Babies and Junk food

Marisa - posted on 12/20/2009

I give my son snacks that are for him and whatever we eat! He loves his veggies too..and sometimes a taste of candy but as long as I brush his teeth it's all good....I grew up with no sugar and I'm a chocoholic in a good way...so I want him to get a taste of it so he won't sneak it later on! I'm so proud of us mommies that want the best for our children...

Marquita - posted on 12/20/2009

I am with you Katt. I take my son's nutrition very serious as I am shaping him to have very good eating habits even better than my own. My son has never had any of that stuff. Just fruits, veggies not even dairy or its products because of the whole milk, which I will wait on until after his 1st b-day next month. Oh and I let him have organic corn crunch'ems as a little snack sometimes and he absolutely loves hummus and falafel. I want him to have a good diverse diet.

Megan - posted on 12/19/2009

I occasionally give her something with added sugar other than her baby food. I have started giving my daughter table food. But the majority of what I eat is homemade so it is healthier than commercial. If we are out shopping on the weekends, I allow her to have something other than her babyfood for lunch. For thanksgiving I made homemade pumpkin bread and allowed her to have a few pieces of it because she really likes pumpkin.

Amanda - posted on 12/19/2009

Quoting Marcia:

I totally agree, we've joked that Aaron isn't getting chocolate untill he can pay for them from his own wages from his own job, but realistically we'll keep him away for as long as we can, and when he can ask for it he'll have it as a treat and in moderation. We'll tackle things like kids parties when we get to it. He's started off on organic none processed foods, so we'll keep it going as long as possible. I fear he'll feel antisocial at parties or we're made to feel that way when everyone else is eating junk foods andloading up on sugar.

Thinking ahead there's organics sweets that I've seen that are low in sugar, he can have them when he goes on a school trip so he won't buy much junk if he ever wants sweets.

A video I bet you would really enjoy is called "Sweet Suicide" by Dr. Nancy Appleton Phd.

http://blogcritics.org/video/article/dvd...

They did an experiment with a 3 yr old boy and fed him sugar cubes (the same amount that was equivalent in a serving of juice for children)  The results were unbelievable.  It made me even think twice about what to not only feed my daughter, but what we as a family should be eating.  Great information!

Tori - posted on 12/15/2009

The worst I do is some sugar free/fat free pudding, which is even the worst I eat myself. I see some people sneaking her bites of ice cream or french fries, which on rare occasions I'll give her myself, making sure they are unsalted.. my mother is the worst she was giving my daughter bacon at 8 months old. Oh my gosh, I almost had a heart attack when I heard that. I try to make sure that all of her food has little to no fat in it, same with sugar and sodium. I stick mainly to baby foods, stage three... little finger foods that she can eat and graduates since she has 8 teeth now it's easy for her to eat these things.

Molly - posted on 12/15/2009

My twin boys would never get stuff like that when they were babies; not even just once. But they were my first. With my daughter who is EBF, she gets that stuff sometimes. But everyday, NEVER.

Amanda - posted on 12/15/2009

good for you. They are setting their children up for a lifetime of bad eating habits. I give my daughter something green every day. She loves pole beans, spinach, green peppers and other green veggies. I have read that you need to expose your child to as many veggies as possible before the age of 1, as that is where their tastes are "programmed". So far it seems to be working.
Keep up the good work, Mommy!

Jennifer - posted on 12/14/2009

My baby is 11 months old and I make all of her food. She gets fresh vegetables and fruit and for her grains she gets gerber whole grain cereal and oatmeal. Making her food is so much better and healthier for her. She is not allowed to eat any kind of candy or junk food, but now that she's 11 months I have let her have a small sugar cookie. I figured one won't kill her.

Marcia - posted on 12/09/2009

I totally agree, we've joked that Aaron isn't getting chocolate untill he can pay for them from his own wages from his own job, but realistically we'll keep him away for as long as we can, and when he can ask for it he'll have it as a treat and in moderation. We'll tackle things like kids parties when we get to it. He's started off on organic none processed foods, so we'll keep it going as long as possible. I fear he'll feel antisocial at parties or we're made to feel that way when everyone else is eating junk foods andloading up on sugar.



Thinking ahead there's organics sweets that I've seen that are low in sugar, he can have them when he goes on a school trip so he won't buy much junk if he ever wants sweets.

