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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Sister gave my 10 month old sips of non-alcoholic mojito

106 replies

Element4056 · 01/10/2021 20:07

I'm really not happy that my sister (21) has given my 10 month old DS sips of her non-alcoholic mojito. What's made me quite upset is that she said it's not the first time she's given him this! She makes it with syrup and a mojito can just for context on how sugary and sweet this is.
I've explained countless times that I only give him water or breastmilk for fluids throughout the day. I have never offered him fruit juice, cordial/squash or any other drinks loaded with sweetners. It's actually bothered me and makes me feel like my parenting is undermined when I have to justify my decision not to offer certain foods or drinks.
Some weeks ago she said I was going to give him issues with food as he grows up as I didn't want him having ice cream, especially just before his dinner.
Just feeling quite bothered by this.

OP posts:
Imdoingitnow · 01/10/2021 20:32

Grow up.

EileenGC · 01/10/2021 20:33

@Imdoingitnow

Grow up.
Yeah, the sister needs to.
RobinPenguins · 01/10/2021 20:34

I couldn’t really make myself care much about this, but I expect it depends on your wider relationship with your sister. The baby is not going to turn into an obese raving sugar monster from a few sips of a syrupy drink in the context of an otherwise healthy diet.

SilverGlassHare · 01/10/2021 20:34

Why are people talking about chilli prawns?

MakingM · 01/10/2021 20:35

@Cuddlyrottweiler

She essentially gave him a sip of a sweet fizzy drink. I couldn't get too mad. Its not gonna rot his teeth and give him diabetes
+1

OP are you going to have a coronary when your child is invited children’s parties and given sugar? Sometimes they can be invited to three parties in a single day!

You could just brush the teeth he has after he has spent time with your sister.

always2tired · 01/10/2021 20:36

@Cuddlyrottweiler

She essentially gave him a sip of a sweet fizzy drink. I couldn't get too mad. Its not gonna rot his teeth and give him diabetes
This 💯
MakingM · 01/10/2021 20:37

@Mum2jenny

I couldn’t get too upset about this, there are much worse things to feed a little one. Chili prawns for one!!
Definitely. Feeding them chilli prawns also makes it mandatory for them to remain with the child for several hours because the feeder is definitely changing that nappy! 😂
Funnylittlefloozie · 01/10/2021 20:39

I would be cross about this, but you have to keep perspective. It won't have done any permanent damage to him, and now you know your sister is a bit of a dick and can't be trusted around him while he's tiny.

If this was my sister, I'd just be sweetly telling her that if she ever tried a stunt like that again, I'd set fire to all her clothes Smile However I do realise that not everyone has the great sibling relationship we do...

Comedycook · 01/10/2021 20:39

She should respect your wishes. If I was taking care of my nieces I wouldn't do something that their parents would be unhappy with even if I thought it was fine.

Fwiw, I don't think it was a big deal what she did but that's not the point

FudgeFlake · 01/10/2021 20:40

As grown up siblings we're allowed to think to ourselves 'dear god she's/he's gone a bit bonkers with her/his rules and regulations about what dneice or dnephew are allowed to eat' but we are also obliged to follow her/his rules if asked. Also it turned out that one of the banned substances for one of my nephews really was massively dangerous for him. So glad we persuaded our mum not to feed him that particular foodstuff when she was babysitting him, just until the test results got back.

pinkyredrose · 01/10/2021 20:41

Chill out it won't harm him. I bet he's putting all sorts in his mouth, it's not like she gave him heroin.

Ask/tell her not to do it again

Original poster
Element4056 · 01/10/2021 20:41

To posters saying it's just a few sips of sweet fizzy drinks, and @MakingM, it's not really comparable regarding kids being invited to parties and given sugar. He's just turning 10 months old, I see no good reason for him to be drinking fizzy drinks/ mojito especially under 1 years old!!! Completely different to older kids drinking pop at parties.
I just really want to avoid him having sugary drinks especially before 1 years old.

OP posts:
FudgeFlake · 01/10/2021 20:43

The other seven nieces and nephews and their various possible problems and worrys did all turn out to be false alarms thankfully.

Rogue1001 · 01/10/2021 20:44

@Mum2jenny

I couldn’t get too upset about this, there are much worse things to feed a little one. Chili prawns for one!!
I gave DD chili prawns when she was weaning and they made her cry 😭😭😭

Still feel guilty, even though she's now almost 20 and couldn't love spicy food more. The hotter the better

19lottie82 · 01/10/2021 20:45

I think you’re over reacting tbh. Would you feel the same if it was a sip of fresh orange juice? There’s probably more sugar in that.

Mum2jenny · 01/10/2021 20:47

My little one loved chilli prawns from around 8 months and everyone told me I was the most wicked mother ever for giving them to her. She still loves them though

lljkk · 01/10/2021 20:48

I gave 7m old DS a chilli pepper...
I truly didn't know how he'd react.

Half my family eat those things without comment.
He cried. Bad mother alert. :(
He's 21yo now & bought me cannabis sweets for my birthday. Possible revenge there, I suppose.

This whole thread is about... a sip of a sweet fizzy drink ???

Summerfun54321 · 01/10/2021 20:50

I feed my kids very healthy food but unless someone does something dangerous or reckless when looking after my children, I don’t get too worked up about it and just appreciate the favour.

5zeds · 01/10/2021 20:50

Sugar gives babies the runs.

BreatheAndFocus · 01/10/2021 20:51

You’re not overreacting. She sounds very immature. Whenever I look after someone else’s baby or young child. if there’s food or drink going round I always call out to the parent before giving them anything even if it’s something pretty normal. It’s up to the parents not her.

NerrSnerr · 01/10/2021 20:52

I'm a vegetarian but this thread is making me want chilli prawns.

5zeds · 01/10/2021 20:52

Why does she do it?

MakingM · 01/10/2021 21:01

@Element4056

To posters saying it's just a few sips of sweet fizzy drinks, and *@MakingM*, it's not really comparable regarding kids being invited to parties and given sugar. He's just turning 10 months old, I see no good reason for him to be drinking fizzy drinks/ mojito especially under 1 years old!!! Completely different to older kids drinking pop at parties. I just really want to avoid him having sugary drinks especially before 1 years old.
It’s really not. I’ve been at parties where mothers have tried to remind their very small children “to make good decisions about food”. At a party. I’m absolutely sure that those mothers started out being extremely precious over someone giving their child a sugary drink.

It’s up to you what you do but I think you’re making life unnecessarily difficult for yourself and being overly demanding of your sister. She hasn’t undermined your parenting, she’s given her niece a small treat.

Neither of my children drink fizzy drinks. They don’t like them. They’ve never been readily or regularly available and I’ve never made an issue about people offering them to the children at all. It’s just not necessary to be so precious about it.

SquareWindow · 01/10/2021 21:06

Nope, that would be a lone crossed for me.
You’re the parent and what you say goes and she’ll cross many more lines if you let her.

Rosebel · 01/10/2021 21:07

Wouldn't bother me at all. Doesn't your son have fruit? There's lots of sugar in that. Just make sure you brush his teeth well.