Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Nursery gave baby rusks

199 replies

Wonderingabt · 13/12/2023 21:44

7 month old recently at nursery.

They've fed her rusks. Should I be worried?

I don't offer rusks at home because I heard they are full of sugar. I was fed them myself as a baby though as were others in 80s.

A nursery worker today commented that 'she loves rusks'. Do I need to step in and say no rusks? I hate the idea of kicking up a fuss but I don't want her eating rusks every day. Once a week I can cope with.

The rest of the nursey food seems healthy but I'm surprised they give rusks as I assumed they know about sugar etc. Unless these are special rusks...do those exist?

Yabu - no need to kick up fuss
Yanbu - tell them no

OP posts:
muggart · 14/12/2023 09:16

Cornflakes44 · 14/12/2023 09:12

@muggart I'm going to say something about the coco pops but I'm in two minds about the dessert. They give them something everyday, i assume small portions, and I worry she's feel left out the others have it not her. I think I'll just talk them and see if they can give her fruit instead.

You might find your kid prefers fruit anyway and will choose that if given the choice.

My DD has food allergies and loves fruit, she doesn't look twice at cake. Which is a blessing because half the time she can't eat it.

Worried234 · 14/12/2023 09:26

The micro biome? Fuck me. It's a biscuit.

ColleenDonaghy · 14/12/2023 09:29

bellac11 · 14/12/2023 07:42

This is so true, there was a thread a week or so ago, the OP was upset that her child had been out with relatives in between lunch and dinner without having been given a snack in between, there is a huge difference between modern thinking about that, and what people used to do years ago. Largely driven by businesses and manufacturers in my view.

Show quote history

The NHS advises three meals and two snacks for small children, so if we're going to expect people to follow their advice on sugar then we can also expect them to follow advice on (healthy) snacks.

ColleenDonaghy · 14/12/2023 09:32

Cornflakes44 · 14/12/2023 08:17

My nursery gave my 11 month old coco pops for breakfast and then Yule log and custard later for dessert. I would never give her stuff like that. It really pisses me off. Rusks I could live with.

The coco pops are ridiculous.

Birthday cake is a very common thing at nursery, and the cook in ours sometimes bakes shortbread or the like for Friday treat. They have no problem not giving some to DC whose parents don't like it, but it's only a little and food is social as well as fuel so personally it doesn't bother me.

DinoDays · 14/12/2023 09:47

Piglet89 · 13/12/2023 22:02

@VeterinaryCareAssistant yeah but rusks are a gateway drug to KitKats and shit.

gateway drug

Ain't that the truth! That genuinely made me laugh out loud. The things we worried about with our PFBs!

Ellamaelucyolivia · 14/12/2023 09:48

Jesus, it's only a bit of sugar

Marthawhochanged · 14/12/2023 10:10

Would the comment that the baby enjoying rusks might imply that it wants something tougher to gnaw on. Not only sloppy gruel.🤔

Stravaig · 14/12/2023 10:24

I'd be more worried about her cognitive development and communication skills as she grows, given your apparent inability to simply talk to the people caring for her, establish relevant factual information (which brand, how much sugar, other ingredients, how large, how many, how often), and make an informed decision on what's best. Poor wee bairn.

whatsappdoc · 14/12/2023 10:30

So you haven't actually asked if the rusks are homemade or not?

MargotBamborough · 14/12/2023 10:38

It's really not a big deal. Save your energy.

cristokitty · 14/12/2023 11:21

I'm sat here eating a doughnut and wondering if I should blame my mum for giving me rusks 🤣

ChateauDuMont · 14/12/2023 11:23

I loved Farleys rusks as a child.

I bought a pack some years ago and they tasted nothing like how I remembered! i don't think there was any sugar in it and it tasted like cardboard.

ISpyNoPlumPie · 14/12/2023 11:40

MeinKraft · 14/12/2023 08:19

You can get so hung up on making the perfect choices for your children that you can't see the wood for the trees. It's much more beneficial for children to have a relaxed happy mum than it is for them to have the perfect diet 100% of the time.

Show quote history

It’s not a dichotomy - perfect parenting or rusks. Who is aiming for perfection? Most of us are just trying to make the best choices we can for our families with the time, knowledge, and resources we have.

Most people will unavoidably have ultra-processed food in their diet. It’s incredibly hard to avoid ultra-processed bread for example, unless you have a mill. Even making your own sourdough starter and bread - a lot of flour is ultra-processed. But what is the point of a rusk? What nutrition does it provide? Why not offer a non-ultra processed snack like fruit/veg/cheese/yoghurt (yes I know, not petit filous)? It’s SO easy to avoid a rusk.

