Giving babies junk food

[Amber-Jay]

I was out and about early this morning, and was really shocked and saddened to see 3 separate mothers giving their babies - no older than 12 months at a guess - McDonald's or Hungry Jacks, and I'm not talking a fry or a bite here and there, I'm talking a cheese burger or a McMuffin and hash brown.

One of them was only 6 months too

Look, I'm not judging, but I feel so sad that children of such a young age are fed such junk, when its just as easy to give them a banana to munch on instead. These foods are full of nothing but fat, something that I can only imagine would be difficuilt for children of their age to digest.

I just can't imagine why any one would give such a small, vulnerable child such horrible food when there ARE better alternatives. No wonder childhood obesity is becoming such an issue here in Australia, kids are being fed junk food way too early.

[MantaRay]

I agree that fast food is not a good food choice for anyone, but especially a child. However it can be easy to take things out of context. My boys have probably had McDonalds less than a dozen times in their lives (they are 6 and 4). But DS1 was probably not much over 1 when he first had it. We were stuck in a traffic jam at dinner time and were all starving. We happened to be at a standstill outside McDonalds so we did something we wouldn't normally - we went in and ate. I remember feeling mortified about what people must be thinking about us feeding our DS McDonalds at such a young age but sometimes you do what you have to do.

I know that the cases you saw this morning might be different but I try much harder now not to make assumptions.

[emc2]

It wouldn't bother me. It's more about quantity and quality to me, so looking at people's grocery trolleys has more of an effect, on thinking wtf are they thinking.

A cheeseburger though, if it's a treat once every few months, it's not that bad. Some supermarket food is a lot worse.

[*TripleJ*]

My DS has had maccas many times not very often but he does eat it we used to live in the country and it was only when we got out of town he loves cheeseburgers and with him being fussy sometimes thats all he will eat yep shoot me if u want but id rather him eat that than nothing at all

[*LittleMissSummer*]

I've seen this a lot too. Its not even just fast foods but lollies and chocolate. I NEVER had fast food growing up, i had maccas for the first time when i was 12. I'd never had hungry jacks until i met my DP. Pizza we didn't have ever until i met my DP. KFC we had once in a blue moon when we were kids.

My DD won't be having any kind of junk food until she is much much bigger (thats if i can help it) i dont see why packing food for them is so hard. Id sooner go and buy a banana for my child than give them maccas especially NOT at 6 months!!! I was looking through photos of a friends baby and the bub was not even 3 months and was munching on a milky way i was horrified.

[Indadhanu]

I was out and about early this morning, and was really shocked and saddened to see 3 separate mothers giving their babies - no older than 12 months at a guess - McDonald's or Hungry Jacks, and I'm not talking a fry or a bite here and there, I'm talking a cheese burger or a McMuffin and hash brown.

One of them was only 6 months too

Look, I'm not judging, but I feel so sad that children of such a young age are fed such junk, when its just as easy to give them a banana to munch on instead. These foods are full of nothing but fat, something that I can only imagine would be difficuilt for children of their age to digest.

I just can't imagine why any one would give such a small, vulnerable child such horrible food when there ARE better alternatives. No wonder childhood obesity is becoming such an issue here in Australia, kids are being fed junk food way too early.

Yeah, that's all true, about digestion and alternatives... but then, you never know the life circumstances... this MAY have been their first time giving their child McDonalds, this may have been one of those situations where it's cheap and easy, this may have been a "oh my gosh have a cheeseburger and sit down for a second you've both been up all night and I'm sleep deprived and not coping".

I like to think that moderation is key Every now and then, I can't see a huge problem. Others probably might, but honestly, it's moderation and attitude rather than wether or not you see a second in time of a random family eating McDonalds.... Most people do know that McDonalds isn't a healthy choice

BTW - I have a much bigger problem with seeing the everyday food people feed their children on a regular basis that they actually think is healthy and ok - like canned or tinned baby food, those frozen meals or pseudo-healthy snacks like roll-ups or fruit sticks or 'le snack' rather than whether or not a family choose to eat McDonalds once in a while (which may or may not be the case here, you never know).

