Question about Table foods/Milk transition

[Lyss]

I have a DCG that is nearly 12 months and I'm unsure how to deal with the transition to table foods and milk with this one child.

Generally in the past I just switched from formula to milk and the infants had already been on finger foods so the food transition isn't that big of a deal but with this one DCG mom and dad are VERY cautious and are barely allowing her to eat anything that isn't pureed. They haven't even introduced fruits yet, although she has had some here. She doesn't have any allergies, they are just very cautious and think that because she doesn't have molars she can't properly chew foods and will choke. They did make mention of the possibility of a mild diary allergy, but they don't think it will be an issue. This DCG is breastfed and mom plans to continue as long as she'll nurse, but they bring formula for here.

I'm thinking I'll just follow the same switch with milk (and monitor for allergy) instead of the formula that I usually do, but I'm wondering if I may need to keep baby food around for her a bit longer as she's not used to eating finger foods. DCPs have said all she's been allowed to have at home is small pieces of toast, mashed potatoes, cheerios/puffs and squished peas (mom thinks she'll choke if she doesn't squish them first). I've given her things here and there, as she so wants to be eating what my DD (a week older) is having but i don't want to rock the boat with DCPs too much.

I started talking early with mom about how she wanted to transition with milk/formula and foods here because I knew it is going to be an "ordeal" for them but I still feel like I'm not sure what they want to do. The problem is I get no clear answers from her, she just says she's looking into it and needs to talk with DCD.

Should I just lay down the law with DCM and say here's what I expect to happen around 12months (here anyway) or should I keep trying to work with what she wants to do?

Has anyone had parents wait this long to introduce solid foods? Do you think I should transition her a bit slower or just swap to finger foods all together?

[blandino]

We have a 9m DCG whose mom is about the same. They have given her 4 foods so far. We have followed their lead, but also encouraged letting her self-feed diced versions of those few foods.

We have told her that at 12m, unless we have a doctor note, she will be eating the same table foods the older kids eat (just diced in very small pieces). We are on the food program, and so the meal patterns give us a little bit of backing. But still I would not be feeding a 1+ year old purees, unless there was a medical reason.

DCM says se confident she will have her ready to eat table food at 1 year. That means they have a lot of food introduction to do in the next 3 months.

I would lay down the law with the mom. There is no reason to be feeding purees to her child. Pending allergy issues, the baby has no reason not to be eating what everyone else eats.

[Leanna]

I have almost the same situation and have been trying to figure out how to make it work. DCG is almost 1 and has only had fruit and veg. purees and breast milk. No grains or finger foods at all. Well, we are on the food program and they pretty much expect that at age 1 the kids all eat pretty much the same foods. I have no problem continuing to support her breastfeeding but am at a loss about what to do in 3 short weeks when she turns one and hasn't really been exposed to very many foods.

[littlemissmuffet]

Ugh, I cannot stand when kids this age come to my daycare still on purees. I ask very specific questions during interviews - including what kinds of foods the child is eating at home. If I am told they are still on mush, I let them know immediately that I will be switching them to solids on their first day of care here.

Whatever I'm making for breakfast, lunch or snack for the rest of the kiddos is what the mush-eater gets... I simply just dice/chop foods up as finely as I deem appropriate until they get the hang of eating larger pieces - so on and so forth.

With the transition to BF milk or formula to cows milk, I start with mixing half and half for a few days, then a quarter BF milk/formula w/ cows milk and so on until they are on full cows milk. I only serve milk at lunch (no matter what age) and water the rest of the day as I think that REAL food is a much better source of nutrients. I only serve liquids in sippies - no bottles. I do not warm milk for anyone (I only take 11-12 months and up).

[Lyss]

Ugh, I cannot stand when kids this age come to my daycare still on purees. I ask very specific questions during interviews - including what kinds of foods the child is eating at home. If I am told they are still on mush, I let them know immediately that I will be switching them to solids on their first day of care here.

