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Original poster

What do you think about feeding sweets/chocolates to toddlers?

40 replies

TurkishDeelite · 03/04/2007 13:58

With Easter coming we have been blessed with lots of chocolate eggs/bunnies from family and friends- I don't know what to do with them all! I have 2 daughters, 2 and 3 years old. We don't normally buy them chocolate or sweets, they do however eat them at parties from time to time. I don't want to completely cut off everything which I consider useless for their diet because I don't want them to be over sensitive to sweet treats as they grow up. (ie go crazy for chocs and sweets when they can get them or buy them when they are older)
Does anyone have advice for a "healthy balance"?

OP posts:

eggsbury · 03/04/2007 20:48

turkish - I agree with you. We hardly ever had chocolate as kids and I went mad when I could finally buy it for myself. DS sees it as no big deal - he likes it, but not much at a time, and certainly doesn't "crave" it. If we had ever made an issue of him not having it I think it might well have had the effect of making him want it more.

Ask me again in a few years and I will know whether the same approach has worked with DD!

Original poster

TurkishDeelite · 03/04/2007 20:51

Eggsbury- we can only do so much for them- and hope for the best! I guess as long as we can keep them active... that is the main thing IMO.

OP posts:

Chandra · 03/04/2007 20:51

DS has not had much "exposure" to sweets or chocolates, first because he was too young, later due to his food allergies and... as strange as it may seem, now that I have trawled around town looking for alternatives I realised that he is not used to sugary things as he doesn't even like them

So, I'm starting to believe that full abstinence not necesarily make you greedy. Although, I would have been so sure of that a few years ago.

MIFfyEasterBunny · 03/04/2007 20:55

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drosophila · 03/04/2007 20:56

I try to give DD dark choc. You don't eat as much of it and it is good for the heart. SHe seems to like it. Lots of Polish people where I live so lots of dark choc things.

drosophila · 03/04/2007 20:57

DD has a sweet tooth and is still Bfed at 2. Any connection?

DontlookatmeImshy · 03/04/2007 20:59

Personally I think it's unnecessary but couldn't really care less whether other people give it their children (unless it'slike the woman I saw once practically ramming it down her 10months old grandsons clenched shut mouth!)

MIL keeps buying ds chocolate even though she knows full well he isn't allowed it. This year though she bought him toy with chocolate in it and said "I know he can't have the chocolate. DlamIs will have to have that " so obviously I can't complian

As for the wholeration/creating chocolate binge eaters etc,I think alot of it depends on the child. My brother and I always got the same but at Easter/Christmas etc, his would all be gonein a few days. Mine would still be hanging around after a few weeks.

MIFfyEasterBunny · 03/04/2007 21:05

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lizziemun · 03/04/2007 21:50

My dd is 3 and she will get chocolate at easter.

We don't deprive her of it, but we don't force feed it to either. She still has some chocolate left from christmas. She know's that she has a tin where the chocolate is kept in the cupboard, but realy ask's for it.

I can only go from my SIL she never allowed her dd1 to have chocolate untill she had dd2.

Her dd1 will just stuff any chocolate she has where as dd2 who has always been allowed chocolate in moderation isn't bothered by it.

Aloha · 03/04/2007 21:53

Give them some, eat the rest yourself

Original poster

TurkishDeelite · 03/04/2007 22:04

Aloha- I am afraid thats what happens all the time-

OP posts:

laudaud · 04/04/2007 11:00

For my nieces and nephews, I have bought a supercook pack for dying hardboiled eggs - it is full of stickers too which I think they will love. I'm sure they will be getting lots of chocolate elsewhere. Also this is easier to post abroad than 5 eggs!

FlossALump · 04/04/2007 11:07

I wasn't really aloowed sweets and chocs when I was a child. I'm now sat here with a packet of haribo! Hence DS does have chocolate. He's 2.4 and has rarely had sweets because they somehow seem worse (although not for me )

fishie · 04/04/2007 11:14

ds is nearly 2 and has a little bit of chocolate two or three times a week. he's not keen on sweets but i wouldn't stop him from the occasional indulgence. he eats loads of fruit as well.

my niece (5) has never been allowed sweets, chocolate or sugar in any form apart from the three fizzy drinks she consumes a day, which are somehow deemed harmless. i know which path i'd rather follow

oliveoil · 04/04/2007 11:18

Mine get tons, eat some, then I hide it until they forget about it, eat some myself, then take the rest to work

sorted

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