Sigríður - posted on 11/18/2009

I couldn´t agree more!!! I can just say that I was so shocked to see a 1 1/2 year old girl drinking coke like there was NO tomorrow and her parents being OK with it! Both me and my husband have desisted to wait with giving our son any sweets until he asks for it him self. I think there´s one thing we have to remember and that is that our children are still just little and have not that much experience in taste like we do so why induce them to the taste of sweets just yet? But there´s one thing I hate the most and that is when grandparents and other people start giving your child something to eat that they know that you don´t approve off! I think you should respect the wishes of the parents :o) (I hope my English isn´t all that bad since it has been a while since I last used it...)

Katt - posted on 11/17/2009

I'm not a mother who is completely against sugar/salt...I also agree that a treat here and there is okay, however i'm talking about mothers who give children these pop corn twists and sugary treats everyday...My baby has had a treat here and there and like I said in my post we do have some lazy nights and we order in like once a month so I don't see any harm in sharing I think it is unfair to let my baby watch me eat something she "can't" have. I also make my own baby food I unfourtnetly could not breastfeed due to medical issues even tho I really wanted to. I agree with the soda pop! That is also horrible I don't even give my baby juice, she likes water and I would like to keep it that way even tho she has had some sips of juice. Moderation is good all i'm saying is the parents who allow their children to eat junk everyday is wrong and horrible!!

Laurie - posted on 11/16/2009

Quoting Mandy:

I prefer to engender a nothing is banned and everything moderation attitude with food. I grew up with having certain foods on a no-no list and I've struggled with my weight as an adult because I binged on all of them when I left home. I don't want either of mine to do the same, with my daughter I give her choice and 9/10 she will choose the fruit or I tell her she has to have fruit before she can have a sweetie. With my son, I let him have a taste of most things I'm eating if I think he can manage it, there is nothing I eat that I deem inappropriate it, apart from the odd takeaway which I wouldn't allow either of them to eat anyway. Our house tends to have a very laidback attitude to food, we all eat healthily so a few treats won't do any harm.

I completely agree with you on the attitude of everything in moderation. I do not believe in giving babies junk food but it is not necessary to completely ban all sugar. As a parent, you have control over what is available for your baby to eat. If you offer nutritious foods more often, your baby will develop a taste for them but that does not mean that offering a treat to your baby occassionally will wipe out all the other learned taste preferences. Allow your baby to learn to enjoy the occassional treat in moderation. Help your baby develop a healthy attitude towards all foods!

Before anyone makes assumptions about me for this stance, I want to say that I exclusively breastfed for the first 7 months(had to stop then because my milk stopped), I make almost all my baby's food and I am not lazy. I do not believe in giving these treats everyday and my baby has not actually had many treats yet. I am looking forward to her tasting her first birthday cake, though!

I also agree with the poster who mentioned soda pop. That is one thing I find disturbing when young children are drinking it.

Jenifer - posted on 11/16/2009

It's upsetting to me that moms give their babies junk food every day but I have to admit also that I am guilty of giving Mitchell the occasional piece of junk! But his favorite snack in the world is bananas. and he gets some of everything we eat. I mostly cook from scratch. and he has had ice cream but I have to agree with the mom who said its about moderation I am a firm believer in you can have everything in moderation. THe only one that really p*sses me off is to see moms give babies and little kids soda pop. that is so bad!!!!

Michele - posted on 11/15/2009

I give kairi that hulless popcorn here and there, but not everyday. If there's a birthday party and she's sitting there watching us eat cake and ice cream we'll give her bites simply because we feel bad seeing her watch us and make the chewing motions as we chew our food. She only has one little tooth (one of her bottoms) so she cant really eat table food. However I can't wait to give her table food! I'll give her mashed potatoes if we go out to eat and she loves them!
But when if comes to giving her these things everyday...u can forget it!
She's content with her formula/baby food. Like I said, I dont think it's a big deal giving her bites here and there.

Becky - posted on 11/15/2009

I agree, because of the foundation of healthy foods I've started my son on, he won't eat anything other than mom's homemade and usually eats veggies instead of fruit unless it's peaches, he loves peaches. I told everyone before my son was born I was going to make all his food and he wasn't going to have sugar until it was unavoidable, everyone told me I wouldn't do it because it was too mush work. I bit my tongue cause they were all fighting with their toddlers to eat veggies, now that seems like a lot of work lol

Katt - posted on 11/15/2009

I know, parents are so lazy!! I've only given her those things once and it was because we occasionally get pizza or something when we have a lazy night like once a month so I didn't see any harm in giving her some, she wasn't really fond of it anyways. When I put a fruit and a veggie on her tray she eats the veggies first then the fruit. I see parents who bring large zip lock bags full of those pop corn twists to play group, I know another girl that eats ice cream everyday and she shares it with her baby...to me thats crazy a treat here and there is fine but everyday or even salty and sweet snacks everyday is horrible. No wonder children are becoming so obese. People always ask me what I feed my daughter because she's 9 1/2 months and 24lbs but she has always been a big baby at 8lbs 5oz at birth she didn't loose weight like most babies she just kept growing and has a big apatite which I think all babies should be that way, growing at their own rate, eating healthy and striving!!

