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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

She ate all the biscuits

565 replies

Imissmusic · 19/03/2026 21:24

I got a pack of chocolate chip cookies for today after dinner for everyone to have a few-Dd has a balanced diet but we don’t have a dessert or biscuits, crisps etc every night or in the house that often-more on weekends or if we bake something.
I hid the rest of the biscuits away for another day.
I went to have a shower, when Dd came up to bed, she told me she looked everywhere for them, found them and ate them.

Would you be cross? She’s 7

OP posts:
IdentityCris · 19/03/2026 23:17

Velumental · 19/03/2026 21:27

Not really. She's 7, left to her own devices and there were biscuits left out, she clearly didn't think it was off limits as she told you about it. If shed sneaked them and said nothing I might be concerned. You say she came up to bed like she was just wandering round by herself and appeared upstairs not like she was brought up to bed.

OP didn't leave them out. She said she'd hidden them away, so her daughter went looking for them.

Happyjoe · 19/03/2026 23:18

ISpyNoPlumPie · 19/03/2026 23:11

That’s the way you grew up? You would take things out of a cupboard that had been put away and just eat them all for yourself age 7??? My mum would kill me 😆 not because it’s biscuits but because I’d taken without asking and I’d eaten more than my share. The family is a collective!

Grew up with the eating very quickly the treats otherwise my brothers would just look for it and take it. Grew up with little in the way of extra treats because of it, mum wasn't going to pay for 4 kids having endless sweets, let alone for health reasons. My mum would buy a packet of choc biccies to share on a Sunday and we had pocket money on a Sat to buy our own sweets and that was it.

If anything was open in the cupboard, be an extra packet or something of mums (she liked honeycomb for example), my brothers would pinch it.

Imissmusic · 19/03/2026 23:19

Arregaithel · 19/03/2026 22:54

So what are your thoughts @Imissmusic?

Are you worried for her health or you are concerned that her lack of control (albeit your girl is only 7, after all) will spiral and eat all the pies too?
😛

Not at all. My issue is should I be stronger with boundaries and the fact she should not have just taken them…or accept she’s little and it’s tempting for her and let it go

OP posts:
Angelicake · 19/03/2026 23:20

Ok, then why wasn't he supervising if the biscuits are a big deal?

I bet he ate some too.

ForNoisyCat · 19/03/2026 23:20

Imissmusic · 19/03/2026 21:24

I got a pack of chocolate chip cookies for today after dinner for everyone to have a few-Dd has a balanced diet but we don’t have a dessert or biscuits, crisps etc every night or in the house that often-more on weekends or if we bake something.
I hid the rest of the biscuits away for another day.
I went to have a shower, when Dd came up to bed, she told me she looked everywhere for them, found them and ate them.

Would you be cross? She’s 7

be thankful she was honest and told you, but suggest kindly to her itv would have been nice to have saved some for the rest of the family . Then leave it there and carry on.

Soontobesingles · 19/03/2026 23:21

It's done now. My response would have been something like, 'that's very naughty, you know not to eat all the treats at once — but it's done now so let's remember next time.' Then forget it. I agree with PPs that if you make these foods an unusal and rare treat you do somewhat raise their value and encourage hoarding/gorging.

IdentityCris · 19/03/2026 23:23

I would be concerned about the fact that she went looking for the sweets. She must be well aware that she isn't allowed them, so she's chosen to disobey you deliberately. I would also be cross that she at the whole packet, because that's selfish as it leaves none for anyone else.

Beaniebobbins · 19/03/2026 23:23

I would be cross. She is old enough to know that if you hide something it’s because it’s not for her. Also I think eating the whole packet so there are none left for anyone else is selfish.

you have made it sound like she has eaten a lot of cookies so i also think it’s worth talking about portion control but not when you are cross. It’s a tricky subject so I think it needs to be raised carefully and not at a time when emotions are high. You don’t want to make her feel guilty for eating any cookies. But then maybe she feels a bit sick after eating them all so might have taught herself a lesson.

Happyjoe · 19/03/2026 23:24

Imissmusic · 19/03/2026 23:19

Not at all. My issue is should I be stronger with boundaries and the fact she should not have just taken them…or accept she’s little and it’s tempting for her and let it go

Bit of both? She is little and will make loads of childhood mishaps but she should be starting to learn that taking without asking is a no.

EnfysPreseli · 19/03/2026 23:24

Iloveburgerswaymorethanishould · 19/03/2026 22:58

I have a full kitchen cupboard and drawer filled with mini chocolate bars, biscuits little cakes etc, then crisps in the bottom cupboard. I fill it once a week (and I mean fully fill it). My 2 help themselves whenever they fancy. Surprisingly the once a week turned into every 10 days, then 14 etc. They also have yoghurts in the fridge and lollies in the freezer. Knowing they can have them whenever stopped them going mad on them. Don’t get me wrong, if a new treat appeared there, they wouldn’t last 2 mins!!! But after a few weeks of them being bought, they don’t go as quick. Mine are 16 and 6. They also get desserts and other treats as well. Being more relaxed about it means they feel like they are in “control” of eating them. So they don’t eat them as fast. Maybe buy her a pack of biscuits on a Monday and tell her they are just for her, nobody else but when they are gone they are gone until next week. Plus, if she eats them all in one go and makes herself sick, she won’t do it again!!! (As both my children have discovered!!)

