Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

AIBU about baby being given ice cream and chocolate?

26 replies

breadandwhine · 05/07/2021 06:56

I’m currently trying to introduce solids to six and a half month old baby’s diet. It isn’t going very well.

OH keeps offering him ice cream and chocolate that he’s eating and saying he ‘loves’ it. Obviously he does but I am actually getting a bit worried about this. I know it’s only a taste but it’s encouraging a really poor diet. Or am I being precious?

OP posts:

Soubriquet · 05/07/2021 06:57

Yanbu

A small bit as a treat when you’re eating it, fine

Being given their own because they like it, not.

HelloDulling · 05/07/2021 06:59

Giving him sweet stuff when savoury isn’t going well is very silly. He’s never going to eat carrot if he’s used to ice cream.

SnackSizeRaisin · 05/07/2021 07:01

Sugary foods are bad for babies. Doesn't your oh care about the baby's health? It's normal for them to take a while to get interested in solid food. Some babies are almost a year before they start eating. I would not give anything with refined sugar until a year old (and even then only occasionally). If anyone wants to treat the baby suggest strawberries or other fruits.

Original poster

breadandwhine · 05/07/2021 07:01

Sorry, it is a taste of what OH is eating. Apologies if that wasn’t clear. But I really don’t think he should be having it. It might be different if he was eating a variety of solids but he isn’t.

OP posts:

Mansplainee · 05/07/2021 07:02

It would annoy me too OP, of course he’s going to prefer the sugar over anything else. A little bit of sugar isn’t going to hurt but I would worry that it would make him less likely to try a variety of things.

In what way is weaning not going well? None of them really eat much of anything at this stage. It’s just about starting to get them used to different flavours and textures.

RedHelenB · 05/07/2021 07:04

Mine all.had a taste of ice cream before 6 l nths. They've survived. You're being a bit precious, all kids eat solids eventually unless there's some physical reason why not.

Original poster

breadandwhine · 05/07/2021 07:04

I know - I’m trying not to worry but he really doesn’t eat anything. Probably less than a teaspoon. I’ve seen babies his age enthusiastically tucking in so it does worry me a bit.

OP posts:

Original poster

breadandwhine · 05/07/2021 07:05

Yes but helen if he was eating a mixed diet of veg and protein and so on a taste of ice cream wouldn’t be so bad. As it is, he just has milk and then a bit of a chocolate ice cream lolly! That’s a shit diet by anyone’s standards!

OP posts:

MindyStClaire · 05/07/2021 07:06

YANBU. I don't mind a taste of something once they're eating a decent variety of solids, but not in those early weeks. As someone else says, why would he eat veg if he thinks ice-cream might be an option!

MindyStClaire · 05/07/2021 07:08

Oh and I wouldn't worry about him not eating much yet, it's only been a couple of weeks - although I know it's frustrating. Just keep trying lots of different things, spoon feeds and finger foods. It'll click soon

MouldyPotato · 05/07/2021 07:08

YANBU. Is he getting involved in all the weaning or leaving it up to you and sabotaging your strategy?

Snowpaw · 05/07/2021 07:08

I had to learn to be very firm with others about what I was willing for my baby to eat. You have to draw your boundaries and stick to them. Mine barely had any refined sugar until they were about 15 months old. Weaning is a tough and long process at times - don’t let other people make it harder for you.

Katefoster · 05/07/2021 07:09

I'd be very annoyed. Kids have so much unnecessary sugar these days as it as. Your 6 month year old dosent need an ice cream. I work in a dental hospital where we see kids having full mouth extractions at 3 under a GA due to too much sugar it's so sad.

Original poster

breadandwhine · 05/07/2021 07:10

I think you’re right snow

It’s shocked me how people seem to enjoy pushing unsuitable foods on them, someone tried to give him a bit of a McDonald’s a few weeks ago

At the moment I don’t want to leave him with OH because he starts doing stupid stuff like this which obviously isn’t very fair on me.

OP posts:

Weebleweeble · 05/07/2021 07:12

Quote tooth decay stats at him .

Odile13 · 05/07/2021 07:12

It would annoy me too. The hard thing with weaning is that it takes a while for them to start accepting and enjoying food. I don’t think it helps to skip straight to chocolate and ice cream because that isn’t what they need encouragement and practice to enjoy. It’s not helpful to your overall goal.

At first they don’t eat much though, so don’t worry too much about that OP. I remember I had a breakthrough with DD where she suddenly started eating mashed sweet potato and I was really pleased! But even then the amount she would eat was small and would fluctuate, which is natural.

Doona · 05/07/2021 07:14

YANBU. It's not good for them. It takes babies a few tries to like new foods, but after a while they get used to them and like them. Mine liked pear and rice at the beginning. They start with bland food, then it takes a while to build up their repertoire of what they'll eat. Giving them chocolate, refined sugar, alcohol etc is insane imo.

Original poster

breadandwhine · 05/07/2021 07:15

Thanks, this is reassuring as I was having lunch with friends on Friday and their babies were tucking into solids and it did stress me a bit!

I am going to have to be a bit firmer with OH then I’d like. He’s a lovely kind man but I do think he’s very misguided with this. I’ve made a joke of it but it isn’t funny. He and one of my relatives have both recently had painful and expensive dental work so he really should know better.

OP posts:

LongLiveGoblingKing · 05/07/2021 07:25

YANBU. my strategy was to only give savory foods to DS for the first few months, and he didn't taste anything sweet until his pallet was used to the healthy stuff. As a result at 2.5 he eats most things. Of course he loves chocolate but his absolute favourite food is broccoli, which coincidentally was his first food.

So yes it might sound a bit precious but I'd be very annoyed at your DH.

MargaretThursday · 05/07/2021 07:25

Dd2 totally refused solids until she was about 9 months old and he big sis decided to give her a chocolate button. About a week later she lunged forward and took a lick of ice cream.
After that she thought this eating idea wasn't as bad as she'd thought and starting taking some solids.

joystir59 · 05/07/2021 07:27

I'm sorry to say this but that's another obese child in the making. Your OH is in the wrong for doing this.

1stTimeMama · 05/07/2021 08:57

I wouldn't be happy about this at all, but I also wouldn't worry about him not eating much at this point. A teaspoon is ample, and it's not for nutritious reasons just yet so just at him explore his food.
Have you considered BLW at all?

Original poster

breadandwhine · 05/07/2021 09:37

He does try to feed himself but he doesn’t really sort of misses his mouth!

OP posts:

noscoobydoodle · 05/07/2021 09:54

I remember being distraught when nursery gave DC1 some cake and ice cream at 6 months after I had been lovingly blending purees and steaming finger sized veg which she hated! A family friend got her son to 2 years old without having any chocolate, sweets etc. I get it- it's the principal of the matter and not doing what you agreed on. I must say my stance was not the same for subsequent children- DC2 had a very strong tongue thrust reflex and ate no solids until nearer 10 months- I tried everything including cake and ice cream!. DC3 loves fruit and veg (and cake, ice cream, fruit shoots, dog food and worms). He turned 6 months still in full lockdown last year and was fed all sorts by his older siblings!

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 05/07/2021 10:26

It's on the nhs and health visitors advice to start off on savoury food otherwise if they start off on sweet food they will struggle to adapt more to savoury tastes.
Also the longer they don't know what that stuff is, the better imo. When they are older they get loads of stuff from parties, presents, halloween etc, so much more than you know what to do with. Why give him it now when he certainly doesn't need it, is at an age where teeth brushing is tricky, and if you don't give them it they aren't even bothered as don't actually know what they're missing out on

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread