How can I raise my baby to be a vegitarian when everyone I know is trying to force meats on her?

Question

I am a vegitarian and my baby is ten months old. My parents and my husbands parents eat meat everytime it is around. My husband's mom keeps asking me wgen am I going to let her eat meat. I don't want to give it to her.....ever. What am I supposed to do when all I get is critisism and negative feed back from everyone?

Answer 1

just explain the advantages of being vegitarin. I am one too and it took awhile for my parents to accept it. Just tell them this is what I believe to be what is right. To make me or my child eat meat is unethical to me. Remember if you do let your child be vegitarin rememebr to give soy and peanut butter when he or she reaches 2.

Answer 2

Well first of all, you need to talk with your husband and decide together whether or not if your baby is going to be a vegitarian. It's his baby just as much as it's yours, so it needs to be an equal decision.

If you both decide that you're going to raise your baby as a vegitarian, then you need to basically tell people that it's your child, and you have every right to raise him how you want. If they give you negative comments, tell them it's none of their business, because it isn't! When my relatives do something in front of my baby I don't like, or make comments about my parenting, I just tell them nicely, I'm not comfortable with you making rude comments like that. If you keep it up, my baby and I just won't come around for visits anymore.

This will usually get the message across pretty quick. :o)

Best wishes!

Answer 3

Most people who eat meat know that it's very, very easy for vegetarians/vegans to develop a protein deficiency, so they're honestly probably just worried for the health of your baby.

As long as this is something you've discussed thoroughly with your daughter's pediatrician and a pediatric nutritionist and you've gotten the "OK" from them, tell your family this. If they still insist, have your doctor give you some brochures or some study results that say having a vegetarian baby is healthy and keeping meat out of her diet won't harm her. Then you'll have it in writing and what can they say?

Answer 4

Assure your mom that your baby is getting enough nutrients without meat and thank her for her concern. You are the parent here, have you tried copying fliers an being a vegetarian and passing them to the family members who are negative? Find a good website about raising a vegetarian child, and have your family members look it over. I'm assuming that you were not raised a vegetarian and made a choice to become one, someday your teenager will come to you and ask why he or she has never had a good old fashiond slab of animal flesh, that will be alot hareder to deal with then a bunch of annoying family members.

Answer 5

It is going to be hard but it is possible.just make sure that you don't let other people tell you how to raise YOUR child. So what if you get negitive feed back. You are the one resposible for your child. The next time you see your mother in law eating a burger say "Think about what that cow was doing a week ago." Let them know how you feel.

Answer 6

As long as you are making sure she's eating a balanced, varied diet and is getting adequate nutrition, you're just going to have to deal with them. If your mother-in-law asks "when" firmly tell her "never." End of discussion unless she's open to hearing your reasons why and respecting them. If you and your husband are in agreement, then it's nobody else's business. Nobody NEEDS meat to be healthy.

Answer 7

Let your stance be known! Ask them to respect your decision. What is your husband's take? Just politely tell them that you want to raise her as a vegitarian. Would be easier if you husband can back you on this.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

Be firm and tell them how you feel about it. Being meat free is a way of life for you and because you don't eat it you don't see any reason she should. Let them know that you don't need any more input- it is you and your husband's decision and they should drop the issue.

Answer 10

It's going to be tough. This is the same problem encountered by breastfeeders. Make your wishes clear and stand by them. If someone gives you child food, gently take it from her and say 'no, that belongs to...'. Do not tell her the food is bad or that the people giving it to her are bad - just stress the fact that it belongs to someone else. If the adults around you do not respect your wishes, they probably never will so just enforce your rules through how you teach your daughter.

Answer 11

Hold strong to your belief. Tell your family that you don't want your baby to eat meat. Try to keep away from the family. I know that would be hard where everyone wants to see the baby. Good luck.