Does anyone else have a problem with giving babies chocolate?

Question

I seem to cringe at the sight or sound of a toddler, baby, or young child being rewarded or just given choclate to eat. Why are we starting our kids out so young eating badwhen they would be fine without knowing chocolate is at this age.

Tammy - I have two babies 1 & 2 and I work very hard to feed them right.

Answer 1

I am with you all the way. Children that young are forming their eating habits and do not need the chocoalte and junk food at all in their diet. It messes up their diets and makes them very picky eaters when older. Chocolate has no nutritional value anyway-my 3 boys had treats that were healthy-banana chips-craisins-healthy things that help them form their tastes when older.

Answer 2

I would definitely work on changing his diet so that his poop isn't so hard. Sometimes kids will be so fearful of the pain that they start refusing to use the toilet. It isn't unusual for kids as old as 5 who refuse to poop in the toilet because they're terrified of pain that comes with passing hard stool. They'll hold it in for days causing their bowel too become so stretched and their hard poop gets even bigger that they no longer have normal sensation. Before I go on any further I just wanted to say that this condition is reversible but it can be a big headache so to speak. Eventually the stool softens then they have accidents and don't realize what happens until it's already in their underwear. That's because they temporarily lost some of the sensation and control that they use to have. A stretched bowel can return back to normal but it takes some intervention like a new diet and the child needs to pay closer attention to what going on down there so they don't have a poop accident. I have friends who went through this with their kids and it's a real nuisance. Like I said the bowel will be able to return to normal and the kid can have more normal sensation and control again but it's a big headache that could drag out for a really long time. I don't know what part of America you're from (or if you are American) but a lot of bigger city hospitals have a 24 hour hotline where people can ask health questions. The advice you get is free but they couldn't diagnose a problem. A problem with hard stool is something they can help you with. They are nurses who pick up the phone and the type the symptoms into their computer database. They'll tell you what you can do at home and if you need to see a doctor. You should take advantage of it. It's free unless you're calling long distance then you just have to pay the price of the long distance call. It sometimes called "Ask a Nurse" or "Healthformation" or something like that. Look under for it under "hospitals" in the Yellow Pages.

Answer 3

I so agree with you!! My sister-in-law (and her parents) would give her daughter those Cadburys chocolate buttons to eat when she was just 3 months old. I remember nearly passing out from shock when I first saw my father-in-law shove a chocolate button into that baby's mouth. She wasn't even close to weaning yet they all though she'd love to eat some chocolate. Now, at 5 years of age, my niece won't eat any fruit or veg and literally lives off of junk food. She doesn't eat regular meals and doesn't sleep well at night because of all the sugar she eats and drinks. It's disgusting but hey, you reap what you sow.

I hate the sight of babies and toddlers eating chocolate and junk. In my opinion it's just lazy parenting. I've seen so many little ones placated during a tantrum with a king size bar of Kit-Kat. My daughter just turned 2 and my husband and I always make sure she eats well. I know that when she's older she'll more than likely be buying sweets on the way home from school but at least I can be proud that I started her out on the right path..just like my parents did with me and my brother.

Answer 4

I agree. I didn't give my son a taste of lollies or chocolate until he was about 18 months old. And then all it was, was a little, tiny, taste. I do not have that stuff in the house. If kids see it, they think it is something they can eat in place of a normal meal.
I remember watching my sister in law giving her 1 year old daughter chocolate for no reason except that it was there and because she said she wanted it. Of course one chocolate turned into two which turned into four - and do you think she ate her tea that night?? And then do you think she went to bed quickly and quietly? No, of course she didn't. She was on a sugar high. And my sister in law has had a weight problem all her life and continues to struggle to keep weight off. That's what makes me think how silly some parents are.
I do not deny my child treats - but that's exactly what they are. A treat. Being the last in both sides of the family to have kids I have watched others give their children junk food, lollies and sweet drinks and been able to sit back and enjoy the fireworks!! I have one nephew/niece that are badly behaved, undisciplined, rude and hyper and I do not want my kids to end up like them thanks!
Each to their own!