[Astrid]

As has been said I think it is a matter of circumstance. Especially when travelling, often Macca's is one of the few places with cleanish toilets,baby change, parking and eftpos. Yes there are roadhouses, but you should see the rubbish they dish up for twice the price.

As for the Mc Muffin. Well break it down. An english muffin, an egg, bacon and cheese. All ingredients which you would probably feed yourself and your child at home. The ingredients are fine (well maybe not the plastic cheese). Even my MIL who is anti fast food, thinks a McMuffin is acceptable food.

It can be so hard not to judge though. I used to see it in food courts all the time when I was back in Melbourne. Kids eating a happy meal, when there were so many other choices. I then find out for myself though, that the other choices are so expensive and they refuse to sell you kiddie serve. Only yesterday I bought DD2 a plate of Japanese noodles. $7.50 plus a drink, so just under $10 Maccas is not stupid, they provide food the kids will eat at a very good price. If only other food providers would learn from that and offer half serves at half price.

[Miss.B]

I agree with the comments on moderation. My DS is 11 months and I have, since the age of 6 months, been giving him solids which have begun as porridge, banana, yogurt, very small amounts of cheese etc. He wasn't much interested in solids until he was just over 8 months old, and I have to admit I have given his a chip or two here and there and it all started in China as I just didn't trust their food and so we went into Hungry Jacks. At least I knew a chip was made from potato! lol. Now DS eats pretty much what we eat, but on occasions when we have been out shopping I have given him 3 or 4 chips to chew on and a bit of the beef from my big mac on top of what I pack for his lunch. He just needs to try whatever we're having! I don't want him to grow up on fast food, but I don't see a problem with having a few chips here and there. He is still getting plenty of milk, cheese, veggies, fruit, meat etc at home.

[*Sparklez*]

i see you point, but i also agree with others.

My son is extremely picky with food and when i say picky i doubt anyone has seen anyone like him.. He isgoing through a phase now that just to get him to drink anything is an ordeal. I have a thing at the moment if he asks for it ill get it or cook it, cause i know he will eat that way. and if its macca's ill get it without even a single thought of health wise cause i dont want my son to starve just because its not the ideal food.

i agree with the post its qauntity not quality.. if its once in a while then ok but if its everyday then i think they need to revisit their food choices.
but in saying that i dont think that we can say that these mothers arent doing the best they can, motherhood and food is hard these days.. and fruit and etc arent always on hand or right in front of you when your child is hungry...

[Phteven]

If we're on the road we tend to give the boys McMuffins for breakfast.
Egg, plastic cheese and a muffin. It might be a bit heavy on carbs and salt but it's not going to harm them to have it every now and then.

It's the happy meals that do my head in - the bloody toys. Once my boys realised there were dreadful little toys on offer they nagged me every time they saw a Maccas for a toy meal.
Did you know that McDonald's is one of the world's biggest retailers of toys? I think that if they gathered together all the McDonald's toys that have gone to landfill in Australia they could fill the MCG with them*.


*wild geusstimate based on absolutely no evidence.

[~Hestia~]

I think the other thing is when they want what you're eating. I know my Moo could have his own healthy, yummy lunchbox all packed - but he wants what Mum is having & everyone hears about it! So I have given him some not very healthy things to get a bit of peace

[sneakysparkle]

Amber-Jay - I would be horrified too, if I was seeing such little ones eating whole maccas meals.

I do understand that you never know the circumstances, but I too find it hard to think that way when I see a tiny child being fed junk!

Not saying Im perfect, my girls have had maccas, but definitely not as a baby.

[beansbeans!]

I am not a fan of Macca's or any other fast food place. the only time we ever ave fast food is when we are travelling. I will always choose maccas over the other fast food places, mainly because their loo's are the cleanest, which is scary considering some of the ones we have been in.

DD1 knows that she only gets fast food when we travel, her fav is the choc milk, the apple, and nuggets (I think, and even then she normally leaves the nuggets).

