Hot Topic (5/8): "I let my toddler eat food before I pay for it."

[Cafe GroupAdmin]

 I found this in the Daily Buzz:

It's time for a Mom Confession -- because, let's face it, we're real mothers and sometimes it doesn't work the way the parenting books say it should.

This Week's Confession:

I let my son eat or drink food from the grocery store before actually buying it. I see nothing wrong with it. It keeps him content and I plan to pay for it, so what's the big deal? I've gotten dirty looks for it several times and can't understand why. --anonymous

I do it all the time! We will even go get our son a new train or something like that, and if he's good, he can even open it and play with it while we shop. I'm going to pay for it anyway, so what difference does it make? --anonymous

[hsteele]

When it come to packaged food and I am paying with cash I see no problem with it usually. The food is going to cost the same whether it was eaten before or after the purchase. I don't usually do this but have in the past. I am hesitant to do this when I am paying with card or check because well, you never know.

[Jessica_1717]

If it keeps my child from screaming bloody murder, sure why not? I'm going to pay for it anyways. As long as it's not something that needs to be weighed.

[lucy23794]

well if i'm paying for it then of course. i do what i can to keep my dd calm and quiet. my dh gets embarrass when i do that. he thinks i'm going to get in trouble. well i haven't got in trouble! so it's perfectly fine!

[Goodwoman614]

Yep, opened many a bag of Cheezits or pretzels, even took a cheese stick out of the bag for the kiddos, when they were toddlers.

They do need to eat more frequently, and this keeps them happy while shopping. 

I would ask the cashier for a "Paid for" sticker and use it to hold the pretzel bag closed, at checkout time, lol.

[Mommy_of_Riley]

I've done it plenty of times!  Especially with fruit snacks....  I'm paying for it anyways so I don't see a problem with letting my son have a few while I finish shopping.

[resamerie]

I had to reply no, it teaches them bad habits. First I think it teaches them that they can have what they want whenever they want it. Besides, if I'm going to be in the grocery for a certain period of time, I make sure I feed her before we leave the house. I don't believe in giving into her just to keep her quiet. I'll give her a piece of gum out of my purse if I know she's not actually starving. 

[my2boyz117]

Yup we do this all the time while Grocery shopping, I open a snack, or even a juice box to keep my 3 yr old happy, of course I pay for it @ checkout, I have even opened a small toy at Wal-Mart and save the package and have them scan it at the register, I have never got dirty looks, that I know of, I don't see a  problem with it, as long as your paying for it still!

Sometimes I end up grocery shopping when not planned, so I have no snacks w/me etc, my son always gets a free cookie from the bakery and I'll ask for a slice of cheese to be kept out at the deli..once in a while I might open fruit snacks....

 

[LaurenAkaMommy]

I don't do it. I don't want my son to think its OK to act a certain way because he wants something. We aren't shopping long and we go after lunch - if he's hungry he can wait 40 minutes until we get home.

My husband on the other hand - complete opposite. The two of them eat the entire store together when he comes shopping with us. Of course the only reason is because my husband is the one who can't wait till we get home lol.

[athenax3]

I've never done it- mostly because I'm "that" mom who always has snacks and emergency supplies in her purse, lol..it just feels wrong to me- but I see others do it all the time and I'm not all upset about it either- hey if the kid is hungry and you plan on paying for the bag of peanuts anyway, I guess there's no harm- but like with produce, it seems wrong because it's by weight and once the kid eats it, you can't weigh it and then you can't pay for it, kwim?

idk, I just don't do it.

*plus at my grocery store they give the kids a cookie at the bakery and samples at the deli, not to mention the awesome daily recipe sample guy- so my toddler has a full tummy by the time we leave and it's all legit, lol...

[christina0607]

I voted no. I honestly can not understand this
need" to do this. Children need to be taught boundaries and what is appropriate behaviour when in a store. If you know your child will be hungry, feed them before you go. If they are screaming, get them out of there. Or...ignore them. I would never reward bad behaviour with a  snack.