stop eating the baby food.

Spudlet · 30/03/2016 16:48

The cocoa-vanilla dessert sounds lovely.

Nibbl3s · 30/03/2016 16:49

LOL what the actual fuck? Maybe you should buy her a dummy and tuck her in at nightGrin

Zucker · 30/03/2016 16:52

Of course she knows what they are! Unless she thinks the OP has access to a magical world of new kinds of food in teeny tiny pots the guest has never ever seen before!

I'd point it out to her that she can any of the food but clearly those are for the baby. FFS some people!

Hulababy · 30/03/2016 16:53

How odd? Surely no adult would go into someone else's fridge and help themselves to things that are clearly baby food? It would be rude to help yourself to things like that, even if you have been shown other snacks in the cupboard/fridge and told to help yourself. Surely no one really needs telling not to go for the baby food? It wouldn't cross my mind to have to tell a visitor that!

I think you need to either hide them or tell them OP.

And yes, you will always get somebody popping along to tell you jars are all manner of evil. Ignore.

SanityClause · 30/03/2016 16:54

Hiding it etc is a bit unecessary, really. I'm sure she'll be fine if you ask her politely not to eat it.

It is an odd thing to do, though.

Twixthecat · 30/03/2016 16:56

You have to mention it!

Personally I'd prefer the make her feel silly approach - something like ignore that you've seen the evidence and say

  • "I think I'm going mad! I could have sworn that I'd bought enough of that stupidly expensive special food for baby. But either she's managed to get in the fridge on her own, or you guys have a weird taste for baby food, 'ha ha ha ha'. Nah it gives adults the runs anyway - have you heard of the baby food diet, apparently that's how it works! Don't have kids, look what it's done to my memory, forgetting to buy enough food for baby, tut. 'ha ha ha ha'. Then watch her squirm :-)
icelollycraving · 30/03/2016 17:00

Sorry if I missed it but does she have DC? Maybe she's utterly clueless & thought they were little treat sized bits?!
I used jars & pouches EVERYDAY for ds. He is a great little eater & I gave up pureeing everything for him to spit it out.Don't let everyone start guilting you about using jars.

ClarenceTheLion · 30/03/2016 17:00

How strange that someone would think to do that. Aside from anything else, as you say baby food is expensive! Just collect everything up and put it in your room. I wouldn't even be particularly subtle to be honest...

GiveMyHeadPeaceffs · 30/03/2016 17:03

Actually I'd be pissed off at this. I keep some jars of baby food for my ds but they're usually for when I'm pushed for time, etc. And they are bloody expensive for what they are. I'd just ask her outright not to do it.

SoupDragon · 30/03/2016 17:05

Welcome to MN, OP.

SingingSamosa · 30/03/2016 17:06

I would bring it up. Just say something along the lines of, 'I know I said help yourself to anything but please could you avoid the baby food as I have nothing else to feed baby with if I run out.'

She can't object to that, surely? It's a very weird thing to do in someone's house!

HandsomeGroomGiveHerRoom · 30/03/2016 17:07

Baby Organix used to do some lovely jars about 15 years ago. I know they were nice as I taste tested everything before allowing it to influence my pfb's palate Blush

Op's guest must surely be mistaken though. Deliberately eating your host's baby food is odd.

VagueIdeas · 30/03/2016 17:08

In no universe does "help yourself to food" mean "including the baby food". FFS, some people Grin

LeanneBattersby · 30/03/2016 17:13

MN is weird today.

WaxyBean · 30/03/2016 17:16

Couldn't you just ask if they wouldn't mind not eating the baby's food please?

Swipe left for the next trending thread