For sure, I dont like the idea of a 6 month old eating maccas.

I suppose, I would be more worried if you go past everyday, and see the same families eating there most days. That would concern me most.

[RainbowBrite]

I have to agree with the other these things are ok as sometimes food.
We very occasionally have maccas or HJ's for dinner...nights when I have really had a huge day and need a night off cooking.
It is hard to make assumptions and judge when you really don't know the circumstances.

I got a very dirty look by an old lady and she shook her head and said disgusting when she saw me feeding my DS hot chips...she judged me with no idea of my circumstances.
My DS is 5.8kg at 13 months and needs all the fat and calories in his diet to gain even a small amount of weight (It is still not something he gets very often)...I know his size makes people think he is younger but maybe they shouldn't pass judgement so quickly.

[PollyA]

A friend of mine once joked about having 3 kids, He said about food,
the first, you're so careful, you do everything "right"
The second you notice yourself slipping a little,
By the third you sit them in the corner and throw food scraps

I am VERY careful about what I feed my kids, My DD didn't even know chocolate existed until well over 1 year, I still remember the tight spot I was in when she first had McDondals. A late family dinner, she was cranky and tried and there was still waiting to do, My mum who loves to give DD rubbish saw this one dinner of chicken nuggets as a green light to give her all the things I had been trying to keep away from her.

DS, number 2, not do easy to be such a control freak, He has his big sister, his hero, showing him the ways of the world. And I have learned to lighten up a little. He has had Macca's once or twice, and I would hate to thing of people judging me for it, My kids have a great diet, a one off meal at Maccas is not going to be their undoing

Be careful about trying to guess ages too, My DD was a tiny poppet, who took forever to grow hair, I got so many questions and judging looks when at 9 or 10 months I'd put her in the front of a trolley, "Is she ok? " "So little, she must be getting tired."..yes, she's MY daughter, More than any of these well wishers, concerned public members I was concerned for her comfort and safety. And I also knew her age and that she was very able to sit in the frornt of the trolley while I got my groceries.

The thing that parenthood has taught me, is that for the most part, people are just doing their best. If a child is being abused or neglected, then there is cause for concern, but the rest of us are doing a tough job, and mostly doing it well. Judgements can be really hurtful and way off the mark.

Another quote I love
"I was a great parent, and then I had kids" I think the "greatness" doesn't disappear the moment they're born, but slowly as you realise you are not in control, you have given birth to a new little person, who grows and develops and makes you proud....soemtimes...and other times... not so much. On a good day its what makes parenthood such a grand adventure. On a bad day you cling on for the ride.

[Cranky Kitten]

I do think it's hard to judge whether it's a "sometimes" thing compared to a regular occurrence. When I first started seeing my ex, his daughter wouldn't eat anything unless it came from a cardboard box. It drove me nuts, because I'd cook nice healthy food and she'd turn her nose up then ask to go get takeaway. I can tell you, it became a huge battle, but I won in the end. Became demon step-mother in the process though

I occasionally give my DD a takeaway meal (she likes Red Rooster over Maccas most of the time) but it is usually when we are out in the evenings. But this was certainly after she was 12 months old, and she didn't really get it very often until she was 3 or older. Given the choice she'd rather I cooked anyway, and if offered a choice between chocolate and fruit will pick fruit.

Attitudes towards food are so important and it begins in the home. Like a few have commented, the ones that get me are the families on shopping day who have the trolley loaded with bulk packets of chips, cartons of coke etc.

[Cherished]

Look, I'm not judging

Heck I'll put my hand up and say that I'm judging! That is disgraceful, and the parents are being abusive in my book. They are babies FFS! If they were older and it's a treat then sure but a baby my mind boggles how anyone can think that it's ok to be feeding babies junk food.

[Amber-Jay]

The 6 or so month old was eating a sausage and egg McMuffin! Egg! At 6 months old! Can a baby that old logically be expected to chew the 20c sized pieces? Is be worried about choking.