Anonymous wrote:She over reacted.

It's funny because there was a study about how it is beleive that the rise in food allergies may be due to the fact that mothers in the US no longer chew food and give it to their babies. Women in other countries routinely do this. It is beleived that mothers chewing food first give the food some sort of protective properties. I think the article was in the NY times.

MOTHERS. Not other people who are not the children's mother. MOTHERS.

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, I don't think it's weird when a parent does it (I did) but do think its gross for a non-parent to do it. Just get a knife!

+1

She over reacted.

It's funny because there was a study about how it is beleive that the rise in food allergies may be due to the fact that mothers in the US no longer chew food and give it to their babies. Women in other countries routinely do this. It is beleived that mothers chewing food first give the food some sort of protective properties. I think the article was in the NY times.

She sounds like a crazy. You did nothing wrong.

I'm sorry, I wouldn't want anyone who wasn't me biting food and then putting it in my child's mouth. I don't think SIL overreacted. Would you want someone biting something and then putting it in your mouth? Yuck. And I'm not even a germaphobe in the least; I am the type of parent who thinks a little dirt is better b/c it prevents allergies, etc.

Please do not ever feed someone else's child with food out of your mouth!

You are sharing germs, which for a 10 month old infant can be a very big deal, disease-wise.
It is moreover the height of impoliteness at any age.
I know some families have a hard time with this; but being a microbiologist, I know what's in a mouth... and it's always a bad idea to share cutlery or cut food to share with your teeth.

SIL may have been rude about it, because she was scared for her child (first child?) but she's absolutely right.

FWIW, I don't think it's weird when a parent does it (I did) but do think its gross for a non-parent to do it. Just get a knife!

Yikes--that sounds pretty unhygienic! I wouldn't want anyone (including me!) giving my child bitten food. I would be equally mad as the OP's SIL.

Yes she over reacted and was out of line. I would have also told you not to do that. I never did that with my kids, I always cut up their food.

Sorry OP

I would not want anyone to do this with my child. There are knives for this sort of thing. She didn't need to flip out, but could have nicely asked you not to. No, I wouldn't tattle to my brother if I were you.

Yes, she's overreacting. But people get worked up about that stuff. You probably should not have given the baby some food you bit in half, now you know for next time. Let it roll off your back and move on... Don't mention to your brother unless you want to prolong the drama.

It is a bit gross. I would worry about germs/colds as sometimes you do not know you are sick and they come on quickly. Just cut the fruit. Not sure what the big deal is. I don't think she was rude. I'd have the same reaction. I'm sure she told your brother about this. She was equally upset. You should have said. I am sorry, I did not think about it. I'll cut it up in the future.

SHe totally overreacted, but when she raised the issue, you should have just dropped it because it's their kid. You could be sick or the niece could have a compromised immune system, or just getting over a cold ,etc.

Yelling is out of line, and yes she probably could've been nicer about it, but if you were my DC's aunt I would've told you to stop (gently) as well. The bacteria that cause caveties most often get colonized in a child's mouth by contact with saliva from an adult's mouth. Any chance I get to minimize my kids' cavities I am going to take.

So over the weekend, I was feeding my 10 month old niece some fruit (strawberries and grapes). I bit the fruit and half and fed it to her. My SIL (her mother) came in and how me do this and immediately flipped out. She told me not to feed her daughter food out of my mouth. I told her it’s not a big deal. She said it was and that she doesn’t know where my mouth has been (RUDE!). I said my mouth is clean and she’s my niece. She said well she’s NOT your daughter. Then she said when you have your own kids you can give them food out of your mouth, but don’t you DARE ever do that with my child again! I couldn’t believe it, I was so upset that I was in tears. I really think she overreacted. Should I tell my brother about this?