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Original poster

Why would one give an 8month old milkshake?

36 replies

ThomCat · 03/06/2007 09:38

As standard I mean?

I just thought it was an odd thing to do.

He's a very, very large 8 month old and loves his food, has a very healthy appetite so why would one pour strawberry sauce into some formula and say 'it's time for your strawberry milk' and then call him 'fatty' all afternoon????!!!

OP posts:
belgo · 03/06/2007 09:39

I hate it when babies are called 'fatty' or 'piggy'.

Carmenere · 03/06/2007 09:40

Because you are a twunt and taking out/projecting some deep seated body insecurity on to your little baby?

WanderingTrolley · 03/06/2007 09:41

I would imagine it's because one is rather thick.

Poor boy

bettybobo · 03/06/2007 09:53

hee hee wandering trolley
that is very bad though, could you say something to stop it? (adding strawberry and the namecalling)

Original poster
ThomCat · 03/06/2007 09:54

I was so shocked. I ddi say to them 'oh don't call him fatty' and when she asked if I wanted the last of the 'strawberry milk' that he didn't take for DD2 (17 months) I said 'what's in it did you say' and when she explained I just looked liked I'd been slapped and screwed up my face and said 'err no, no, let me throw that away for you can I'.

I don't get the mentality behind giving babies something like that, something unneseccery, sweet etc when he has no idea it exists, doesn't need or want it and would be so happy with plain milk.

She just seemed to feed him alla fternoon. He was sat on his daddy's lap looking very content and she said'ahhh shall I get him one of his biscuits?' and then came out with this moon shaped biscuit thing.

At one point after she's given him chunk after chunk of bread I said 'here try him on this red pepper strip so he has something to chew on but doesn't fill up to much on all that bread'.

OP posts:
aviatrix · 03/06/2007 09:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

niceglasses · 03/06/2007 10:00

Not meaning to be deliberatley obtuse or provocative, but I can maybe see a reason for this based on some of my own experience.

Now don't all groan, but when my 1st was born, I was OBSESSED by food and his weight and saw it as ultimatley linked to how well he was, how happy, how good a mother I was. I would rather see him eat anything, no matter how 'bad' it may be perceived to be. I could not see that he was okay, he was a fairly good weight. His eating was my whole life. Guess what - I had pretty bad undiagnosed PND. This may not be the case for your mate, it may not be her 1st, but although I can see it now, I too fed him constantly - no wonder he never ate a proper meal - he did nothing but eat!! It was hell. It was a total re-direction of my fears about motherhood etc.

Maybe not relevant, but always makes me think now if I see a mother almost force feeding a child.

Original poster
ThomCat · 03/06/2007 10:06

Niceglasses - i too think it's down to insecurities. I started this thread not to be bitchy and say 'ohh isn' it awful' although there may be a slight element of that if I'm truthful, but also because I find it bizarre and odd and worying etc and really don't get it and feel bad on the poor little boy.

He's nowhere near crawling and I wondered if his was down to his size maybe??? I don't know what I can say that doesn't sound like me saying 'i'm more experienced and your kids to big and your not doing the right things'

OP posts:
belgo · 03/06/2007 10:06

nice glasses - it's one thing constantly feeding your child, but then calling them 'fatty' makes me really annoyed.

belgo · 03/06/2007 10:07

thomcat - there's nothing you can say in this situation.

Original poster
ThomCat · 03/06/2007 10:08

Belgo - yes me and one other girl there both said 'oh don't call him fatty'.

OP posts:
Original poster
ThomCat · 03/06/2007 10:09

No I guess not Belgo. Sad though that she thinks it's good and nice to give him strawberry juice in his milk

OP posts:
niceglasses · 03/06/2007 10:09

Its hard isn't it not to sound like that? Now I have 3 and some of my friends are having their first. I vary between being dismissive and patronising I think.

All you can do is be around I guess - say what you've said here (edited maybe!!). Reassure her he is a fine weight and let her find her own way. Its only now when I look back I realise how literally mad I was. I don't think anyone could have talked me out of it or made me see sense.

Original poster
ThomCat · 03/06/2007 10:10

Still there are a million worse things and he is very loved etc so I guess it doesn't really matter, just a bit odd.

OP posts:
niceglasses · 03/06/2007 10:10

Oh I know loads of pple who called their babies (not older toddlers) 'fatty'. Imho its a term of endearment (at least up here). Wouldn't concern me too much - would see more as affectionate.

JeremyVile · 03/06/2007 10:13

Things like this really bug me, its just not necessary.
Its lazy parenting....and who'll be to blame if the poor child carries on being big then gets picked on in school? Cue lots of "All little bruiser here wants is cake, he wont touch veg, i just dont know how he got so big....Here bruiser, heres your liquidised kebab to wash down that deep fried pizza"
My mums a bit like this, always trying to give my ds chocolate, cake etc. It infuriates me cos as op says, babies have no idea this stuff exists, dont crave it and are missing out on nothing if they dont have it.
However as annoyed as i am by all that, the offer of the red pepper strip still made my flesh creep a little bit! It just seems so smug and unnecessary....your not going to change their questionable parenting skills by offering a bit of veg (nor is it your place)but you certainly will leave them in no doubt that you feel rather superior to them.

niceglasses · 03/06/2007 10:17

Could we have a few more generalisations there Jeremy? We didn't quite get enough at the back here........

JeremyVile · 03/06/2007 10:18

Oh, you know what i mean!

WelshBoris · 03/06/2007 10:18

ThomCat was trying to be helpful, I didn't detect one ounce of smugness in any of her posts.

JeremyVile · 03/06/2007 10:22

If someone suggested that you give your child something other than the thing you were giving them at the time, as it would'nt fill them up so much, would you not think 'you cheeky mare' cos i know i would?
Although i have no doubt thomcat was trying to be helpful.

zookeeper · 03/06/2007 10:23

the offer of the red pepper strip did it for me too although I do share the yuk factor of feeding strawberry milk into a fat baby.

If I was doing that I would hope a friend would tell me what she thought kindly without the slapped face looks

WelshBoris · 03/06/2007 10:24

Well I wouldn't give my DD milkshake at 8 months for a start.

GibbonInARibbon · 03/06/2007 10:25

Sorry, If, as a friend, you had patronised me like that I wouldn't know whether to be more hurt or angry.
Parenting is personal.
I am very careful about what my DD has, somewhat obsessive my DH might say, but I would never judge a friend like this and start a thread about it.

WelshBoris · 03/06/2007 10:25

Unless there is a way of putting strawberries into my boobs?

GibbonInARibbon · 03/06/2007 10:25

lol welshy

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