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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:
CauliflowerBalti · 30/01/2018 10:19

You can't spoil a baby, and an 8-month old can't manipulate you. I responded to my boy's every cry and co-slept. He is an astonishingly good sleeper now, in his own bed. My back has no rod, we had a joyful babyhood. Ignore all that nonsense.

And nod and smile with your inlaws. They mean well. They are trying to help. Babies that aren't leading their own weaning wake in the night. Babies wake in the night. They're designed to. The ones that don't are the exception.

But they mean well. So as others have advised, stop telling them the specifics. He's fine, he sleeps fine, it's all fine - how's your neighbour's dog doing, now it's had its op...?

Smile, deflect.

Bluntness100 · 30/01/2018 10:23

Playing devils advocate, could they be aware your son is dropping percentile points, and have seen him getting small portions and trying to ask for more and pinching food?

I'm just wondering if your father in law is coming from a place of genuine concern and not being malicious.

It's very different for an adult to start with a small portion and ask for more, than it is a infant. I'd try a little more in his portions to be honest to knock the asking and pinching on the head.

My daughter never pinched food at this age or asked for more, so I'm not quite sure how normal it is. I'm sure others did, but I suspect theee is a potential it's a sign of a hungry child.

HoundedBabyLed · 30/01/2018 10:44

Sometimes he asks for more, sometimes he doesn't. He is given a whole Weetabix if he has that, for instance, because he enjoys demolishing it (and generally eats half to three quarters). If he has porridge, it's given to him gradually and when he's done with a spoonful he gets more.

He's never asked for more and not been given it, and I always put aside more than he's likely to eat for him, and he eats as much as he wants. It's not like I'm trying to starve him! But maybe I do need to consider what he's being given initially.

Now I think about it, it's been a while since he "stole" any of my or DH's food. But he likes to explore with his hands and mouth, like most babies of this age.

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 30/01/2018 13:38

Ah, don't be defensive 💐💐💐

But the fact remains your baby has to ask for or pinch More food, he is dropping centile points and you're father in law has expressed concern as he thinks the child is hungry.

Unless he has previous for being an interfering judgey sod, I'd just maybe have a little quiet think if you're sure he's being fed enough inititially and if he's got a point . Ideally your infant wouldn't have to ask for more or pinch food.

Parenting is hard. But babies aren't adults and shouldn't be treated as such, and food is really not for fun. It's important for their development.

I'd also maybe think if you're subconsciously trying to keep him reliant on breastfeeding for longer, so restricting his solids. He will continue to breastfeed, even if it's just for comfort, so I wouldn't worry about that. In fact you're probably going to face the opposite problem at some point,,,how to get him to stop! Grin

Toffeelatteplease · 30/01/2018 13:42

Two percentile points is massive and was enough too be a cause for concern when my 2 were young.

Have you checked this with the Health visitor

Stardustandshine · 30/01/2018 13:52

OP said in an earlier post that the centile drop was well before weaning and he’s been tracking along the same line since so that drop was nothing to do with how much solids he’s getting. OP it’s completely normal for inquisitive babies to take things off your plate and i’d say that putting a reasonable portion out to start with then giving more later if baby is showing signs of still being hungry is a very normal way to do it.

Stardustandshine · 30/01/2018 13:58

I also haven’t read anything to suggest the OP is subconsciously trying to keep him reliant on breastfeeding or is restricting his food. She’s barely mentioned breastfeeding other than to say baby is and she’s clearly said that she offers more food if baby doesn’t appear satisfied with first portion so is letting him eat until he’s full.

10thingsIhateAboutTheDailyMail · 30/01/2018 14:03

I can see your point, but not that "food is for fun"

Food is for survival and growth, imo

RadioGaGoo · 30/01/2018 14:04

I'm of the belief that 'food before one is for fun'. My now 9 month old was slow to solids, but between 6 months when we started and 9 months now, he was happily sustained with finger foods and BF.

Purplelion · 30/01/2018 14:05

My DD was born on the 75th centimetres and now quite happily tracks along the 9th. Those who say babies shouldn’t pinch food,they not starving and then tying to fill up, they’re exploring, learning, doing what comes naturally!
OP you’re doing a great job!

Myddognearlyatethedeliveryman · 30/01/2018 14:07

Imo some gps rush the baby stage /depend on dm stage so they can get their hands on dgc unsupervised!!
My exmil did nowt but complain that I bf all of mine as she knew it meant she had to hand them over and couldn't swan off home with them!

HoundedBabyLed · 30/01/2018 14:18

blunt

How is me giving my child more food if he wants it keeping him reliant on me? Surely I'd give him milk after small meals instead of more food if I wanted that? He has three meals a day, and eats until he's had enough. Whether I give it to him all at once or in more manageable amounts is my business.

toffee

It's the HV doing the weighing. As I said up thread, we go to clinic most months (our decision, not their request), and the HV has never voiced any concerns about his weight. He'd dropped one line by 12 weeks, and the second by 21. He started weaning at 25, two months ago, and is still on the same line. His dad is skinny, it's obvious looking at him that it's genetics not malnutrition.

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 30/01/2018 14:30

Ok, I wasn't saying you were, I just suggested thinking about it. It seems it's all good and nothing for your father in law to worry about. Just tell him it's nothing to do with him. You do know your baby best.

Helendee · 30/01/2018 14:39

I don't think you can blame the FIL for raising a genuine concern over his own grandchild, I know I would.

AnnieAnoniMouse · 30/01/2018 14:40

You’re doing just fine! Seriously, just ignore all the ‘poor starved baby’ nonsense. It’s perfectly normal to give BLW food a bit at a time, it’s FAR better than putting too much food on their plate/tray.

As you say they’re nice, I’m sure your FIL & his DP mean well, but it’s still frustrating. Do what you said you’re going to do (talk to DH & agree to stop talking to them about food & sleep. Just say DS is doing well & change the subject). Unfortunately those that love us & want the best for us, sometimes just can’t help but try to help, without realising we are adults who have this sorted & don’t need ‘help & advice’ constantly.

deptfordgirl · 30/01/2018 15:23

Your baby is 8 months and whatever anyone says weaning and sleeping can be difficult. My ds took until 8 months to eat anything. He refused purees so, after some stressful times trying to force feed him, I just had to wait for him to eat in his own time. He eats extremely well now and I would do blw again.

Maybe just don't talk to your family about your baby's sleeping and try to ignore them when they comment about eating.

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