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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To feel like I'm being judged about food

66 replies

HoundedBabyLed · 30/01/2018 08:03

My DS is 8 months old and has been baby-led weaned since he was a little under 6 months, when he was ready by current guidelines. He's also breast fed. He eats a varied diet through the day, and largely what we're eating, minus a few allergens and with less spice/etc. He eats as much or as little as he wants, minimal intervention, because I believe food is for fun for a few more months. And he does have what I'd call a healthy appetite. He's not afraid of asking for more, or pinching some of mine/DH's if he's not done.

We've had a rough month for sleeping - all three of us had flu early on in the month, and are still recovering from that, DS's been teething, he's going through a developmental patch if Wonder Weeks is to be believed... It's been everything all at once. The last good night's sleep he had was around Christmas, and he's slowly getting back to that stage. In the meantime, if he needs nighttime cuddles and boobs, I'm fine with providing them. He used to sleep through the night when he was tiny, but never fully recovered from a sleep regression around 4 months - every time he's come close, something else has happened to set him back.

Last night, DFIL called DH, as he does every week. And despite knowing all of the above, he asked if the reason DS isn't sleeping through the night is if he's hungry. I don't think there's any malice behind it, but I feel like it's constant. When we visited over Christmas, DFIL's DP kept telling us how much DS "needs" more food because he's dropped two centile lines since birth (genes catching up with him, DH is skinny, DS is skinny) - to the extent of being told just my milk isn't enough for him any more, even though he was ill at the time and that was all he wanted. This DP's daughter was weaned very early, eating full meals by the time she could sit up, and again, that seems to be a benchmark we're not reaching. Before my DS was ready for weaning she'd initiate long conversations about how weaning before 6 months never did her/me/other people any harm, like that would convince me to give DS food sooner.

As well as all this, DN is very close in age to DS and he's been more or less sleeping through since weaning (traditional, so he does tend to eat more than DS) and switch to formula, and I feel like we're being compared to that standard - even though they're more "cry it out" inclined and DH and I are more inclined to some of the principles of gentle parenting and comforting through the night even to the detriment of our own sleep. Different strokes etc, but that's also a factor in how they sleep. And they have very different personalities and needs. But a lot of the family attributes DN's sleeping to him eating so clearly we're not feeding our DS enough.

I'm not sure if this feels like a huge deal, but it is really starting to grind my gears. AIBU to be annoyed with how persistent this is?

OP posts:
Jammycustard · 30/01/2018 08:06

I won’t comment on the food intake, but I would stop telling your in laws about your child’s sleep. Just say ‘he sleeps fine’.

DaisyAdair · 30/01/2018 08:12

Why do you think they are so persistent though? Could he be hungry? Feed him more during the day and he might not wake so much in the night.

You are doing yourselves and your baby no favours spoiling 'gentle parenting' him during the night.

Camomila · 30/01/2018 08:14

Urgh you have my sympathies.

MIL compares DS and DHs cousins baby (they're very close) and it's soo annoying.
In our case DS is the 'good baby' - because he's 3 months older, that's aaages in under 2s MIL!

If it were me I would probably snap something about NHS guidelines and the benefits of babyled weaning...and generally go overboard with facts and research. Might end in a bit of an argument though.

Purplelion · 30/01/2018 08:17

My DD is 7.5 months and we are doing BLW. She sleeps 7-7, regardless of how much she eats in the day! People focus far too much on linking food to sleep! As adults we eat different amounts on different days. You’re doing what’s best for your DS and your family. The whole “My DC were weaned at 17 weeks and they’re fine” is up to them. That’s what they chose to do, you do what you choose! Personally I wouldn’t engage in conversation with them about your DS food and sleeping, it’s such an emotive topic that people like to voice their opinions on!