The proportion of ALL of our diets that is ultra-processed is concerning. A 7 month old does not need this nutritionally deplete crap in their diet. And I, like many, have higher standards of care for authorities I pay and entrust to look after my child.

Thank you to the PP for pointing out that a cream cake is not the same as an apple sugar-wise. An apple has fibre, vitamins and minerals which affect how the sugar is metabolised AND provide nutritional value. Plus yes! Dried fruit! Again I appreciate it is not recommended by dentists in much the same way toffees are not recommended by dentists but I’m not advocating for dried fruit either. I’m saying RUSKS are pointless and have no place in anyone’s diet, especially an infants. Reducing ultra-processed food is good but eliminating it is unrealistic for most. I - and many others, are just making changes where I can within our resources and the best available information about what constitutes a good diet (in short, actual REAL food).

UsingChangeofName · 14/12/2023 21:13

So, what did the Nursery staff say today, when you asked them about it @Wonderingabt ?

muggart · 14/12/2023 21:59

You can get so hung up on making the perfect choices for your children that you can't see the wood for the trees. It's much more beneficial for children to have a relaxed happy mum than it is for them to have the perfect diet 100% of the time.@MeinKraft

But this isn't about a relaxed mum occasionally allowing her DC a treat, vs an uptight and anxious mum making sure everything is perfect all the time.

It's about nursery staff and what the expectations of these professionals should be on a day to day basis.

In my line of work, I don't get to do things that will adversely affect my customers. If I did, I would be disciplined and maybe even lose my job. I think that's pretty normal and we shouldn't have lower standards for how our babies are treated.

Imo nobody should ever give sweet treats to children without explicit permission from their parents and it should absolutely not become a normal daily occurrence. In fact, i'd block all junk food from educational establishments and give a detention to all those entitled teachers & parents who bring sweets / cake / sugary crap into school.

Anyway maybe these rusks are sugar free. Let's hope so.

honeysuckleweeks · 14/12/2023 22:01

ISpyNoPlumPie · 14/12/2023 11:40

It’s not a dichotomy - perfect parenting or rusks. Who is aiming for perfection? Most of us are just trying to make the best choices we can for our families with the time, knowledge, and resources we have.

Most people will unavoidably have ultra-processed food in their diet. It’s incredibly hard to avoid ultra-processed bread for example, unless you have a mill. Even making your own sourdough starter and bread - a lot of flour is ultra-processed. But what is the point of a rusk? What nutrition does it provide? Why not offer a non-ultra processed snack like fruit/veg/cheese/yoghurt (yes I know, not petit filous)? It’s SO easy to avoid a rusk.

The proportion of ALL of our diets that is ultra-processed is concerning. A 7 month old does not need this nutritionally deplete crap in their diet. And I, like many, have higher standards of care for authorities I pay and entrust to look after my child.

Thank you to the PP for pointing out that a cream cake is not the same as an apple sugar-wise. An apple has fibre, vitamins and minerals which affect how the sugar is metabolised AND provide nutritional value. Plus yes! Dried fruit! Again I appreciate it is not recommended by dentists in much the same way toffees are not recommended by dentists but I’m not advocating for dried fruit either. I’m saying RUSKS are pointless and have no place in anyone’s diet, especially an infants. Reducing ultra-processed food is good but eliminating it is unrealistic for most. I - and many others, are just making changes where I can within our resources and the best available information about what constitutes a good diet (in short, actual REAL food).

Show quote history

I used them for teething. yoghurt is not much help with that! As I sadi previously most of it ends up smooshed on the high chair, or down their front anyway. I'm a bit surprised by this thread as this would never occur to me as a problem.

honeysuckleweeks · 14/12/2023 22:02

Also agree that sultanas/raisins / dried fruit are far worse as they stick on the teeth.

WingingItSince1973 · 14/12/2023 22:32

I'm 50. I squirm now when my mum tells me the sort of things they used to feed me or add to my bottles! Obviously not the point of the thread. OP I don't blame you for feeling this way. It's a lot of sugar and UPF for a baby. I wish my parents had been a bit more careful with my food. Might have given me a body that's not wracked with lots of issues today. Obviously I can't say it's that at all but why not give your kids the healthiest start possible. There are hundreds of alternatives to rusks. Just speak to the nursery. It's not pfb issues at all! That's an awful thing to say. If people really knew what upfs do to our bodies they would look at better eating. That being said I absolutely love a rusk! Always tempted to buy a packet each food shop but they would be demolished quickly 😂😬

bellac11 · 14/12/2023 22:45

ISpyNoPlumPie · 14/12/2023 11:40

It’s not a dichotomy - perfect parenting or rusks. Who is aiming for perfection? Most of us are just trying to make the best choices we can for our families with the time, knowledge, and resources we have.