Tara - posted on 11/15/2009

It is sad that now giving kids junk is becoming the norm instead of the exception to the rule. A treat once in a while for a toddler/child is one thing but giving a baby fast food, sugary treats etc is a way to ensure their taste buds develop a preference for these items and a way to increase the odds of childhood obesity. It is our job as parents to give our kids an age appropriate balanced diet and teach them to make healthy choices that will benefit their bodies. I think a lot of parents are getting lazy. Keep up with the cheese, fruits and veggies, it is healthier and will promote better eating habits later in life.

Mandy - posted on 11/15/2009

I prefer to engender a nothing is banned and everything moderation attitude with food. I grew up with having certain foods on a no-no list and I've struggled with my weight as an adult because I binged on all of them when I left home. I don't want either of mine to do the same, with my daughter I give her choice and 9/10 she will choose the fruit or I tell her she has to have fruit before she can have a sweetie. With my son, I let him have a taste of most things I'm eating if I think he can manage it, there is nothing I eat that I deem inappropriate it, apart from the odd takeaway which I wouldn't allow either of them to eat anyway. Our house tends to have a very laidback attitude to food, we all eat healthily so a few treats won't do any harm.

Karen - posted on 11/14/2009

A touch of ice cream or dessert is typically reserved for the rare occasions such as holiday or when we're out eating with the grandparents - and even then it is limited. While I consider Cheerios to be junk food and am not fond of X having it, my husband used to be a huge cereal eater and argues that it is the healthiest junk food he can have.

95% of the food we eat is made from scratch (no can opener or microwave needed), so we have been liberal in allowing our son to eat with us. Not only do we know exactly how it was made and what was in it, but he is calmer knowing he gets some of the food that we are eating and has begun to express understanding sharing and "all done."

Jennifer - posted on 11/14/2009

I haven't given my LO any sugar either. Don't think it's important. I make all of his baby food from fresh fruit or veggies. So easy. Just steam the veggies and puree in a blender. Peel the fruit and puree that. He also eats finger foods like chopped steamed veggies, fruit, boiled chicken, ground turkey, Cherrios, Gerber Graduate foods, Goldfish crackers, toast . . . I was so mad one day when I took my LO out to lunch my husband and my father in law and my father in law gave my son an ice cream cone to munch on! He had never had sugar before so I took it away. I will probably give him cake on his first birthday, but that's about it. He didn't even get to eat his Halloween candy! When we were out trick or treating I was amazed at how many babies were sucking on lollipops.

Natasha - posted on 11/14/2009

I still don't give my daughter table food. Her baby food is enough for now, and it must be working bacause she's 21LBS.

Marcia - posted on 11/14/2009

That's just crazy. 'Babies' are just that, not a 5 year old. It tmakes me mad when people give babies things they'd be eating themselves. That's why there's a rise in over weight toddlers nowadays. They shouldn't be having anything with added salt, sugar or saturated fats. Only natural sugars, and I only give my son a few of those items a week as I don't want him devoloping a sweet tooth. If I'm going to give him a snack it's something from the Organix, or Hip Organics range like apple rice cake or a sweetcorn ring, carrot puff sticks or dried apples or strawberries. He's had fresh apples and cheese as other finger food as well and will try him again with fresh carrots. But no chocolate, no popcorn either. The only bread he's having at the moment, is either bread and butter with his meal or toast some mornings. Even that isn't an everyday thing as bread clogs and slows your digestive system, and can make us constipated let alone a baby.



A baby's teeth should be taken care of, the last thing you want is your baby having bad teeth before they turn 1 or by the time they turn 1 year old, they have rotting teeth due to too much sugar.



I saw a baby in a store 3 months ago that looked around 5 or six months old, that had a piece candy on a stick (lollypop to UK peeps) stuck to the side of her jaw she'd had it in her mouth so long; and she couldn't even coordinate herself to pull it out....it was shocking!

Amy - posted on 11/13/2009

I agree. Babies don't need extra sugar and salt, and it could possibly give them more of a taste for that stuff later. For my baby's 1 year birthday I'm making her a sugar-free cake (I researched recipies online, just sweetened with fruit puree). I don't want my daughter to have sugar untill she's 2. My mother-in-law thinks I'm taking it too far but I've always struggled with my weight and I want her to grow up with healthy eating habits and likeing real foods.