Birthday parties

[ljs678]

Does anyone have any advice about birthday parties for little ones? My baby is about to turn 1 (7 Jan).

We are still waiting on the results of the DNA test (taken in late November). They send this off to Germany and said it takes 2 months, so we wait....

The doctors wanted to do a fructose loading test but, having seen how he responds to even tiny amounts of fructose, and seeing what wiser members of this discussion board say, we asked for the DNA test instead. Apparently the insurance will cover it if it is positive but we pay if it is negative.

He has been on a strict HFI diet since October and with that and reflux meds he is now doing really well. So far we have been fine with getting out and about and visiting others at mealtimes, even with travelling. I just take his food with me and he eats a very repetitive diet when we are travelling but happily doesn't seem to mind.

For his birthday, we will be having 4 babies of the same age over, together with their older siblings (2-4 years). These are all people we know really well and who know about his diet.

I was thinking to just do HFI safe things and forget about cakes and so on for everyone. I have not been trying to replace sugar with any other sweetener in his diet (the dietician said he was getting enough sugars from breastmilk and dairy).

I think the children would be ok with a sugar free afternoon and it would certainly make things easier for me as I won't have to watch Hugo like a hawk the whole time. At the moment he tries to eat and drink everything he can get his hands on which is a bit scary.

But I was talking to a friend yesterday and she suggested making a cake for the others with sugar and without for him.

What are your suggestions or experience with this? Is it better just to go HFI safe for everyone or to do HFI and non HFI foods?

[julienc]

If it's much easier on you to do all HFI safe foods, then I would just do that. However, it would be nice to do some type of sweet treat for the older kids. (Thinking of my 3-year old's perspective, what's a b'day party without cake?? ;D) Maybe something easy like cupcakes? If everyone attending is aware of the diet issues, then hopefully they can all help to make sure your baby doesn't get his hands on something he isn't supposed to have. All that being said, the kids will survive without sweets for one afternoon if you go that route.

I wouldn't bother at all with trying to make a safe sweet treat for your son. Too complicated, and he isn't old enough to feel like he is missing out.

Anyway, that's just my 2 cents. I grew up blowing out the candles on my birthday cake every year but never ate a piece. Everyone else attending the party dove in, and I just watched. I was never bothered by it at all for some reason. I guess it was just my reality.

ETA: Happy birthday to your son!!

[Tammy]

I have done parties both ways. At just a year, he really isn't going to know the difference if he has a cake or not. I would probably just substitute some kind of biscuit for him and make a cake for everyone else. The biscuit will be similar to cake in that he can make a real mess out of it, be similar in shape and size to a cupcake, and be safe for him.

I feel it's good to start off from the beginning letting the kid know they have to learn the difference. You won't be able to control all the people that come into contact with him, or all the holidays. Let him learn there is "his" kind and "not his kind".

As my daughter got older, I always made her an HFI cake. There are many recipes on this board, plus ways to decorate them. For other birthday parties, she just takes food along. She never minds. This lets her have the fun of the party and be included in her friends fun. For her birthday, sometimes I would send cupcakes into school or have a party that was HFI safe. This gave the other kids a chance to see what her food is like, and that she's really not any different than they are.

You could also do a biscuit type cake for everyone. People could add strawberries or whipped topping (Cool Whip sugar free topping is also HFI safe) if they want to, without a lot of worry. I would do what is easiest for you. Your friend can survive one day.

Let us know how you make out.
Tammy

[ljs678]

So, just to let you know how it went with the birthday party...

I did all HFI safe foods in the end, but made scones with jam and whipped cream for the other children, just with cream for Hugo. It was really easy and everyone was happy.

We had plain salted potato crisps (not sure if this is chips in the US), crostini with melted mozzarella and a sprinkle of chopped parsley, chipolatas wrapped in bacon, and the scones. Hugo didn't really eat the chipolatas but the ingredient list indicated they should have been safe. Everything else he tried and liked!

There doesn't seem to be a recipe for scones on this site, but they are very similar to Fred's buttermilk biscuits (which Hugo also loves). So, for what it is worth, here is my recipe:

225g plain flour
pinch salt
150ml natural yoghurt
3tsp baking powder
50g butter
approx 2tbsp milk (check consistency)

Combine flour, baking powder, salt and butter in a mixer. Stir in yoghurt and milk with a knife. Pull together lightly and pat out to 1 1/2 cm deep and cut out into biscuit shapes with cutter.
Bake at approx 200degreesC til lightly browned.

Serve cut in half and spread with butter or whipped or clotted cream. (I can't get clotted cream here, but you can get it in the UK).