Sil giving my baby tea

[abi9396]

My baby is 6 months in 2 weeks. He stayed the night and mil and sil house last night. He came back with tea stains over his bib and sock. My eldest son then told me that sil had given him some of her tea to drink. Mil, sil and my partner are all denying this and claims the baby spilled her tea on accident and that’s how it’s over his bib and sock. If they did can this be harmful at his age I am worried?

My apologies for trying to widen the debate.

🙄

Your GP said that? Because that's very incorrect, maybe change GPs IF this isntrue

Weaning was advised between 3-4 months a while ago, yes I agree times have changed but even recently you can buy baby rice suitable from 3 months, certain drinks from 4 weeks, all babies are different 1 of mine was weaning at 10 weeks! Another 7 months! The biggest issue here seems to be the op doesn't trust her mil? Which is fine if they have different parenting approaches. You either need to state what you are happy with and she agrees or you don't use her for childcare in the future.

Great, you gave them a drink containing cows milk which is too high sodium and low iron for young babies, tea which has tannins that block iron production and caffeine which effects brain development.

Take a while to meet their milestones maybe?

It's not that babies are different but that parents are different, your baby didn't choose to wean at 10 weeks, you chose to go against guidelines, how's their IBS these days?

Also the last time guidelines were earlier than 4 months was the 1970s and they've been 6 months for around 30 years. So it's not the old, every other day it's different, that those who raised kids in the 80s would have you believe

I was told caffeine inhibits iron absorption.

NHS website is very clear. No tea for babies under a year, not even very weak and very milky, not even decaf or herbal.

Does he usually drink from a cup?

i doubt he managed to down even a dribble to be honest.

so even if it was harmful/undesirable I'd hardly say he had had tea.

is there any chance that's what MIL SIL mean?

As for DP, was he not with you?

Because it's 5 ounces of water made up into 5 ounces of formula which changes the electrolyte balance.

Giving just water can literally cause brain damage and death

oh & no, it won't do him any harm at all.

the potential lying on the other hand!

I'm not sure but the tannins do and they're still there in decaf tea

It stops them getting nutrients because their tummies are too full of water to take in enough mil, howeve the real problem is breastmilk is a delicate balance of electrolytes, adding water throws electrolytes off and babies can die from the effects on the brain.

You keep babies under 6 months hydrated with breastmilk or formula made up to the correct proportions. Not with water.

Firstly you are incorrect as the weaning advice in 2000 was 4 months. The 10 week old weaned is the healthiest of the 3!! 🤣🤣 I'm not having a pop at how others raised their kids! I didn't go against anything, I just did what most normal parents did and went with what was best for my child! I am interested in the changing recommendations but slamming those that don't follow the line is not probably the best way to encourage what you are pushing? There is no right or wrong way to bring up kids! They don't come with an instruction manual! You do what is best for them, it's not always what the 'book' says but if it works for you and then then it's not anyone else's place to judge!

I'm Irish, and 40 and we were given tea in bottles, in the 80s and early 90s. Noone I know gives babies tea now though because we know better so do better.

I wouldn't be happy about the fibbing, but in Victorian times they used to give babies gin. 🤷‍♀️

No dear, she's not.

She is, in fact, saying there's a lot worse than a tiny bit of tea.

Better now?

Which is why they have milk. Milk is more hydrating than water even for adults.

You know 2000 was 23 yes ago? And you did go against guidelines if you gave solids to a 10 week old as even in the 1979s the minimum was 3 months.

The baby shouldn't have been around hot tea, but tea in and of itself isn't going to do any serious harm.

I'd be concerned that they weren't being honest with you. Trustworthy they are not.

Also I disagree, there are many ways to bring up kids that are indeed wrong, guidelines exist as the safest and healthiest way to bring a child up. Choosing to go against guidelines is your choice of course but it's the definition of the wrong way

I want to argue with you but I don't think I'll bother. All I can say is mumsnet does not reflect real life or England. England loves tea!

And??? I don't understand your point? I brought up 3 kids, I don't think everything I did was perfect. But if I had listened to all that was advised at the time I dread to think what would have happened! As I said evey baby is different, what works for one doesn't work for another, you seem very regimented and want to go 'by the book' but as you say things change. If it works for you then that's amazing but you can't stipulate that others don't it won't work out absolutely fine for them! Individual choice.

@Forgooodnesssakenow

Guidelines are not written in stone.

By the time you are dealing with grandchildren everything you are sure of will have changed.

Back in the 90s the guidelines said absolutely no major allergens should be part of a baby's diet until at least 12 months. That's out the window now. I didn't feed my DCs eggs, peanut butter, and a good few other foods that any grandchildren of mine born in the next few years will happily mush into their hair and possibly swallow a little of.

Baby will be fine but don’t think I’d want them watching them again, either they gave the baby tea or they left a hot drink around the baby.