Would you give NikNaks to a 14 month old baby?

[ColourfulHairbands]

Baby already has the odd Wotsit and Quavers but what’s your opinion on NikNaks? This is the orange pack - Nice ‘N’ Spicy flavour btw.

YABU - it’s fine, I’d give it to a 14 month old
YANBU - I wouldn’t give it

A couple of crisps along side other stuff is absolutely fine. My ham and mustard stealing child is very sporty and competes at a good level so it clearly hasn't done him any harm!

and by the way.....strong flavours and babies. Babies and children have more taste buds than adults so they can taste chemicals in foods that adults lose the power to detect. This is one reason why children don't always get on with sprouts but appreciate them more when they are adults. I'm not sure about sugar but this would account for why people who've had sugary snacks when children end up craving more and more of the stuff to get the same hit.

Were they the Scampi and Lemon ones?

I would have done if their salt intake that day wasn't too high. On the other hand, I never gave either of them baby crisps, devoid of flavour and calories. And I breastfed both untill reception age. So there!

Snacks spoil the appetite.

Not when you're talking about children just over 1. I'm with you on the UPF stuff, but snacks as a thing are fine for that age. My DD2 is 14 months and no longer has a milk feed mid-afternoon, so has some fruit or veg instead. At the moment her favourites are banana, and red pepper sticks (not at the same time!).

This is a joke right? Whoever is doing that is thick as shit.

I wouldn’t give quavers or wotsits to a 14 month old either. So much salt and crap content. Plenty of healthy options ti give instead.

Exactly this!

How much salt do you imagine is in 2-4 wotsits?

Giving a child a single niknak makes you "thick as shit"?

Of course let your little one try them, it's important them try lots of different flavours & textures & niknaks are a good shape for them to hold, too. Ingredients-wise there's nothing problematic & you're clearly not replacing breakfast with a share-bag every day.

Ppl are being ridiculous & snobby telling you otherwise.

Knowledge Source - 3 waify teen boys & not being a judgemental arse

And for all the 'ew ingredients' ppl - stop being ridiculous.

Maize, Sunflower Oil (36%), Nice 'N' Spicy Flavour [Sugar, Yeast Extract, Natural Flavourings (contains Barley Malt Vinegar, Barley Malt Extract, Soya Sauce, Wheat Flour), Salt, Dried Onion, Acid: Citric Acid, Curry Powder (Spices, Rice Flour, Salt), Acid: Malic Acid, Spice, Colour: Paprika Extract, Spice Extracts, Garlic Extract].

Yes, I don't think the ingredients aren't as bad as quavers or wotsits as there are no flavour enhancers. Though, it is still a much more highly processed food than a ready salted potato crisp.

@EmeraldFox

So it's the method of the manufacturing process that bothers you? Too many things happened to it vs a ready salted alternative? What things? More powder was added in the same format as you have in your own kitchen?

I'm sorry, it's just snobbery. There's zero wrong with the ingredients & how they were put together is irrelevant. I'm a chef & some dishes have MANY steps & processes to complete them, taking issue cos it's done on a large scale is just silly & puritanical.

It's UPF, I don't think ready salted potato crisps are (not pringles) as they are just sliced potato, oil and salt aren't they?

A whole bag no bit one or two definitely. They’re the best crisps!!

Food is all about moderation. We live in a society of upf’s that aren’t going to go away. It is possible to have a healthy balanced diet and eat a balanced amount of upf’s. Two niknaks will do absolutely zero damage to a baby! My kids eat crisps daily, like probably most kids! We balance it by saying one bag a day either with lunch or as a snack. No problem!

I think people's definitions of 'in moderation' will vary. For me, in moderation would mean UPF crisps at a birthday party or similar, not every day, similar to a can of coke.

Nik naks have a strong flavour but I wouldn't call them spicy? They won't exactly being burning your kids mouth off. I wouldn't have given my child crisps at that age but he did have much spicier foods no problem.

I wouldn’t give any of those to a 14 month old personally. Not because I’m afraid or anything but there are a whole host of really good baby crisps they can suck that don’t have added salt or sugar. Once you start exposing them to those strong sugary or salty flavours, you’re committed and nothing will taste the same so you’re affecting their taste buds and therefore diet in a detrimental way. I also just dont think it’s healthy and I wouldn’t prize that over convenience. You can chop up fruit or veg and put it in little pots or give the baby things. However, if it’s at a party or bbq or something and they have some and it’s not regular then I wouldn’t worry about it.

I think the thing there as you’ve said is you give them to kids, not babies. Yeah, one or two won’t hurt but why? What’s the point ?

I’d think most people realise that they’re pointless and offer no nutritional value as such. I think if we were all honest the reason behind giving them is it distracts baby whilst we try to (insert as necessary) eat our dinner/do washing/deal with another child/have a moment when they’re not hanging off us. The thing that is different is whilst one does no good whatsoever, it still doesn’t have added salt or sugars or flavourings so it sure isn’t doing any harm. Not that I’m suggesting a few nik naks or wotsits every now and then is doing harm, but just why? If you can avoid it and as Mum, you can, for now, why do it?

But giving food as "something to do" is a terrible idea reinforces and sets the idea that if you're bored, eat food. However, you do whatever you need to do to get through the day.

If you're giving 3 carrot puffs or 3 wotsits as a one off there's very little different between them.... So why the judgment from people suggesting that somehow that pointless piece of puffed corn that contains 0.00001g is soooooo much better than this other pointless piece of puffed corn that contains 0.0001g of salt.

As usual it's other women making other women feel bad for the choices they're making :/

The thing that is different is whilst one does no good whatsoever, it still doesn’t have added salt or sugars or flavourings so it sure isn’t doing any harm

Isn’t doing any harm? You’ve been had! How do you think one chemical hashed up
piece of shit compared to another hashed up processed piece of crap is so different? Honestly, it’s a con. A carrot never has nor never will be puffed, organic or not.

Have a read (or listen) to Processed People. Lots of science and sensible stuff, backed by research and facts. It’s not a fad and really important.

Edible substances are NOT food and they have never had long term studies done on them as you can’t do this on mice, or people.

Baby crisps are bland pointless shite anyway. They don't resemble real food in any way and they cost a fortune into the bargain. Just buy a cheap pack of oatcakes or some rice cakes or something and use those. Saves a fortune and actually has an interesting texture.

Disproportionate levels of handwringing on here, some of it I imagine from people who have spent months feeding their babies UPF in the form of formula - rightly no one suggests that is not a good decision, but one or two Nik Naks is apparently the end of all things.

https://www.firststepsnutrition.org/upfs-marketed-for-infants-and-young-children