Let them have CAKE?

I would like to preface this post by saying that when the incident I am about to write about occurred, I had NO intention of writing about it. However, in the few days since it occurred, in talking with other people, it occurred to me that this is anything but an isolated incident, so I think it's worth mentioning!

Last week a well-meaning acquaintance fed Canadoca some cake when she was being held by another friend. She is not quite 6 months old now, and hadn't previously been given anything other than breastmilk. Put it this way - according to the books I'm reading (and my pediatrician) there are a few foods recommended for babies this age, and cake is not one of them. Not to mention that I am a bit anal about these things (food) despite being a pretty relaxed mom about other things, like, you know, traveling. For example, the night before, my mom and I were analyzing what would be the best foods to first introduce to Canadoca based on what her blood type is. Silly us, cake is the obvious choice.

Suffice it to say I didn't anticipate her first food being CAKE, and I had kind of looked forward to being around when she first tried solids, to see her reaction, you know... I figure I've earned that you know with all the late night feedings, giving birth, gear schlepping and gazillion loads of laundry I've done. These first are the fun parts, the mommy rewards if you will.  But no.  I also have severe (anaphylactic) allergies to nuts and shellfish, so I will be very careful when introducing certain foods to Canadoca because of the family history, baking is something I have to be extremely careful with. Anyway, the person did not mean to cause her any harm of course, as she did not see any issue with giving a five month old cake. Apparently it was par for the course for her. Got it.

I thought I was the only one who could possibly have such a bizarre incident occur, until I read Eric & Emily's post on another well-meaning South American trying to give their daughter cake, saying it couldn't hurt. Then a friend told me about how every time she goes for coffee, the barristas stuff her 14 month old full of chocolate when she turns her back to pay. You often see babies with bottles of chocolate milk, or perhaps it's milk and coffee, as in the story in Emily's post.

I get that nutrition is about personal choices and opinions and that South Americans have a different view on it than North Americans in many cases (do you really need fries, rice and pasta with your beans and meat? Not to mention no vegetables besides the beans...sugar in EVERYTHING) but I am really not okay with people feeding things to my kid without asking me first, especially when it could be putting her at risk. I also get that this is something we will have to contend with back home with people wanting to give her treats, but I didn't expect this to start before she'd even started eating. For now, cake will be officially listed as her first solid food in the baby book, no long term effects, and heck she even seemed to enjoy it. But I'll be more careful next time...  

Comments

[Stephanie]

Poor you. I know as a Mom you try to do everything right, but the one second you look away...oh well. Thank goodness it was ok, that it sat well with her tummy/body. One other thing to note, with my son I breastfed for two years (with great critcism) and also kept him away from nuts and honey until after 2 years. Be aware, given there is such a SMALL selection of bottled baby foods, I was really surprised to learn that one of the 8 out there, actually contained honey. I think you can't let your guard down ever. I tried to make a lot of at-home, organic foods, but every now and then you really need the bottled stuff, for trips or days out. Mel was such a surprise ingredient.

To comment on another recent post, we did go to the American School Halloween party and it was a lot of fun, I was amazed, there were probably over 300 people there, even with some rain. Today, we set out to go to the Gay Pride Parade, which is always fun, but as we stopped at Jobi on the way for a chopp...the rain started and hasn't let up now, for 6 hours. Too bad!

[Ray Adkins]

Feeding cake to a child is definitely NOT a SOUTH AMERICAN thing...lol
Your story sounds so familiar it's not even funny.
It happens everywhere, it is more a matter of a different generation, I've seen it in Thanksgiving dinners and family reunions from Oklahoma to Rhode Island.
Older folks are not as picky as the new moms, new moms like you and Emily are very well informed with books and Internet etc.
I think if you ask anyone raising kids in the 60's or 70's a little cake to an infant would not raise any eyebrows.

Not to mention the stories we hear about absence of car seats and heck, complete absence of seat belts in the 50's.

Trust me, this is a generational thing more than anything.

We have young Brazilian friends who are parents and think we "NORTH AMERICANS" are crazy for giving our children "industrialized" foods, when they only give their babies carrot juice, apples and other foods carefully chosen after reading many publications on foods for babies.

[Ray Adkins]

Please let me make clear that besides the fact that I think this is not a South American thing...
I think it was very disrespectful and she should have never given your child anything without your previous consent.
:)

[Typ0]

I know that i am personally careful with what i offer to kids - even my own nieces and nephews. "You can have this IF it's ok with your mum and dad." But ot offer something blindly to a baby!? OMG that's ridiculous. And potentially dangerous - as you mentioned with potential allergies and whatnot.

I probably would have freaked out on whomever did it. Good for you for handling it so well.

[Canarioca]

I am sure that the person giving the cake to Candoca did it with good intention.

That said, I had to deal with my Brazilian mother in law wanting to put sugar in EVERYTHING, including fruit juice...Drove me nuts! She also considered breast feeding as barbaric and for poor lower class people that cant afford formula...

The diet of rice and beans is becoming obsolete with the onset of fast food...

[Victor]

Just so you know, rice and beans is a great combination. It provides many essential amino acids and is very balanced. About pasta and fries, though, no complaints here. They're just junk food.

[Daily Rio Life]

Agreed - bring on the rice & beans!