Answer 5

Chocolate isn't that unhealthy if you mean real chocolate not milk chocolate. It has antioxidants and other healthy things.

If you can never eat sweets, junk, etc in front of your child then more power to you. But teaching them "This food is better/only for mommy" is even more harmful than letting the kid have a bite.

If he can have a bite of my sandwich, and a bite of my apple, and a drink of my milk, and a bit of pasta, etc. Then if I am having a cookie he gets a bite. Then he doesn't think cookies are better than apples. It is all just food.

You know there have been studies that show that kids who are never allowed to have sweets always overeat to the extreme when given the opportunity to have them -and there will always be an opportunity.

You raise your kids your way, and I will raise my kids my way. But really the odd bit of cookie, chips, or chocolate is the least of my concern about how anyone parents their kids.

Answer 6

Chocolate is just another food. It is so important now days to teach our kids the importance of a balanced diet. There is no reason why chocolate can't be a part of that. I have a 6year old, a 2 year old and a 1 year old they have never been denied any sort of food and I am proud of their eating habits. When I take the 2 little ones shopping they will quiet happily sit in the trolley and munch on a punnet of cherry tomatoes as a chocolate bar. My 6 year old goes to parties and complains if there are too many lollies and not enough real food. You don't mention if you have kids of your own - I would guess not though cause if you did you would understand that you can't hide these things from kids forever and teaching them is way better than denying them.

Answer 7

My boys sometimes get an oreo.. But that's rarely. I do not keep junk in the house. It needs to be through moderation. Some parents just do not say no, or they say no and cave in because the baby is hungry. Its like ever heard of a vegetable? And then the fast food problems. No wonder why America is overweight, there is a McDonald's on every block, and no parks.

Thankfully, my boys get nutritious foods.
I also cannot stand it when they say its too much money to eat nutritious foods. We grow our own tomatoes, figs, apples, etc... It does not cost that much.

Answer 8

I hate to see babies/toddlers eating anything sugary, but I'm really conservative about that. Unfortunately, my three year old discovered all kinds of sugar at a relative's house, and it's all over now.

For anyone with a family history of allergies, chocolate should not be given to a child until age three. I was super strict with that one because we have so many allergies in our clan. I figured that if I accidentally caused my daughter to be allergic to chocolate, when I could have prevented it by delaying the introduction of it, she'd kill me later on. I'm glad I waited. Now she loves m&m's.

I once almost freaked out when a friend gave her 8 month old a powdered donut. Another friend had an elaborate reward scheme for potty training, something like two m&m's for peeing in the potty, three for trying to poop, four for pooping. I thought it was crazy. (Oh, I love my friend dearly, but the reward system didn't end up working.)

Answer 9

I sooo agree. I have to fight off my mom's coworkers and my mother in law when they try to give him whatever candy they have in their pockets without thinking twice - they even try to give him hard candies like jolly ranchers and he just turned 1! My MIL even brought him a thing of cotton candy yesterday - like I want my baby ingesting PURE SUGAR!!! I did get him a little chocolate cake to destroy for his first birthday, though.

EDIT: I think the main issue is the overfeeding of sweets and using them as a reward. Personally, my problem is with people not thinking about my son's age and the appropriateness of what they are trying to give him (such as jolly ranchers, which are an obvious choking hazard). I also agree that you can't deny your child a bite of your junk food when you allow them to eat everything else off your plate! Luckily, I'm not a big junk food eater anyway.

Answer 10

i very very rarely let my kids have chocolate (they're 16mths) and if i do its only a couple of sucks. I get very mad when my mother & mother in law give them chocolate/ junk food and neglect to tell me - i am trying to establish healthy eating habits(and because of them its very hard). As they get older and know that a little bit here and there is fine, thats when they'll have it a bit more often -There is nothing worse than a child who will only eat junk food and doesn't know what a vegetable is