Sorry, but this is a ridiculous approach. It's worrying that you think it's something to boast about. If it's true, you are also wasting money on overpriced goods with little nutritional value and making it less likely that your children are able to get the nutrients they need to grow and thrive from real food. Has public health education really had so little impact?

Imissmusic · 19/03/2026 23:24

Iloveburgerswaymorethanishould · 19/03/2026 22:58

I have a full kitchen cupboard and drawer filled with mini chocolate bars, biscuits little cakes etc, then crisps in the bottom cupboard. I fill it once a week (and I mean fully fill it). My 2 help themselves whenever they fancy. Surprisingly the once a week turned into every 10 days, then 14 etc. They also have yoghurts in the fridge and lollies in the freezer. Knowing they can have them whenever stopped them going mad on them. Don’t get me wrong, if a new treat appeared there, they wouldn’t last 2 mins!!! But after a few weeks of them being bought, they don’t go as quick. Mine are 16 and 6. They also get desserts and other treats as well. Being more relaxed about it means they feel like they are in “control” of eating them. So they don’t eat them as fast. Maybe buy her a pack of biscuits on a Monday and tell her they are just for her, nobody else but when they are gone they are gone until next week. Plus, if she eats them all in one go and makes herself sick, she won’t do it again!!! (As both my children have discovered!!)

I have thought about doing something like this. Her friend on the road has this (as a result she loves going to his house) he barely touches it…however, he’s a very different child to Dd..! Very calm, compliant in all ways…Dd is energetic, strong willed…they’re different types of kids. My fear in trying this is it would be gone in a day

OP posts:
Happyjoe · 19/03/2026 23:26

Beaniebobbins · 19/03/2026 23:23

I would be cross. She is old enough to know that if you hide something it’s because it’s not for her. Also I think eating the whole packet so there are none left for anyone else is selfish.

you have made it sound like she has eaten a lot of cookies so i also think it’s worth talking about portion control but not when you are cross. It’s a tricky subject so I think it needs to be raised carefully and not at a time when emotions are high. You don’t want to make her feel guilty for eating any cookies. But then maybe she feels a bit sick after eating them all so might have taught herself a lesson.

Didn't eat a whole packet.

Imissmusic · 19/03/2026 23:27

Clangershome · 19/03/2026 23:06

Read the book chocolate cake by Michael Rosen, it’s great!! Maybe she has prada Willy or something else going on? How many was in the pack?

What is prada willy 😬

OP posts:
Imissmusic · 19/03/2026 23:30

ISpyNoPlumPie · 19/03/2026 23:07

Agree. Of all of my peers when I was a child, my children and all their peers, the only one I know who would do this has serious issues with impulse control (he once took food out of my hand). He almost certainly has a behavioural disorder. He is globally a very challenging child - not just with food. Screens are also very problematic in particular.

@Imissmusic, is your DD only like this around food?

Never seen her take food out of anyone’s hand

OP posts:
bumptybum · 19/03/2026 23:32

Velumental · 19/03/2026 21:38

Why are you so bothered by her eating? And so aware of the food in that way? My youngest will head off with a packet of cream crackers or rich tea biscuits at 4 if they're left sitting out but I just roll my eyes and put them back in the cupboard. She loves biscuits.

You seem to have gotten into food as a battle with her, do you have eating issues?

And then when a child is obese people blame the parents for not having better controls set up 🙄

Angelicake · 19/03/2026 23:34

Maybe she has prada Willy

Prader Willi is a rare genetic syndrome and there's rather more to it than
finishing off a packet of biscuits. Even though it's rare I imagine there are some people here who have it in their family.

Wellretired · 19/03/2026 23:35

Imissmusic · 19/03/2026 23:27

What is prada willy 😬

Prada Willi is a genetic disorder where one of the defining features is that someone with it eats all the time because they always feel hungry. I think its so unlikely that DD has it! Absolutely not something to worry about. If DD had this you would definitely know all about it already

Angelicake · 19/03/2026 23:37

Prada Willi is a genetic disorder where one of the defining features is that someone with it eats all the time because they always feel hungry. I think its so unlikely that DD has it! Absolutely not something to worry about. If DD had this you would definitely know all about it already

Quite. It was a pointless comment. Not to mention tasteless. Ignore.

Happyjoe · 19/03/2026 23:38

Imissmusic · 19/03/2026 23:24

I have thought about doing something like this. Her friend on the road has this (as a result she loves going to his house) he barely touches it…however, he’s a very different child to Dd..! Very calm, compliant in all ways…Dd is energetic, strong willed…they’re different types of kids. My fear in trying this is it would be gone in a day

As a side, my dad (many many years ago) caught my 11 year old brother smoking. So dad, being old school, gave him a packet of 20 strong cigs, asked him to smoke them all, one after the other, hoping that it would make him very ill and put him off for life. It did neither of those things. Same way of thinking with the sweets though.