hollygoflightly · 30/01/2018 08:24

I did exactly what you're doing with both my 2 - my daughter was fine, enjoyed her food, happy days. My son just genuinely didn't seem interested in food for months! I was a bit concerned but everyone told me not to worry and by the time he was 12 months he was tucking in with gusto. He also didnt really walk until he was 16 months. Some kids just take longer to do things. Ignore the in-laws x

barefoofdoctor · 30/01/2018 08:27

I agree with pp- Why give them information they will use against you? And I'd love someone to show me how you get your child to eat more- fois gras (sp) style with force and a funnel. I try to get grazer DD4 to have a protein based supper before bed but regardless of what I do she'll still down a good pint and a bit of full fat milk before she sleeps and again the morning. Sounds like you and your DP are lovely parents. Can't you just reply to nosy fucked in-laws 'because I love him and want the very best for him sweet smile and repeat as necessary? Xxx

Scoobygang7 · 30/01/2018 08:30

Keep doing as you are doing. Yanbu let it float in one ear out of the other. He's sleeping as a baby should waking frequently is a safe guard against sids. If you are happy with things then that is all that matters. Any comments "thank you for the advice but we are happy with our parenting." Rinse and repeat. I always respond to the sleeping through question with I am an adult and I don't sleep through why would I expect him to. Do you sleep through? If not why not?

Catsize · 30/01/2018 08:32

You’re doing fine OP. Mine are now 4 and 6 and I think they’ve slept through once. 😴

MrTrebus · 30/01/2018 08:33

Nod and smile nod and smile and ignore and start being vague "yes he's fine thanks doing well thanks" etc overall just ignore and do things your way.

user1493413286 · 30/01/2018 08:34

I’d be annoyed but if that’s their attitude I’d stop telling them about his sleep.
All babies are different and the my mother in law really struggled to understand weaning babies later than she did with her children and still doesn’t like the baby led weaning method but that’s her issue, not mine.

whiskyowl · 30/01/2018 08:36

Two lines of defence

  1. Get your DH to explain to them - gently but firmly - that this constant questioning of the diet you feed your baby is corrosive to your confidence as a mother and to your relationship with them. Tell them that the baby is a healthy weight, and much loved, and that each child is different.
  1. If they continue in spite of this clear warning, cut the level of closeness and contact. Stop telling them details, be vaguer about the baby, and don't call or visit as often.
DontBuyANewMumCashmere · 30/01/2018 08:37

Smile and nod. Forget about them. You're doing the right thing for your baby.

My DD went through the 4 month thing and it fucked her up for years. She's 3 and still wakes if she's poorly. She started sleeping through around 2-2.5?

PS Don't forget to give him some calamari Wink Grin

Cuddlesandcannulas · 30/01/2018 08:39

I was told by the HV that DS wasn't sleeping through as I wasn't feeding him enough.

In the same visit, the HV told me that DS needed to lose weight as he was on the 90th centile.

DS is now on the 99th centile and still doesn't sleep through. Believe me, we're not underfeeding him.

MadRainbow · 30/01/2018 08:42

Daisy You don't 'spoil' a baby by giving it the love and attention it needs, he is still a baby Hmm I am by no means an advocate of gentle parenting most of the time but an 8 month old won't understand anything better.

Have you taken baby to a weighing clinic recently OP? Are HV concerned? If not (and I highly doubt they are) then tell your in-laws in the nicest possible way to keep their beaks out.

The biggest challenge of being a parent is developing a thick skin and standing by your choices.

Stardustandshine · 30/01/2018 08:42

With both my children I found that people always ask how they sleep. With my first I would be honest and would then get (I’m sure we’ll meant) advice. With my 2nd, who’s now 9 months and wakes 1-2 times a night, I give a vague she sleeps well answer and if people ask more I’ll say she wakes a couple of times but that’s fine. I find that if I keep my answer positive and show that I’m happy with her sleep then people are less likely to give advice on how to get her to sleep more.

HoundedBabyLed · 30/01/2018 08:43

You are doing yourselves and your baby no favours spoiling 'gentle parenting' him during the night.

