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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

Original poster

crisps for a 8 month old ?

27 replies

tastychristmaspud · 17/12/2007 15:45

i didn't think babies could have any salt let alone crisps, but my sisters baby eats crisps

ive been planing on making some homemade stock so i can make sure theres no salt in it for when i make things like caserols and rissottos etc

but according to my sister,who ive literally just spoken to, she reackons babies can eat salt and that im making alot if hard work for myself
i know her youngest who is 8 almost 9 months eats crisps, is this normal? when do people give things like sweets and chocs ?

maybe i am going a bit over the top ?and trying to hard?

OP posts:
CoteDAzur · 17/12/2007 15:49

You might like to show [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/404667.stm this] to your sister.

Without meaning to judge, why would anyone want to give crisps to a baby anyway?

CoteDAzur · 17/12/2007 15:50

This, rather.

NorthernLurkerwithastarontop · 17/12/2007 15:52

well no 8 month old baby of mine eats/has eaten crisps! Salt is in just about everything and my youngest has had some toast, cheese etc which does of course contain salt - so only v small amounts of those foods - the home made stock sounds good - the ahop stuff is basically salt in a block!

OverMyDeadStuffedTurkey · 17/12/2007 15:53

babies' kidneys are not developed enough to filter out lots of salt, so you are right to make salt free stocks and stuff, babies should not have any additional salt other than the naturally occuring levels of sodium found in food (not processed food).

It is very harmful to regularly feed babies crisps (not to mention unnecessary)

camillathechicken · 17/12/2007 15:55

crisps are too salty

i did homemade stock etc for the DCs meals, so i knew there was no salt in them

also, what is the point of filling their tummies with crisps, when they need mostly milk and a bit of food?

JingleBelgoHoHoHo · 17/12/2007 15:57

not only are they salty, but they irritate the mouth and are easy to choke on - I've had a crisp stuck in my throat many times!

And what on earth is the point? Do they really think their baby will enjoy it?

Original poster
tastychristmaspud · 17/12/2007 16:08

she gives her quavers

OP posts:
Original poster
tastychristmaspud · 17/12/2007 16:09

thanks for the link, im gonna email it to my sister

OP posts:
ChirpyGrinch · 17/12/2007 16:12

My 22 month old has crisps, and has done since she was about 13 14 months, but we buy the add-your-own-salt ones and just take the salt out.
IMO normal crisps are too salty for any child under 5, but they do enjoy the crunch I think, (DD calls them crunch's instead of crisps!)

Tommy · 17/12/2007 16:13

in answer to your quesion "Whn do people start giving sweets and chocs?" - I would say - hold off as long as you can. They will eat crisps, sweets and chocolate but you don't have to give them to your children if you don't want to.
I never gave sweets to my DSs and now they are 4 and 5 and have only just started eating them (DS1 can make a wine gum last about 20 mins )
If they have never had it, they won't want it.

ScottishMummy · 17/12/2007 16:22

wotsits apparently contain as much salt as glass of sea wateryou are supposed to refrain from added salt and salty products - too much too metabolise and child recommended salt intake obviously lower than adult. too much salt is toxic

when weaning i made all food salt free and no i dont give any salt, or choc or carbonated drinks etc - i figure eventually they will coeme across these items without me introducing them

Original poster
tastychristmaspud · 17/12/2007 16:29

ys im glad you all don't think im over reacting, my sisters eldest is 10 so she kinda thinks she knows everything

OP posts:
CoteDAzur · 17/12/2007 17:19

Re "sweets and chocs" - The occasional sweet and chocolate is a part of childhood, imo, but definitely after 1 yr. Nothing wrong with a lolipop here, a small chocolate there. Still, imho, chips have no part whatsoever in a child's diet - they are basically grease and salt. If one day DD would like to wallow in chips, that will be her choice, but I sure am not going to feed them to her.

Many other practical finger foods to choose from. Dried raisins, for example...

CoteDAzur · 17/12/2007 17:19

Raisins NOT for 8 months though - can be dangerous.

JingleBelgoHoHoHo · 17/12/2007 17:23

why are raisons dangerous at this age, if you don't mind me asking?

CoteDAzur · 17/12/2007 17:33

Dried raisins are small and a baby can choke on them. Depends on how good a particular baby chews, I guess, but I don't think I would want to take that chance.

MaeWestYeMerryGentlemen · 17/12/2007 17:38

I think I offered raisins to DS at this age, but difficult to remember (and it wasn't that long ago ). He definitely had them at 9 months as he used to practise his pincer grip with them.

Crisps no way at that age. He does get the odd one now (16.5 months) especially with the round of Christmas parties, but they are not really necessary.

PuppyDogTails · 17/12/2007 17:43

Ready Brek?? I thought there was no added salt in Ready Brek? Have they changed the recipe since that article in 1999 .

JingleBelgoHoHoHo · 17/12/2007 18:31

I thought raisons were too small to choke on, unlike grapes which are just the right size to choke on. I could be wrong.

inSanityClaus · 17/12/2007 19:56

I squeeze them so they go flat and split. 9mo dd loves them

(raisins, not crisps)

coldtits · 17/12/2007 20:11

They did change the recipe shortly after

PuppyDogTails · 17/12/2007 20:25

Thanks coldtits, that's a weight off my mind!

becka1 · 22/01/2008 19:00

Does anyone know what the daily limit of salt is for the under 1's?
I avoid feeding my baby salty food but I am still worried I might give her too much, by say giving too much bread/toast etc or not realising another food has salt in it e.g. bits of a sandwich when out

MrsBadger · 22/01/2008 19:23

good salt guidance here
remember labels often give sodium levels.

becka1 · 23/01/2008 12:37

thanks MrsBadger! Very helpful.