Children are very different. A drawer full of chocolate would never have worked in our house because we were all sugar freaks and as you say, gone in a day and every day after that if replenished.

Aquarius91 · 19/03/2026 23:43

I’d be cross. She knows she did something naughty, came to find you and gloat about it. That’s bad behaviour and at 7 she should have better impulse control. It’s selfish and greedy to eat all the biscuits that she knows are supposed to be shared.

Happyjoe · 19/03/2026 23:46

Aquarius91 · 19/03/2026 23:43

I’d be cross. She knows she did something naughty, came to find you and gloat about it. That’s bad behaviour and at 7 she should have better impulse control. It’s selfish and greedy to eat all the biscuits that she knows are supposed to be shared.

Do 7 year olds gloat?

ISpyNoPlumPie · 19/03/2026 23:55

Imissmusic · 19/03/2026 23:30

Never seen her take food out of anyone’s hand

I didn’t say that. I said the only child I know that what do what your DD did has serious general problems with impulse control behaviours. I asked about your DD more generally. Does she struggle with impulse control around food only, or around other things too?

BertieBotts · 19/03/2026 23:58

Honestly I would be a bit concerned. Firstly because generally not being able to control herself around treats is highly unusual. My 7yo (with ADHD) and my 4yo would and do leave food untouched if we say no more, that's enough for today. We wouldn't need to hide them. They are physically able to access all the crisps, biscuits, yoghurts, ice lollies etc in the house but they don't sit and eat them all. They ignore them most of the time and then ask for them at times when it seems appropriate to them, and accept the answer given (though they might plead or whine a bit if we say no).

At 7, she ought to be able to resist temptation, especially when a, she's already had some and b, it's out of sight. It's not at all the same as leaving a plate of biscuits/bowl of sweets etc out in the open and expecting her not to have any at all, or giving her a big bag of crisps and asking her to only eat half. Or e.g. her being at a party buffet and having more than her fair share of something. Those are more normal things it wouldn't be fair to be cross about.

Going out of her way to "look everywhere" for them is really unusual, unless it's a behaviour you've almost sort of encouraged accidentally?

I am just thinking - my eldest (now a teenager) used to be so persistent about having more of foods that I did literally used to hide things from him, partly because he was so insistent and I didn't know how else to stop him asking but partly because I was absolutely crap at holding any boundaries (I was a young parent). I have a better understanding now and see that hiding things and saying they were all gone was not holding a boundary, it was just lying to him and avoiding setting the boundary. He never really twigged about me hiding stuff but if he had come across it and been like "Look Mummy I found some more, they aren't all gone!" then he would have genuinely felt he was in the right, and I probably couldn't really blame him for that. However if your DD knows you've put them away because they're all done for today, but she's gone seeking them out on purpose in order to eat them, that feels a bit sneaky and like she's going against what you've said, which is not really on.

I did get a bit cross at DS1 later on at some point when he would finish things without considering whether anyone else would like more of them, but to be fair to him since then he's always asked and been considerate of this - I think it had genuinely not really occurred to him before. I do sometimes bury things like the spicy breaded chicken breasts in the freezer so he doesn't notice straight away that we have them otherwise he will inhale several at once and nobody else gets a chance. But things like that are pretty much considered fair game so it's not especially wrong of him to want to eat them.

Out of all 3 DC, DS1 would eat entire packets of things like sweets/biscuits in one go, he doesn't have an off switch and won't self-regulate, although other foods he has never had much of an appetite for at least until his teens. He also has ADHD. However he doesn't touch things belonging to other people or which are "communal", and wouldn't have at age 7.

DS2 does have a point where he will stop and put the rest away for another day, even for his own sweets, and is a stickler for rules so we could have told him not to eat something from about age 2 and he would have followed it (he is probably AuDHD TBF, rather than purely ADHD). But he has no patience so if he thought that something rightfully belonged to him and he wanted it, he would have it as soon as he wanted it rather than wait according to the rule set by somebody else.

DS3 goes through phases where he eats everything in sight and in general really seems to gain much more enjoyment from all kinds of food than the other two, but he will also stop when asked to, and if they have something like an Easter egg each, he will eat more of his than DS2 but he will also follow DS2's example and ask us to wrap the rest up and store in fridge.

Imissmusic · 19/03/2026 23:58

ISpyNoPlumPie · 19/03/2026 23:55

I didn’t say that. I said the only child I know that what do what your DD did has serious general problems with impulse control behaviours. I asked about your DD more generally. Does she struggle with impulse control around food only, or around other things too?

She doesn’t have any serious general problems, no. What is the issue with this boy?

OP posts:
EEHHH · 20/03/2026 00:03

My mother would hide food restrict food, geuss whos been no contact since leaving home.