Funny, I thought I was teaching him that I'm willing to be there for him if he has a problem, whether that's at a socially acceptable hour or 3am. He's 8 months old, not a manipulation mastermind. If he's waking up, it's for a reason, even if that reason is "I'm lonely and need a cuddle". Sometimes I wake up in the night and need a cuddle, and DH is happy to oblige - or vice versa. Why shouldn't I extend the same courtesy to my infant son?

Thanks to other PP, I will have to talk to DH about how much he discloses to DFIL. I love my PIL, for the most part, and do want to share how DS is getting on, but this has just been such a controversial topic I think we need to think about whether we discuss it so much.

OP posts:
AlwaysPondering · 30/01/2018 08:44

I am the same OP. My mum even said I should formula feed because I don't know how much bf she's getting and that babies die from dehydration.

It is beyond infuriating but keep doing what you're doing and give them less info.

Oato · 30/01/2018 08:46

I would do as Jammy suggested and stop giving them the full info on how your son sleeps 'sleeping well again thank goodness!' if they ask. Sleeping well to your standards not theirs.

ZoopDragon · 30/01/2018 08:47

Do you give him mashed/stewed food as well? I found my DD only ate small amounts doing baby led weaning, she loved tasting and chewing but most of it's hard work for them to chew without many teeth. It's also easier to digest when it's soft/stewed. Try giving protein- rich food at least once a day, like chicken casserole or beef stew, simmered on a low heat for a few hours so the meat dissolves.

lornathewizzard · 30/01/2018 08:48

Weaning and sleep are such controversial topics for babies, cause it's kinda all they do! Everyone's got an opinion. You clearly feel what you are doing is best (and it was what we did too just with formula) and what you and dh think is all that matters. Smile and nod

It's very common for babies to be up during the night at this age btw

ethelfleda · 30/01/2018 08:48

I am the same OP. My mum even said I should formula feed because I don't know how much bf she's getting and that babies die from dehydration

Shock
ethelfleda · 30/01/2018 08:50

Funny, I thought I was teaching him that I'm willing to be there for him if he has a problem, whether that's at a socially acceptable hour or 3am. He's 8 months old, not a manipulation mastermind. If he's waking up, it's for a reason, even if that reason is "I'm lonely and need a cuddle". Sometimes I wake up in the night and need a cuddle, and DH is happy to oblige - or vice versa. Why shouldn't I extend the same courtesy to my infant son?

Couldn't agree more with this - and is the approach we are using with 3mo DS!

Merryoldgoat · 30/01/2018 08:51

You're 100 percent right Hounded - you can't spoil a baby. My DS was the same as yours, except we didn't to BLW and he was FF - but he didn't sleep through for ages and sometimes needed cuddles etc and still does sometimes (he's 5 now).

But if I wake up upset, my DH comforts me, and I'd do the same for him.

Nothing about your son's sleep sounds unusual to me - he'll get there. If it's not a problem for you and your DH it's not a problem.

The only think I'd add is that if he IS hungry then adding in a bowl of porridge before bed might be an idea.

Idontdowindows · 30/01/2018 08:51

You know your baby best. You've already raised one, you're not an amateur. Your baby is growing and outside of its little bout of illness, baby is thriving and developing.

Some babies walk at 12 months, some at 18. Some start opening coconuts with their jaws at 6 months, others at 2 years.

If they won't stop, appeal to a higher authority: doctor/health visitor/professor of baby raising says he's fine.

And I'm with you. Babies don't have malicious reasons. Babies don't reason period. And teaching baby that you're there is fine!

You know your baby best.

OhHolyJesus · 30/01/2018 08:52

Ignore it, easier said than done but my Parents and in laws went on about choking due to BLW (wasn't an issue) and still say 'chew chew chew' at the table to DS who is 2.

He also sleeps fine but MIL still says I should get him to sleep in his buggy when I went through sleep training to make sure he slept in his cot.

It's tedious but BF and food is fun is the perfect attitude IMO!