Baby eating McDonalds - would you say anything?

[MizzDeeDee]

No i wouldn't its none of my business. the LO is 20 months old, not 2 months old, and whilst it isn't the healthiest thing, its not like shes giving her a bottle of whiskey on the way home. You could always show/tell her about certain places in the city which do healthier alternatives, say " oh by the way, have you been to X, it has some amazing delicious food"!

That's actually a good idea, to slip it into the conversation and who knows, maybe she'll try healthy food and realize it even tastes way better!

And for the people saying I have no right to judge a stranger, when I say 'co-worker' she is also my friend, it's a very small staff in a small town. She eats terribly and doesn't seem to think much of it and it really is just concern on my part, not me trying to be a know-it-all judgmental cow as some have implied.

But that won't be how she'll take it. She didn't tell you she takes her LO there weekly to have you judge her on it- and I think that is how she'll take it...she won't appreciate you saying anything to her. Since she is overweight, if you keep throwing in healthy food choices she might very well pick that up too and not be really thrilled.

Most overweight people know how to eat healthy- they just choose not to or are genetically bigger. As for once a week at Mcdonalds- that would be more then I would take LO, but it is once a week- which isn't very likely to harm the child.

Nothing good will come out of you saying anything to her and you might lose a friend.

 

[Emmy1987]

I wouldn't say anything tbh, if she wants to feed her child junk food then that's her deal. I personally wouldn't take LO to mc d's and let her share mine, I'd give her a fruit bag or something but hey ho, each to their own!

Now I know someone who's mum gave their 9 month old a double cheeseburger and fries all to himself... I don't know her well enough to say something but if she was a friend I'd gently note it's not exactly healthy...

 

[Lara310809]

Once a week? I don't see anything wrong with that. We go to McDonalds about the same amount and I "share it with my daughter" (16 months old, so younger than the toddler in question). But when I say I share it with her, I give her a couple of chips and perhaps the tomato from my burger. It's not a substitute for her proper meal and I don't treat it as that.

TBH you don't know the ins and outs of the situation, and it's not your child, so I don't believe it's your business. You don't know the quality of food she gets most of the time, but even if you did, I don't think it would be your place to say anything

I'm not saying you're judging, but you're kind of assuming that's what she gets all the time, and it may not be the case. In regards to people that properly judge you for what you feed your child; my OH and I went to McDonalds when my daughter must have been about 11 months old. She was sat with us, eating apple slices, while we had regular McDonalds meals. We got such a glare and tuts off people passing by, I assume for "feeding our daughter crap", but had they bothered to look properly they would have seen that we were giving her apple.

Yeah I know what you mean about people being overly-judgmental although in my co-worker's case it is a meal she's eating and not just bits of things as a treat.. maybe I am being a little judgmental, I don't know. Maybe it's because I saw Supersize Me not too long ago - I can never eat McDonald's ever again after watching that. But anyway, I am DEFINITELY not bringing it up with my co-worker, someone who can physically reach me, after reading the reactions on here My personal opinion is still that regular junk food is terrible for children, but I guess I'll just feed my own kids accordingly when I have my own.

We don't intend to judge, but we all do it in some form or another. Before I had a child I judged mothers that took their kids to McDonalds, but now actually I realise there's nothing wrong with it in moderation. If it's every day then there's a problem there, but certainly not one to be addressed by anyone other than grandparents or a health professional. It's so hard being a parent and you just feel like crap when someone criticises your attempts, that's all. But even now I'm guilty of judging; but when I catch myself doing it, I try to remember to give them the benefit of the doubt

 

[greenkat]

I agree - I probably wouldn't say anything - everyone has the right to chose and there's alot of advice and warnings about fast food for an informed decision. It probably won't harm anyone to have fast food every now and then BUT I watched this documentary 'Supersize me' by Morgan Spurlock (2004) - he ate nothing but Mcdonalds for a month and his liver nearly packed in! Alot of nutritionalists advised against having MCdonalds more than once a year. - So it doesn't necessarily cause obesity but there are alot of ways it does impact your health - high salt, high sugar, high saturated fat.

Personally I've only ever given it to my kids when we've been on a long car journey and there are no alternatives - but not felt guilty about it (not least because my daughter didn't like it and sicked it up the last time) and I wouldn't be concerned unless they were feeding it to a baby under 8 months.

 

[Babushka99]

I think its ok to do that with a 20 month old, its a special treat with mummy once a week.

 

[lozzy21]

i wouldnt say anything. the child is 20 months so its not like shes pureeing it up for a 4month old

The lady who ran the weaning course said she did a home visit with a woman who pureed up a big mac, mixed it with milk and put it in a bottle for a 5 month old

To the OP I wouldent say anying, its not some one else's place to dictate what other people's children eat. We have enough of that of the government.

I worked at macdonalds at collage and the food isent that bad. The fries are cooked in veg oil, the burgers are cooked on a hot plate with no oil and you can get your fries with no salt on.

Every one turns there noses up at a big mac but then will get a pre-packed salad or sandwich from a shop which has more calories and fat in than the burger.

 

[Babushka99]

i wouldnt say anything. the child is 20 months so its not like shes pureeing it up for a 4month old

The lady who ran the weaning course said she did a home visit with a woman who pureed up a big mac, mixed it with milk and put it in a bottle for a 5 month old

 

[special_kala]

i wouldnt say anything. the child is 20 months so its not like shes pureeing it up for a 4month old

The lady who ran the weaning course said she did a home visit with a woman who pureed up a big mac, mixed it with milk and put it in a bottle for a 5 month old

To the OP I wouldent say anying, its not some one else's place to dictate what other people's children eat. We have enough of that of the government.

