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Original poster

Do you ever keep them quiet by giving them food?

24 replies

Hayls · 04/10/2004 18:19

I got the timimngs of our meals wrong tonight and dd had already finished hers by the time mine and dh's was ready. I really like us all to sit at the table for meals but she was getting a bit restless and grumpy so I made her a bit of toast and gave it ot her to keep her amused (she's just discovered how much fun finger food is). Dh then asked if it was the wrong sort of habit to get into and should we stop?! She's 8 months and the only snacks she gets are chopped up brown toast, cheese, banana or rice cakes so is there really anything wrong with it? She still eats all her meals and only has snacks when they won't interfere with them. She's often grumpy after her afternoon nap even after her milk feed so I'll give her something then as it keep sher occupied.

Will it be a hard habit to break or is it even a habit? I told dh that I thought it was quite normal and that if she wasn't hungry she wouldn't eat it but now I'm not so sure!
Does anyone else do this?

OP posts:
Oooggs · 04/10/2004 18:38

Yes I do. Sometimes it's the only way. I only give 'normal' food, like you said, banana, breadsticks, bread, toast, apricot bits, any fruit. Never 'rubbish' like sweets & crisps. DS is 9 mths and as well as keeping him quiet I think it teaches eating together and social skills.

emmatmg · 04/10/2004 18:38

Yes, all the time.

Except you're much better than I am as I'll give them a biscuit

emmatmg · 04/10/2004 18:40

Them = DS1 5yrs, DS2 3yrs, DS3 1yr.

kinda makes me feel better telling you they're abit older

lou33 · 04/10/2004 18:41

I've done it too.

Original poster
Hayls · 04/10/2004 19:02

Well I'm glad I'm not the only one

OP posts:
nutcracker · 04/10/2004 19:03

God yes. Ds gave up his dummy voluntarily about 4mths ago but now if i go shopping he moans and moans unless he has something to eat.

Thomcat · 04/10/2004 19:44

When I'm out shopping and she is having to put up with being in her buggy yes. I take out tasty treats and let her have them when she starts to complain to give myself a bit more time before I have to get her out of there! Only fair, mummy gets new boots, Lottie gets some crisps!

Tassie · 04/10/2004 19:51

Hayls - please don't worry about 'bad habits' - giving her a bit of toast after her tea while you have yours is hardly likely to do any harm, is it? Very few 8 month olds would sit still at a table once they had finished their food. I think you and your Dh can relax

enid · 04/10/2004 19:59

god, all the time.

wilbur · 04/10/2004 20:02

Yes, I would say relax too - it sounds like your dd is getting into good food habits and extra snacks are not likely to hurt. I think when the snack is obviously a treat food (my MIL has sponge fingers covered in sugar that appear magically every time ds or dd cries, hmmm) and obviously given to stop moaning on a regular basis and not on specific occasions, like out shopping, then that can get tricky as they get older. But it sounds like you know what you're doing. Having said that, I am just trying to work out how many raisins, bits of cheese, crackers, grapes, biscuits and so on I need to buy in order to keep dd (18 months) quiet on a 2 hr flight. So much for my snack policy .

Skate · 04/10/2004 20:03

All the time. Mostly try to give healthy snacks - banana, breadsticks, raisins etc but have to confess they quite often get biscuits or buttons too! What's wrong with that? It won't kill them!!

poppyseed · 04/10/2004 20:28

Absolutely !

aloha · 04/10/2004 20:41

God yes. Totally normal and desirable. They only have little tummies. And I'm not quite as healthy as you are Hayls

Mum2girls · 04/10/2004 20:44

On a daily basis.

MrsCoddyClooney · 04/10/2004 20:45

yes

colinsmommy · 04/10/2004 20:48

Yes, especially on longish car trips. It saves everyone's sanity, and as long as the snacks are healthy, I really can't see the harm.

jodee · 04/10/2004 20:50

Yes, but only in the car/supermarket when ds hasn't got his usual means of entertainment around him. He's usually picked his way through a bread roll or something before we've got to the checkout (grapes, anyone?)

jellyhead · 04/10/2004 20:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Skate · 04/10/2004 20:51

PMSL Jellyhead!

Chinchilla · 04/10/2004 20:53

It has only been recently that giving ds snacks between meals has affected his proper eating. He is over 3. I think at 8 months, babies will not eat unless they are hungry, so don't worry.

bonniej · 04/10/2004 21:05

All the time, especially when shopping. DD gets really bored in her buggy so I take plenty of snacks and drinks to keep her happy. I can do a whole shop and get home on a packet of quavers. Not ideal I know but keeps her happy

Tommy · 04/10/2004 21:14

You should see me at church - shoving rice cakes and baby biscuits down both of their mouths every time one of them makes even the slightest bit of noise. Also very useful in supermarkets, on long car journeys, at B&Q on Saturday, waiting for things like buses etc etc etc!

Juliehafrancis · 04/10/2004 21:51

Surely the babes won't eat unless they're hungry- It's not like us mums who will graze on stuff all day because were bored!

nikkim · 05/10/2004 22:44

I keep myself quiet with food does that count

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