To not understand why some parents make such poor food choices for their kids?

[Quit4me]

I was standing behind a mum with 2 children in a queue the other day. One child was a baby laying almost flat in a pram aged about 3 months. The other was around 6. The baby was really sweet smiling out of the pram which is what drew my attention to them. Then she grizzled and the mum said ‘whopps sorry I took away the milk buttons didn’t I. She was feeding her (the baby) milkybar buttons. Quite a lot of them.
I then noticed that that the mum was overweight, the nan who was also with them was overweight and most sadly the 6 year old was very overweight /obese.
Why would any mum be feeding their 3 month old chocolate? Obviously the whole family and little girl could have had a medical condition but Barring that why don’t parents see that feeding them sugar and too many processed foods early on is creating so many health problems for their children?
It makes me actually quite angry and sad for the children and I cringe seeing it.
Yes I know it’s none of my business directly, but this is everyone’s business because it’s a huge problem for the UK and is going to increase multi fold in the coming years.

Usagi12 When DS1 was being investigated for allergies at around 9m the peadiatrician recommended giving him nutella on toast so he could try hazelnuts.

(I think I gave him a hazelnut wafer in the end)

Whether this is a thread based on fact or fiction I have witnessed much relaxed uneasy parenting in public. However despite seeing some mothers feeding young infants with ultra processed convenient junk food I would note as a concerned parent but not interject or be judgemental but to accept this is a part of diversity. Some parents may either be indifferent or not knowledgeable as to what is more healthy parenting. Perhaps it's generational or cultural. It is though not totally excusable unless you missed or failed to attend all compulsory health visits with your infant etc where very basic parenting issues including nutrition is addressed. Perhaps those from certain demographics include a likelihood to smoking or use of other substances not conducive to health. The resulting child teeth, obesity ana other health and mental issues may however begin from such upbringing scenarios.

Many reasons op-
Poverty
Post natal depression ( I had psychosis after baby's birth and some days it was a struggle to get through it)
Fussiness
Just because they like it
A treat

None of those are reasons to give a baby who shouldn't even be on solids chocolate

Lack of education/awareness and a certain culture/tradition around food and feeding children that some people don't question - my first baby first ever tried food that wasn't my milk before she turned 4 months old - her dad and aunt gave her crisps and apple juice because their mum said it was fine. I wasn't there to stop it and was devastated and livid when I found out! She has grown up a slim and healthy girl but that is because I had to really push her dad to look more closely at his food choices for himself and her. It was hard work and we fought a lot.

to those that think this is made up why??

do you not think some care givers feed the child utter rubbish

From experience of my dm and grandmother feeding my 12 week old milkybar buttons, a baby so young definitely can eat them

And remember getting the polio vaccination on a sugar lump?

I do, yes! I was scared because I thought a vaccination meant an injection. The sugar lump was a nice surprise.

Babies at 12 weeks don't know they just have to suck on this chocolate until it melts

Sucking/mouthing is what babies do instinctively and it only takes a moment for a chocolate button to melt. I'm surprised people find it so hard to believe, though maybe it's mostly troll hunting in disguise. (Am I allowed to hunt troll-hunters?)

A lot,a LOT of people just dont prioritise health. For whatever reason and probably a myriad of them.

@Camomila

Usagi12 When DS1 was being investigated for allergies at around 9m the peadiatrician recommended giving him nutella on toast so he could try hazelnuts.

(I think I gave him a hazelnut wafer in the end)

Haha this takes me back. We did the same with ours about the same age, I was so nervous. I got a jar of Nutella out and went to find my phone before giving it just in case they were allergic and I needed to call an ambulance. By the time I got back to the kitchen my husband had given it to them (I have twins) and all 3 were covered in chocolate. Luckily no allergies!

to those that think this is made up why??

Just the way the story is told.

I’m just surprised that OP didn’t mention the contents of this family’s trolley/basket. 🙄 OP missed a chance there.