I worked at macdonalds at collage and the food isent that bad. The fries are cooked in veg oil, the burgers are cooked on a hot plate with no oil and you can get your fries with no salt on.

Every one turns there noses up at a big mac but then will get a pre-packed salad or sandwich from a shop which has more calories and fat in than the burger.

I agree whilst mcdonalds isnt the greatest habit to show kids the food actually isnt that bad. There chicken nuggets probably have alot more chicken in and less crap then the nuggets some people get out of the freezer and serve in a regular basis

 

[XfairyhopesX]

why are folk so interested in what others are doing? id be horrified if i popped to maccys with aiden as a treat and got a loads of head shakers looking down on me id think mind your own, we would lgo once every 6 months or something but even if we went every few weeks...... seriously!!!!!

 

[Angela49uk]

Would you like it if someone questioned your parenting decisions??

 

[Snowball]

i wouldnt say anything. the child is 20 months so its not like shes pureeing it up for a 4month old

The lady who ran the weaning course said she did a home visit with a woman who pureed up a big mac, mixed it with milk and put it in a bottle for a 5 month old

I'm going to add that bad boy to my liquid diet plan

 

[v2007]

No!!!

None of my business or anyone elses

V xx

 

[Daisy Delayne]

Once a week? I don't see anything wrong with that. We go to McDonalds about the same amount and I "share it with my daughter" (16 months old, so younger than the toddler in question). But when I say I share it with her, I give her a couple of chips and perhaps the tomato from my burger. It's not a substitute for her proper meal and I don't treat it as that.

TBH you don't know the ins and outs of the situation, and it's not your child, so I don't believe it's your business. You don't know the quality of food she gets most of the time, but even if you did, I don't think it would be your place to say anything

I'm not saying you're judging, but you're kind of assuming that's what she gets all the time, and it may not be the case. In regards to people that properly judge you for what you feed your child; my OH and I went to McDonalds when my daughter must have been about 11 months old. She was sat with us, eating apple slices, while we had regular McDonalds meals. We got such a glare and tuts off people passing by, I assume for "feeding our daughter crap", but had they bothered to look properly they would have seen that we were giving her apple.

Yeah I know what you mean about people being overly-judgmental although in my co-worker's case it is a meal she's eating and not just bits of things as a treat.. maybe I am being a little judgmental, I don't know. Maybe it's because I saw Supersize Me not too long ago - I can never eat McDonald's ever again after watching that. But anyway, I am DEFINITELY not bringing it up with my co-worker, someone who can physically reach me, after reading the reactions on here My personal opinion is still that regular junk food is terrible for children, but I guess I'll just feed my own kids accordingly when I have my own.

We don't intend to judge, but we all do it in some form or another. Before I had a child I judged mothers that took their kids to McDonalds, but now actually I realise there's nothing wrong with it in moderation. If it's every day then there's a problem there, but certainly not one to be addressed by anyone other than grandparents or a health professional. It's so hard being a parent and you just feel like crap when someone criticises your attempts, that's all. But even now I'm guilty of judging; but when I catch myself doing it, I try to remember to give them the benefit of the doubt

Well said

 

[Ozzieshunni]

My niece is five and has the occasional McDs. She also swims, dances, does gymnastics and plays football. I think the problems with obesity in this country and the USA stem from inactivity more than anything. People need to get out with their kids and be active as opposed to sitting in front of the TV or playing video games. I doubt McDs once a week will really harm her daughter. I don't really like McDs so it's not somewhere I would be going. I'm not much of a cook either, but I will be making the effort when LO starts weaning.

My mom was very overweight and had gastric bypass. After that, she started to cook loads more healthier meals for myself and my brother. As a result, my brother is now cooking healthier for himself and my dad and mom go to the gym multiple times a week. She still has fast food now and then.

I would be more concerned if she were giving McDs ALL the time and not cooking or giving LO any fruit or veg

 

[Babushka99]

All this stupid judging and obsession with obesity the next generation will probably be even more obese by binge eating 'forbidden food' in secret and the other half a bag of bones eating lettuce and drinking mineral water.

 

[Daisy Delayne]

All this stupid judging and obsession with obesity the next generation will probably be even more obese by binge eating 'forbidden food' in secret and the other half a bag of bones eating lettuce and drinking mineral water.

That's all I have to say about that one.

 

[Ozzieshunni]

I'm sorry, I agree. I think we need to encourage our kids to eat healthy, balanced diets and be active. It's not obsessing, it's making sure the next generation live healthier lives.

 

[Babushka99]

Everything in moderation though!

 

[xemmax]

Everyone knows Mcdonalds is crap and that junk food isn't ideal for children but really, one meal out of 21 per week isn't that bad.. particularly as she could be eating home cooked, fresh meals for the rest. I NEVER thought I would feed my child any kind of rubbish food (I even remember saying I thought giving a baby a chip was the sign ofa lazy parent) but really, you don't know what you'll do in the future. Oliver has a really good diet but I do give him the odd chip/bit of chocolate if I have something... it's really not a big deal in moderation.

 

[Ozzieshunni]

Everything in moderation though!

True, but we should still be encouraging healthy eating and activity the majority of the time. The odd McDs or cake or sweetie is not going to hurt in the grand scheme of things.