To tell PIL NO SWEETS

[arainytrip]

I know … they are grandparents so it’s supposed to be their forte but surely it isn’t unreasonable to ask that the children (5 and 2) don’t have sweets like Haribo, Skittles etc? This weekend they came with those popper style things where you load it with sweets and fire them into your mouth (not sure what they are called sorry) which feels like a choke hazard for the two year old. But MIL just hands them straight to the children. My two year old has a very poor appetite as it is so just a few sweets and she won’t eat dinner.

I realise as they get older you can’t police everything but surely a few chocolates or raisins would be better?

It isn’t. Yes we all have that sort of thing occasionally, but we absolutely know it’s bad for us, whether we choose to ignore it or not. You choice OP.

I’m with you, I was actually much stricter. I still don’t like her to eat sweets, she has ADHD and sweets make things a lot worse. Sugar is so bad. You can’t stop it completely unfortunately but I educated mine from an early age so hopefully that’ll have an impact.
They are your kids and it’s your prerogative what you want and don’t want them to eat, especially when it comes to junk that’s bad for them!

Raisins are full of sugar as well you know

You’re right, I should just replace raisins with Pez sweets. No difference really.

This! You sound like a lovely grandparent.

I really don't understand how some grandparents are obsessed with treating kids with stuff that is ultimately bad for them.

My son loves all of his grandparents, even my mum, who barely engaged with him. They're just exciting to him! No stuff on top needed, and certainly not choking hazard sweets.

I never bring sweets to kids, as I respect their parent’s choices. I would ask them to bring bubbles, colouring book or buttons.

Thank you! Here to learn 😊 still navigating the picking my battles bit

Maybe he isn't bothered by it

I don't let me nearly 3 year old or 16 month old have any sugary stuff and no way would i let them have sweets like that. If you don't want them to have them - your kids, your rules. They need to respect your dietary choices.

Skittles and haribo and other sticky sugar based candy are very very bad for teeth. Any dentist will back up this fact

Choking is a real thing. In my area a child
fatally choked on a pretzel stick eaten while In his car seat and mother was driving. She pulled over and attempted Heinrich but was unsuccessful

Please stick to your guns - too many kids have too much sugar and it does nothing to help appetite, behaviour and concentration. Despite all that as a parent you’re in charge of what they eat - if you say no then that’s the end of it. If GP want to treat them then bring stickers, magazines, or just some library/ charity shop books or games and treat them to your time. It’s just lazy in my opinion sorry - I hate this sweet culture in case you can’t tell but it also may be because I have a child with rare genetic condition who can’t ever have sweets so I feel it acutely. Good luck x

We avoided all sweet until ours were at school and even then it was only parties and the odd chic bar. Halloween is the difficult one

Oh no absolutely not. Your children, your rules. Regardless of whether or not people think it’s ok to give sweets to a 2 year old, you don’t, and you’re their mum so you get to decide. Tell them no!

Ps I still think sweets are awful, and my kids are teenagers! Luckily they’re not into them too much.

I'm 8 hrs I to this argument, it's not even the sweets here it's the complete lack of any of moderation. Even when we have said no sweets she picks our eldest up after school 1 day a week, takes him to a sports class, he's home for dinner and still for his afternoon snack though 2 cheese wraps, a packet of crisps, a twix and a fruit shoot was being healthy. I had to spell it out in the end and say a wrap, slice of cheese and fruit was more sensible. I wouldn't even give him that amount of rubbish for a treat packed lunch. When he was about 3 weeks discovered she was giving him 3-4 fruit shoots when she had him out with her for a few hours. He has suspected ASD and ADHD so you can imagine the impact that had on him. He also happily drinks water so why give him fruit shoots?

Anyway I actually think we're quite anything in moderation as a family but I also don't like them having sweets that are pure sugar. A biscuit or wee bag of crisps is grand but also we have to outright ban them giving the kids sweets or treats because they can't just give them 1 treat. It's madness

Exactly this

I would never allow things like Skittles and gummy bears for my kids — those are pretty much the worst options. People say “find a balance,” and I agree, but that doesn’t mean you have to give them the absolute worst.

My children didn’t have any sweets or chocolate until they were 3. If they don’t know what it is, they don’t miss it.

Now, I set clear boundaries with the grandparents. For example, if they take the kids to the shop, they can get them fresh juice, but no soda or similar drinks. They can still treat the kids if they want to — I just make sure it’s not something unhealthy or a choking hazard.I don't see a problem with that.