Am I a cruel Mother?

[DaniiSmith]

Hi everyone,

I really need some advice!

I'm a first time mother and my Daughter has just recently turned 6 months. We've started the solids process and I'm trying my hardest to give her fresh fruit, veg etc etc...

Now I'm a vegetarian, my partner isn't so we both decided to give our daughter fish, and if later in life she decided she would like to eat meat then I have no issue with that.

However, I went to a family bbq today, where I prepped veggies for myself and my daughter to eat. My family asked if I would like to try my baby with some meat... I said no. They then carried on saying to try her with crisps, coke and juice.
My response was absolutely not.

My mother and my sister called me cruel and it really hit a nerve. Am I? She's just turned 6 months, I'm not saying she can't ever try these things, I'm just desperate for her to get use to fresh veg and fruit and to enjoy them!

Am I being too rigid? Do I need to loosen up??

No you're not a terrible mother! You're doing just fine! My son is 13 months and I'd never give him coke. He's had chocolate etc but only every so often. She's only 6 months, just starting the weaning process.

She's your daughter, stick to your guns.

You're fine. Your baby needs a balanced diet, meat isn't necessary for that. Some people have this weird fixation with feeding shit to babies who haven't yet been taught that sugary, nutritionless junk is supposed to be a 'treat'. Ignore them. Your baby has about 80 years or so ahead of her in which to decide if she'd like a burger and a coke.

Oh yes, you are cruel and horrible! How dare you not to stuff your baby's body with harmful bullshit? Shame on you!

All my dc were vegi until they chose themselves to eat meat - - teen ds's and fast food! Some dont eat it still. . But all supported the choice I made for them back as babies..
Ignore them op..

Nope you are not cruel in the slightest, you are sensible and normal. The idea of giving a baby coke makes me wince. They are really odd.

No way! A baby of that age can’t eat crisps except the soft ones and definitely shouldn’t have coke and I’m not someone who’s overly fussed about what my DD eats (she’s 20 months) what you’re feeding her at the moment is correct.

I think they were trying to wind u up. Just ignore.

I don't let my ten year olds have coke, there is nothing nutritional in it. When we go out for a meal they can have lemonade or Fanta. At home it's water, milk or juice.

If you listened to them and actually did give your baby crisps and coke then that actually would make you a cruel mother

No they are insane or joking! You are absolutely fine - my 6 yr old isn't allowed coke and the 11 yr old only occasionally!

You can’t give a baby crisps and shouldn’t give coke or juice. My DS is nearly two and has only ever drunk milk or water. He does have special baby crisps sometimes. It’s not cruel to not feed junk. I would probably feed meat though if you’re not completely opposed to the baby eating it.

Crisps and coke are no way suitable for a 6 month old baby, vegetarian or not. You are 100% in the right. (I say that as a meat eater but not one who would try to force meat on my vegetarian friend’s child)

My DD is a similar age and I'm a meat eating, crisp eating, coke drinking chocoholic and yet so far my DD has had porridge, veg purees and half an Ella kitchen melty puff and I don't consider myself cruel I'm just feeding her what her body can cope with and what's best for her. I might not make healthy choices for myself but I'm hoping to make healthy choices for my DD.

It's far too early for processed foods, particularly the junk food you mention. It's actually incredibly kind of you to stop it entering your daughter's mouth. That makes you a good mum

Nope. They are odd. I think they are trying to purposely wind you up for some unknown reason.
No-one offers a 6mo coke or crisps.

Who wants to give coca cola and crisps to a 6 months old??
You're a very good mother to have said no!

..obviously not. Not really sure why you're questioning yourself. The baby is 6m and doesn't need coke or crisps.

they must have been winding you up, surely nobody in their right mind would give a tiny baby coke?

"No-one offers a 6mo coke or crisps."

I thought so too, until I met my daughter's other half of the family ...

Coke? Must be a wind up. I’d be ashamed to give children coke. Caffeine and aspartame are 2 reasons not to give young children coke, never mind the sugar!

Some people actually would give a baby coke. Friend works as a dental assistant and said one mum opened a can of coke, poured it into a bottle and gave it to her 18ish month old right in front of her.

My eldest was 10 when she got her first McDonald’s burger
About that age when she had her first fizzy drink
They should listen to your rules-your mum!
I wouldn’t give a baby any of those things-she’s not even a year old
Your a top mum

Bloody hell my nearly 6 year old has never had coke, and no baby needs crisps or juice.

No they are being serious, which is why I'm questioning myself. They genuinely think I'm being out of order for not letting her try these things. My sister has threatened to give her all of this if she ever looks after her.
They all think I'm 'not normal' for being a vegetarian.

My Mother even slated me to my sisters when my baby was first born, saying I had become weird and strange since having a baby.
I'll admit I was a paranoid ,I didn't have a clue what I was doing and I worried beyond belief...
But I felt that was a bit shit from my Mother.
She could have just been there for me, or even talk to me about it.

I really love my family. But I feel like I'm at the end of the pecking order and my choices will forever be questioned and frowned upon if it's not in line with theirs.

You are not cruel at all!!
My children all eat meat but eldest would happily not eat it. They decide for themselves as they get older.
People are always keen to feed babies sweets and chocolate- no idea why!!! And coke! My three are 8 (nearly 9), 6 and 2 and none have ever had Coke!!!