Cos us fatties are thick and want to make kids fat too. Innit?

@Okbussitout

Cos us fatties are thick and want to make kids fat too. Innit?

if that’s how you honestly view yourself you really need help. Talking about the topic of giving small children junk isn’t an attack on you being fat. Adults choosing to overeat and be overweight is one thing, but having a baby in your care and providing inadequate/poor nutrition is a separate matter.

@ColdBrightClearMorning I think that poster was being sarcastic....

It is though not totally excusable unless you missed or failed to attend all compulsory health visits with your infant etc where very basic parenting issues including nutrition is addressed.

What compulsory health visits where parenting issues were addressed? I never had any of those and I don't know anyone (my age or younger) in the UK who did.

my grandson was adopted at three and had lost one front tooth as he was given coca cola all the time, mainly ignorance I think

@BloggersBlog my 18mo has the occasional milky bar button....and she's absolutely fine! And I would bet I'm not the i'm not the only poster who does, so not ridiculous at all!

[quote Cpl1586407]@ColdBrightClearMorning I think that poster was being sarcastic....[/quote]
Possibly yes, but maybe they haven’t considered how harmful and hurtful their words are to other ‘fatties’ reading...

Amaryllis,

"What compulsory health visits where parenting issues were addressed? I never had any of those and I don't know anyone (my age or younger) in the UK who did."

Did you not have a Health Visitor?

www.buckshealthcare.nhs.uk/birthchoices/the-role-of-your-health-visitor.htm

@Mulhollandmagoo

Since she was 3 months ish old?

@AmaryllisNightAndDay

It is though not totally excusable unless you missed or failed to attend all compulsory health visits with your infant etc where very basic parenting issues including nutrition is addressed.

What compulsory health visits where parenting issues were addressed? I never had any of those and I don't know anyone (my age or younger) in the UK who did.

Just wrote a post but doesn’t seem to have sent (in case this is a double)

There weren’t any available to us via the nhs either, the local children’s centre did put on some infant feeding and weaning classes but stopped them completely due to Covid and as of yet they haven’t returned. Shame as I was really keen to attend anything going re parenting/weaning.

Doubt it was much more info than is available on the nhs site however, which is fab and very accessible. Some good recipes too!

www.nhs.uk/start4life/weaning/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3v-j0ZWD7wIVwe7tCh22MwMzEAAYASAAEgJMLfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Usagi12 DBro is a paramedic. I used to try new foods whenever he came round to mums for lunch Luckily DS1 grew out of his allergies bar a bit of dry skin/hayfever. He loves nutella now.

AmaryllisNightAndDay I think the PP might mean the (not compulsory) HV checks you get at 6 weeks, 9 months, and 2 years.

I remember about 10 years ago I did a student placement at a children's centre, and they did a really good weaning course. It's such a shame lots of them have shut down.

I don't believe for a moment that baby was 3 months old.

[quote Mulhollandmagoo]@BloggersBlog my 18mo has the occasional milky bar button....and she's absolutely fine! And I would bet I'm not the i'm not the only poster who does, so not ridiculous at all![/quote]
At 18mo the occasional chocolate button is a bit stingy isn't it? The OP is talking and a 3 month old who should only be drinking milk at that stage so quite different.

A baby was lying down eating chocolate buttons?!! Aside from the chocolate, and the fact that it cannot digest anything but milk at that age - the choking risk is shocking .

@IFoundMyselfInThisBar

Feeding a tiny baby chocolate is abuse, plain and simple. That poor child

I shouldn’t worry too much about the fictional baby in OPs story.

Why didn’t it happen? I didn’t take a photo funnily enough but I can assure you it did. I’m quite surprised so many people find it hard to believe a 3-4 month old baby wouldn’t be able to suck a chocolate button? Plenty of posters have said grandparents have given their 12 week old baby chocolate and similar and as I previously said, it was common to give foods to 12 week + babies 30-40 years ago