Most people will unavoidably have ultra-processed food in their diet. It’s incredibly hard to avoid ultra-processed bread for example, unless you have a mill. Even making your own sourdough starter and bread - a lot of flour is ultra-processed. But what is the point of a rusk? What nutrition does it provide? Why not offer a non-ultra processed snack like fruit/veg/cheese/yoghurt (yes I know, not petit filous)? It’s SO easy to avoid a rusk.

The proportion of ALL of our diets that is ultra-processed is concerning. A 7 month old does not need this nutritionally deplete crap in their diet. And I, like many, have higher standards of care for authorities I pay and entrust to look after my child.

Thank you to the PP for pointing out that a cream cake is not the same as an apple sugar-wise. An apple has fibre, vitamins and minerals which affect how the sugar is metabolised AND provide nutritional value. Plus yes! Dried fruit! Again I appreciate it is not recommended by dentists in much the same way toffees are not recommended by dentists but I’m not advocating for dried fruit either. I’m saying RUSKS are pointless and have no place in anyone’s diet, especially an infants. Reducing ultra-processed food is good but eliminating it is unrealistic for most. I - and many others, are just making changes where I can within our resources and the best available information about what constitutes a good diet (in short, actual REAL food).

Show quote history

Different sugars may have a different spiking profile dependent on type, but ultimately the body is still absorbing sugars and you're incorrect to make out that rusks are completely nutrition free, they simply have a different nutrition profile to the apple (as an example). Balance is needed, no one is suggesting the child lives on rusks or has them every day but to panic over one given (and OP doesnt say what brand anyway) is not logical, it borders on obsessive to be demonising one thing and another.

Benibidibici · 14/12/2023 22:52

Both are now sugar crazed teens but hey, I got them to a year sugar free!

So making sure all their early food experiences were sugarless in fact made....

No difference at all to their palate later on?

Lots of us are simply programmed to like sugar, no matter what we do, because from an evolutionary perspective for most of human existence liking easy sources of calories for energy = good.

RheaRend · 15/12/2023 05:34

VelvetandLace · 13/12/2023 22:30

I thought there were nutritional standards introduced for early years settings.

Yep and most rusks do not exceed these as there are many rusk recipes that are healthy. Given most nurseries make everything from scratch then I can assume they also make these from scratch they are easy to make and a staple where my family is from for everyone to eat before breakfast.

HoppingPavlova · 15/12/2023 12:51

@muggart As a baby my DH was given crushed up rusks in a bottle of formula to help him sleep. His parents had no idea about how sugar affects the micro biome or about nutrient dense food. Fast forward to today, his gut is an absolute mess and he takes 6 pills daily to control his Crohn's disease, he also can't tolerate most food and hasn't been to a restaurant in years

This is really hard to imagine tbh. My experience of rusks is your DH’s parents would have needed to use a hammer on them and then they would have sat as globs in the bottle and not come out the teat. Are you sure you are not thinking of baby rice or baby cereal? Thats what people used to put in bottles to bulk the feeds up to increase sleep periods. That is completely different to rusks where not much, if anything, makes it down the throat as it’s slowly gummed off.

UsingChangeofName · 15/12/2023 13:19

Given most nurseries make everything from scratch then I can assume they also make these from scratch

I can assure you most nurseries do not "make everything from scratch" Grin

confusedaboutclothes · 15/12/2023 16:10

HoppingPavlova · 15/12/2023 12:51

@muggart As a baby my DH was given crushed up rusks in a bottle of formula to help him sleep. His parents had no idea about how sugar affects the micro biome or about nutrient dense food. Fast forward to today, his gut is an absolute mess and he takes 6 pills daily to control his Crohn's disease, he also can't tolerate most food and hasn't been to a restaurant in years

This is really hard to imagine tbh. My experience of rusks is your DH’s parents would have needed to use a hammer on them and then they would have sat as globs in the bottle and not come out the teat. Are you sure you are not thinking of baby rice or baby cereal? Thats what people used to put in bottles to bulk the feeds up to increase sleep periods. That is completely different to rusks where not much, if anything, makes it down the throat as it’s slowly gummed off.

@muggart If that was the case then wouldn’t we all have crohns from eating sugar?
How do you know that rusks were the cause, that’s a really broad statement and unnecessary scaremongering

New posts on this thread. Refresh page