What are your Thanksgiving plans & does your mother in law if preferring to host prepare food for your little ones?

How old is your son? Are we talking about baby food or picky eating?

He’s 1 I bought him mashed potatoes / mashed sweet potatoes / tender turkey & other goodies b/c they are mushy & soft plus no guarantees these items will be there!

Is this rude ?

My kid is 4 so super picky. We just give her what she likes which is nothing thanksgiving related. We are almost done cooking the turkey, stuffing, potatoes, sp casserole and biscuits for a small group. MIL isn’t coming over this year but in laws and my mom don’t help out with our kid at all

There won't be mashed potatoes? Could you ask your mother in law what she's making? You can say you're asking for your baby and he can't eat everything that adults can yet, so you want to know if you need to bring anything for him. I don't think she'd be insulted. Also, if she sees him a lot it's totally possible she's trying to take him into account with food that he can eat, and you'd want to know that.

If you know what is being served, decide beforehand what he can eat. A 1yo can typically eat what the adults are eating, if she's known to overseason (salt) then maybe ask her to set an unseasoned portion aside or add the salt yourself. Other than salt and sugar baby should be fine to eat Thanksgiving food that is cut / prepared in an age appropriate way.

If you're concerned bring some food with you as a backup, but I'd only use it if baby can't eat the food for some reason (it's too salty, not healthy, all marshmallow salads and swimming in butter, etc). But generally if you can eat it, I would at least attempt to have baby eat it too. It's good for them to get used to eating with the adults, and the same food as the adults, as it promotes togetherness and social eating and can encourage them to become better eaters in general when they see everyone eating the same foods together.

I don't but family is a 3 hour drive. I bring little snack things though like yogurt dots or pouches that will easily transport just in case things aren't working out for the baby or picky toddler.

I have a 3 year old. I brought food just in case. He loves mashed potatoes, bread, turkey and other things but sometimes won’t eat with a lot of people around - too overstimulating- so I brought his comfort snacks.

He ate some sausage appetizers as no one was in that room and then ate his strawberries, banana, and couple veggie bars for dinner while sitting on the floor. You do what you need to for your kid for the day.