AIBU to think my toddler should have had a snack in 4 1/2 visit to grandparents?

[Sailawaygirl]

DMum and Ddad not giving toddler snacks during a visit with them?
Not the biggest issues, but it's been sitting with me so just wanted some views.

DM and DP had my Ds at there home from 1030 until 2.30. ( we left my home at 1015) They don't regularly have him at home but wanted to spend sometime with him and I used the opportunity to get hair cut.

When I dropped him off I said that he would want some crakers and cheese and some fruit as a snack and DM told went through what she was planning do have for lunch. He had some biscuit snack in his bag. I thought that lunch would be at a normal time around 1pm ish.
When I came back at 2.30 mum was just dishing up lunch and said he hadn't had any food until then. TBF he was fine just very hungry and did a hungry caterpillar impression, DS ate cheese, ham, a bit of quiche, and a big bowl of fruit amd then some ice cream with DM.

So no harm done but wouldn't most people give a toddler at least a snack in a 4 1/2 hours!

Backstory- my mum has a very odd thing with meals so I spent alot of time as a kid being hungry because she wasn't hungry so how could anyone else be! She one of those people that will eat a late b/fast cause she can't eat first thing in the morning then cant possibly eat lunch a 1.30 as has just had breakfast. Even planned pub lunch she says she's not hungry lets go for a walk first and then we get into pub and the kitchen is about to close!
So I know I should have handed over the meal time more clearly to her and it was a communication error on my side.
I guess I'm annoyed that she couldn't at least consider the almost 3 years old have regular snacks and 'normal meal times'.

I really wouldn't be happy with this.
I think if your mum cannot adjust and feed him a snack as asked, then it's best he is not left in her care.

I don't think he needed a snack at those times but agree he needed an earlier lunch

Its a bit inconsiderate of her but give him a bigger breakfast like eggs that will keep him fuller for longer and give him a snack just before he goes in. Or just tell her!

YABU. Snacks are not necessary for toddlers, and quite honestly it’s better if they don’t eat them because then they actually eat at mealtimes.

I’ve never given snacks to my kids.

Really?

The OP knew very well what her mum is like and should have been the one to say ‘please feed him lunch at such and such a time’.

This is complete nonsense. Toddlers have smaller stomachs they cannot eat enough in a large meals to fulfil their nutritional needs, they need to eat more often than an adult (as do all young animals) They also use up their fuel more quickly as they have bursts of high energy. They are growing fast they have different nutritional needs from an adult or older child. Three meals a day and nothing in between is an adult diet not a small child's.

the idea that snacks are unhealthy is ludicrous, people associate the word snack with 'junk food'. A snack can be an apple/ orange/ some berries/ carrot sticks and hummous, oatcakes, cubes of cheese or meat, hard boiled egg etc etc.

Toddlers also need more fats and carbs for growth.

Not feeding a toddler lunch until 2.30, and offering nothing else to keep him going is utterly self absorbed and ignorant. I hope at least she managed to give him plenty to drink in this hot weather.

@Mooselander When were mealtimes? Lunch at 2.30? Did they said that long with no food from breakfast to 2.30? I bet not. I wasn’t a great one for snacks but I fed meals at regular and sensible intervals.

People complain about toddlers not eating the right thing but let them graze and fill them up on snacks. Honestly I think they did the right thing. Let hunger build up then your child ate well. As long as he wasn’t upset?!

I would say almost everyone in the UK has lunch between 12pn and 2pm so i think he should have been given lunch during his visit. Maybe take a packed lunch to have if you think they may difficult about this. And say what he should have it.

So you’re DS are a decent (late) lunch, you fit your hair cut and your parents serpent time with their DGC. That sounds a very nice day.

2.30 is late though and doesn’t fit in with most schedules for young dc. It’s best not to snack but that requires regular meals. My DD did have a snack after school when she got to about 7 as they had lunch at 12 ish. So she needed a top up. Dinner was then about 6.30. No morning snack needed. I just think grandparents should stick to the routine set up by the parent - it’s not that difficult.