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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To let my 8 year old have a snack supply in her room?

185 replies

jilllanguage · 11/02/2022 20:06

My DD is 8 and a couple weeks ago she asked if she could have a snack supply in her bedroom. I said yes but she still needed to ask if she was going to have any out of it. It's unhealthy snacks, mainly chocolate I admit.

She's had it a few weeks and most of it is still there. The bits she's had she has asked me and I've said it's fine. She likes to set it up all nice and just know it's there more than anything I think.

When she told her dad though he phoned me saying there is no need for it and it's encouraging bad eating habits. He thinks she's too obsessional with food as it is at my house. I suppose he does have a point. She is always thinking about what she'll eat next.

However, she's not overweight at all, she's very active, she eats her vegetables (fruit not as keen on), she will leave breakfast/lunch/dinner/dessert/yogurt etc on her plate so she knows when she is full, in fact she never finishes a full meal to be honest.

I don't see a problem with the snack box, if she was eating it without permission etc then I'd take it away but she's not.

AIBU?

OP posts:
Easterbunnyiswindowshopping · 11/02/2022 20:08

My teen dd's have a bedside drawer of snacks!! They also eat well. And aren't obese.
As you were op. You are doing great.

OfstedOffred · 11/02/2022 20:21

I think sometimes it can be good to give kids control. I wouldnt have it in her room though purely because I think that creates a sense of privacy/secrecy around eating snacks that isn't good.

Have a treat box for her, have it in a kitchen cupboard and let her see that you won't judge her when she chooses to have something & doesnt need to hide it away in her bedroom. It sounds like she is reasonably restrained with what she has.

DoubleChinWoes2 · 11/02/2022 20:25

I had the opposite approach when young. Snacks were locked away and if I was caught eating anything unhealthy I had to put up with snidey comments and be put in weight watchers, and I'm now overweight. You might be on to something - I have a life of fucked up food issues.

LittleBearPad · 11/02/2022 20:27

I think it could be in the kitchen and still be hers.

TakeMe2Insanity · 11/02/2022 20:29

I don’t like the idea of snacks in a bedroom. I don’t mind the idea if snacks for a specific person in the kitchen but I don’t like food to not be in the kitchen.

TatianaBis · 11/02/2022 20:29

Why on earth would anyone need snacks in their room?

Weird idea, just put them back in the kitchen. It's odd to be 8 and always thinking about food.

And don't encourage the idea of confectionary as 'treats'.

TheVolturi · 11/02/2022 20:30

I think it's fine, and as you say, most of it is still there! When I was a kid probably 12 ish I really wanted a mini fridge in my room with cans of fizzy pop in! I never drank fizzy pop! I just liked the idea of it 😂

WTF475878237NC · 11/02/2022 20:32

It's unhealthy snacks, mainly chocolate I admit.

^ I think this is what makes it a bad idea especially at her young age. She has got an association between sitting in her room and eating shit already.... comfort eating? Can she explain why she wants it? How about a jar with her name on in the kitchen if she's concerned a sibling is eating her X?

VariationsonaTheme · 11/02/2022 20:34

I wouldn’t have them in rooms, just because we have a no eating rule for upstairs. Her own ‘snackbox’ I wouldn’t have an issue with.

CherryDocsInYrBalls · 11/02/2022 20:35

Choking hazard! I'm super paranoid as someone at my school choked to death on pizza in their bedroom, aged 14. It was a tragic accident but I think 8 is too young if there's a danger of choking

AbsentmindedWoman · 11/02/2022 20:35

Why on earth would anyone need snacks in their room?

I keep juice boxes beside my bed because of type 1 diabetes.

There are other medical conditions where food is a tool in managing the illness.

Comedycook · 11/02/2022 20:36

The food wouldn't bother me but I wouldn't have it in a bedroom

Arnia · 11/02/2022 20:38

I don't think it's great at all really. However since she seems to have control and isn't gorging on it and generally eats well then it's not too big of a deal I guess.

Stressedout1009 · 11/02/2022 20:38

I think its a bad idea. I have a snack cupboard with a mix of healthy and unhealthy snacks and my dc is allowed to have something if they want but just need to let me know- however it's in the kitchen.

FoamBurst · 11/02/2022 20:39

The type of food wouldn't worry me. But we don't allow food in bedrooms.

Tell your ex he has no right to tell u how to parent and to butt out

cheekychaplin · 11/02/2022 20:39

Mine stash their snacks somewhere in their rooms so DS18 can't eat them. He is an absolute nightmare and will eat anything he can get his hands on.

duvetdayforeveryone · 11/02/2022 20:40

Since DS2 was 8yo he's had a snack box in his room. Now 9yo he is fine :) Eats healthy meals and does plenty of exercise.

Ohyesiam · 11/02/2022 20:41

Just came on to be a smart arse and say that YABU for thinking treats are snacks.
But she sounds like she had the right attitude.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 11/02/2022 20:41

I wouldn’t allow it- I don’t want food in the bedroom- I don’t want eating too feel a secret or to encourage vermin.

ABitBesottedWithMyDog · 11/02/2022 20:42

I would worry about vermin (insects and mice in particular).

There's nothing that wrong with it unless she is eating after she's brushed her teeth, though

Original poster
jilllanguage · 11/02/2022 20:43

@CherryDocsInYrBalls

Choking hazard! I'm super paranoid as someone at my school choked to death on pizza in their bedroom, aged 14. It was a tragic accident but I think 8 is too young if there's a danger of choking
Oh god don't. That terrifies me, how tragic!
OP posts:
cheekychaplin · 11/02/2022 20:44

Why would vermin appear? We don't have vermin in the kitchen so why would we get them in the bedroom by having a few snacks in a drawer?

catchingzzzeds · 11/02/2022 20:45

Treats and snacks were locked away and given rarely when I was growing up, as soon as I had some money of my own as a teenager I used to buy an enormous amount of crap in secret and eat it all in one sitting. I still have no control with food.
In contrast, I have never limited my DCs access to snacks and sweets and they are both very sensible and can take or leave the sweet stuff.

starfishmummy · 11/02/2022 20:45

I think downstairs would be better. Then you can include some healthier snacks that need to be kept in the fridge.

Original poster
jilllanguage · 11/02/2022 20:47

@ABitBesottedWithMyDog

I would worry about vermin (insects and mice in particular).

There's nothing that wrong with it unless she is eating after she's brushed her teeth, though

I'm not worried about that as she is very tidy, she's very room proud, makes her bed every morning. I think that's part of the reason she wants a treat box, she thinks it adds to her room as she has it sitting out for anyone to see when they walk into her room like a little set up you'd get in a hotel room 😂

I am now worried about her choking on food in her room.

OP posts:
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