u/Ok_Choice3844

I have been weaning my 7 month old for about 6 weeks. He eats good amounts and enjoys it. It’s been a very positive experience so far.

I have always been very overweight and really don’t want to pass my food issues on to him. I have read a couple of books on intuitive eating and am hoping to raise him with these principles. I am also trying to implement them myself.

He eats with us and, during mealtimes, I stay very neutral. I will just say things like “this is broccoli” when I give it to him and then let him get on with it. My husband and I otherwise just carry on chatting and interacting him like we would at any other time.

When my mum is with us, she’s finds this approach very hard. She talks in a very excited manner to him with a big smile and wide eyes, constantly saying things like “yum yum isn’t that DELICIOUS?!” and “you like that don’t you?!”. To me, this risks over-riding his own inbuilt intuitive eating signals. I know he can’t understand the words yet but there is lots of non-verbal stuff going on too. I have repeatedly asked her not to do this but she doesn’t agree. We have a close relationship, she is a very involved grandmother and in all other aspects of my parenting, she respects my approach.

A huge deal was made of food when I was growing up. My parents would spend a large chunk of each mealtime talking about how delicious the food was, food was used as a reward for lots of things, but at the same time “unhealthy” foods were very restricted. My brother and I have always been overweight and have been obese since being adults. I don’t blame my mum at all - she is a fantastic mum and absolutely did what she thought was the right thing - but I do want to try to do things differently with my child in the hope of avoiding him also growing up with food issues.

So two questions:

1. ⁠Is what I am trying to do the right thing? Is there any evidence around whether a caregiver’s attitude to food (fairly neutral vs highly excited/encouraging) makes a difference? Will it over-ride his intuitive eating signals?
2. ⁠If so how can I get my mum to respect my approach? Is there anything specific you would recommend me giving her to read?

Thanks in advance!

I have been weaning my 7 month old for about 6 weeks. He eats good amounts and enjoys it. It’s been a very positive experience so far.

I have always been very overweight and really don’t want to pass my food issues on to him. I have read a couple of books on intuitive eating and am hoping to raise him with these principles. I am also trying to implement them myself.

He eats with us and, during mealtimes, I stay very neutral. I will just say things like “this is broccoli” when I give it to him and then let him get on with it. My husband and I otherwise just carry on chatting and interacting him like we would at any other time.

When my mum is with us, she’s finds this approach very hard. She talks in a very excited manner to him with a big smile and wide eyes, constantly saying things like “yum yum isn’t that DELICIOUS?!” and “you like that don’t you?!”. To me, this risks over-riding his own inbuilt intuitive eating signals. I know he can’t understand the words yet but there is lots of non-verbal stuff going on too. I have repeatedly asked her not to do this but she doesn’t agree. We have a close relationship, she is a very involved grandmother and in all other aspects of my parenting, she respects my approach.

A huge deal was made of food when I was growing up. My parents would spend a large chunk of each mealtime talking about how delicious the food was, food was used as a reward for lots of things, but at the same time “unhealthy” foods were very restricted. My brother and I have always been overweight and have been obese since being adults. I don’t blame my mum at all - she is a fantastic mum and absolutely did what she thought was the right thing - but I do want to try to do things differently with my child in the hope of avoiding him also growing up with food issues.

So two questions:

1. ⁠Is what I am trying to do the right thing? Is there any evidence around whether a caregiver’s attitude to food (fairly neutral vs highly excited/encouraging) makes a difference? Will it over-ride his intuitive eating signals?
2. ⁠If so how can I get my mum to respect my approach? Is there anything specific you would recommend me giving her to read?

Thanks in advance!

I have been weaning my 7 month old for about 6 weeks. He eats good amounts and enjoys it. It’s been a very positive experience so far.

I have always been very overweight and really don’t want to pass my food issues on to him. I have read a couple of books on intuitive eating and am hoping to raise him with these principles. I am also trying to implement them myself.

He eats with us and, during mealtimes, I stay very neutral. I will just say things like “this is broccoli” when I give it to him and then let him get on with it. My husband and I otherwise just carry on chatting and interacting him like we would at any other time.

When my mum is with us, she’s finds this approach very hard. She talks in a very excited manner to him with a big smile and wide eyes, constantly saying things like “yum yum isn’t that DELICIOUS?!” and “you like that don’t you?!”. To me, this risks over-riding his own inbuilt intuitive eating signals. I know he can’t understand the words yet but there is lots of non-verbal stuff going on too. I have repeatedly asked her not to do this but she doesn’t agree. We have a close relationship, she is a very involved grandmother and in all other aspects of my parenting, she respects my approach.

A huge deal was made of food when I was growing up. My parents would spend a large chunk of each mealtime talking about how delicious the food was, food was used as a reward for lots of things, but at the same time “unhealthy” foods were very restricted. My brother and I have always been overweight and have been obese since being adults. I don’t blame my mum at all - she is a fantastic mum and absolutely did what she thought was the right thing - but I do want to try to do things differently with my child in the hope of avoiding him also growing up with food issues.

So two questions:

1. Is what I am trying to do the right thing? Is there any evidence around whether a caregiver’s attitude to food (fairly neutral vs highly excited/encouraging) makes a difference? Will it over-ride his intuitive eating signals?
2. If so how can I get my mum to respect my approach? Is there anything specific you would recommend me giving her to read?

Thanks in advance!