in not wanting to give sugar to my baby?

[lowrib]

My DS is 7mo.

I thought the advice was not to give refined sugar to babies.

But everywhere I look there's sugar! this week I've found it in

• own-brand paracetamol solution I got from the chemist
• organic rusks from the health food shop
• baby 'weaning' fromage frais

Surely as sugar rots teeth and is an addictive substance, it shouldn't be among the first foods a baby gets?

AIBU and PFB?

Or am I right - in which case how to explain this to well-meaning friends and relatives who want to give my DS 'treats'?

(There are currently 18 sugary fromage frais in the fridge I don't know what to do with. Hold on I know ... yummmmmm!)

Lowrib, I don't think you're being PFB. He's only 7 mths! No way would I have wanted my DS to start getting used to very sweet tastes at that age.

When they're older, start going on playdates to others' houses, start REALISING that other kids are getting something they're not, then's the time to relax a little IMO. I'm not militant about it by any means and would much prefer a biscuit in the tummy to a child feeling left out. But by that point, they hopefully won't be that fussed about sweet things anyway if it's not what they're used to.

At 7 months I wouldn't worry about not giving him sugar. He is just learning to eat fruit, vegetables etc. Just something I remember my mum telling me about.

When my mum worked in a playgroup there was a 4 yo little boy there whose parents didn't let him have anything with sugar in it so obviously no chocolate or sweets. When there was a playgroup christmas party, the staff were told that he wasn't allowed any of the treats, so they didn't let him.

Once the food part was done, they were playing games in another room and the little boy went missing. They found him next to the food table stuffing sweets, chocolate etc in his pockets and his mouth.

His parents were mortified that he was "stealing the sweets" that they finally let him have an occasional sweet.

I believe everything should be in moderation and you obviously aren't the type of mum who feeds her child rubbish.

I do think it is a bit strange that people won't give their children a chocolate bar but think nothing about shoving all sorts of rubbish down their own necks. If it is so bad then why would you want to have it yourself.

FWIW, I was a bit PFB about my first too. I do give her treats now (she is 5) but she is a good eater who loves fruit and vegetables and will try anything. She tried smoked salmon at the weekend. She didn't like it but at least she tried it. I am not as uptight with my DS and he seems fine.

As long as you are doing your best for them, thats all you can do.

Lots of people are saying why avoid sugar and sweeten food with other things?

Shocking fact - you don't have to sweeten food so children will eat it, if it isn't naturally sweet then why not just let them have it as it comes.

Its not about replacing sugar, its about just not using it so much in the first place.

i don't think anyone is saying that they can't have sugar whether refined or not.
My points are as follows-if you don't eat anything 'crappy' then fair play-your children wont come into contact with sugar/crap and if they do (at school/a party etc etc) then please be reasonable and don't forbid your kids to not have it-that's just TIGHT!
Dried fruit is sugar to the power of a million (or something-not a nutritionist but it's as bad for a sugar rush/tooth decay as a mars bar)and we dole out organic raisins like they are going out of style.
I don't think kids should be weaned with chocolate buttons as one of the main food groups but once they eat a well rounded diet of 95% healthy stuff then what's the harm with a few bits of junk occasionally?
My kids have what we have-they aren't on a restrictive diet of any kind and if they were then we'd all modify our food to accomodate it, i just find these mothers demonising sugar a bit hypocritical when they are doing it whilst shovelling kit kats down themselves...

" i just find these mothers demonising sugar a bit hypocritical when they are doing it whilst shovelling kit kats down themselves"

Who's doing that then?

I do eat chocolate yes. So do my kids. But not when they are babies. I just don't see the point. I also wouldn't eat chocolate in front of a baby old enough to want some too, I think that would be rather unfair and is easily avoided.

I do a lot of things I don't expose my kids to. I don't let them drink alcohol. I don't let them watch 12 cert films. I don't let them drive. I believe they are kids and they are physiologically and psychologically different to adults, and these differences need to be respected. Their tastes are forming. They are setting up their bodies for a lifetime of good and bad habits.

I don't prevent my older kids (4 and 5) from having chocolate. If there is chocolate around, they can help themselves. They don't binge on it at all. I was raised without sugar. I don't binge on it.

I don't demonise sugar at all. I think it is nasty addictive stuff. I think it is pedalled to our kids in a bid to increase the profits of multinationals who are so ethical they employ child pschologists in their marketing teams . But it is very nice, and that needs to be acknowleged.

I don't accept that dried fruit and sugar are nutritionally equivalent. Dried fruit just isn't the same concentrated sugar hit. It has a lot of useful nutrients in it-vitamins, fibre, trace elements. It also iirc does not release into the bloodstream quite as fast as purer sugar, so does not cause quite the same rush. But also, dried fruit gives kids a taste for fruit generally. If comparing to chocolate, it doesn't have saturated fat.

Your baby - do what you want.

There is no need to give sugar to a baby and it wont harm them to avoid it for as long as possible.

I did get a bit annoyed at a HV who was all when I was weaning DS2 and I told her I had given him some apple. Oh you mustnt do that! It will give him a sweet tooth and he will never touch savoury. FFS what kind of advice is that to give - avoid fruit!

Anyways - I just do what I can for as long as I can. As long as I am in total control (mwah ha ha) of my DC's food they get no sugar, salt, gin etc.

Not that easy round her. If you decline the offer of a Yorkie bar for your 12 week old you get a lot of cats bum faces and 'Fucking political correctness' (a universal insult in E17).

Crisps are the mortal enemy in my house. DS3 is determined that hula hoops are a food group and should be provided hourly

I hate sugar with a passion and it is added to almost everything. I don't want it in my diet and I don't want it in my children's diet, unless I choose to give it to them. Chocolate buttons are ace! I particulary hate children's foods that have it as the second or third largest ingredient but market themselves as nutritious.

Sadley unless I make every blessed thing myself it's everywhere.