Whatever I'm making for breakfast, lunch or snack for the rest of the kiddos is what the mush-eater gets... I simply just dice/chop foods up as finely as I deem appropriate until they get the hang of eating larger pieces - so on and so forth.

With the transition to BF milk or formula to cows milk, I start with mixing half and half for a few days, then a quarter BF milk/formula w/ cows milk and so on until they are on full cows milk. I only serve milk at lunch (no matter what age) and water the rest of the day as I think that REAL food is a much better source of nutrients. I only serve liquids in sippies - no bottles. I do not warm milk for anyone (I only take 11-12 months and up).

This DCG started with she was 3 months, so I didn't really discuss food transitions that in depth with mom but I'm realising I need to highlight that if I do infants again. I'm thinking, like you, that I may just stop accepting under 1 year as parent's seem to be incredibly picky and finicky now.

I am going to lay everything out for mom and let her know that DCG will be eating like the older kids (just smaller sizes and portion obviously), not purees. Honesty i really don't want to be feeding a one year old purees and I feel like with this family if i don't lay down the law they'll still be expecting me to feed her baby food at 18months which isn't gonna happen!

I like your idea of gradually introducing milk, I'll probably go that route with this DCG as they have said there could be a reaction

My DD (a week older than DCG) eats pretty much whatever the rest of the DCKs are having and DCG tries to take foods off her tray and wants to try things, i know she'll be a great eater. The few table foods DCP will give to DCG (like toast, potatoes, and cheerios) all started because I just started giving them to her here and telling how well she did. DCM was a little shocked I gave them to her but now they do it at home. I've recently started adding more foods (and the much feared fruit *gasp*). Mom was a little upset about my recent trial of peaches but I think if I just start giving her things they will realize she is capable of eating. I think it's more they just want to keep her a baby forever.

[littlemissmuffet]

This DCG started with she was 3 months, so I didn't really discuss food transitions that in depth with mom but I'm realising I need to highlight that if I do infants again. I'm thinking, like you, that I may just stop accepting under 1 year as parent's seem to be incredibly picky and finicky now.

I am going to lay everything out for mom and let her know that DCG will be eating like the older kids (just smaller sizes and portion obviously), not purees. Honesty i really don't want to be feeding a one year old purees and I feel like with this family if i don't lay down the law they'll still be expecting me to feed her baby food at 18months which isn't gonna happen!

I like your idea of gradually introducing milk, I'll probably go that route with this DCG as they have said there could be a reaction

My DD (a week older than DCG) eats pretty much whatever the rest of the DCKs are having and DCG tries to take foods off her tray and wants to try things, i know she'll be a great eater. The few table foods DCP will give to DCG (like toast, potatoes, and cheerios) all started because I just started giving them to her here and telling how well she did. DCM was a little shocked I gave them to her but now they do it at home. I've recently started adding more foods (and the much feared fruit *gasp*). Mom was a little upset about my recent trial of peaches but I think if I just start giving her things they will realize she is capable of eating. I think it's more they just want to keep her a baby forever.

I just can't support parents like this. The child is obviously interested, obviously enjoying the new foods... what's the big deal? I have a very hard time dealing with parents who want to keep their children babies. I am here to help these kids grow into ADULTS! Trying new foods and experimenting with different techniques to serve new foods is so exciting for kids... it should be for the parents too.

I agree that most new parents are just way too demanding and set in certain ways (from what they read in books, as opposed to have actually experienced) that generally don't mesh with how I do things - so I don't take infants anymore. The baby isn't too much work, the parent is ::

I would just sit the mom down and let her know that her child is ready for solids, period... mom/dad don't get a say in what kind of solids - because they aren't the ones prepping the food! If they don't like it, they can go elsewhere (but I can't imagine too many established daycares catering to a 12 month old only eating pre-approved solids )

Good luck with it all!