Deep Sh**

[LysesKids]

Parents definitely do that, though. I have two kids who do not have a dairy allergy, but their parents think cow's milk is not healthy and want me to serve almond milk. They got a waiver from their doctor so I will.

Almond milk won't work if you are on the food program - I tried for 2 of my allergy kids.... one of which also has a soy allergy (both have Dr's notes). That and other issues have made me drop out and just do my thing... I just claim the $ as a deduction on taxes

[Heidi]

Are you on a food program?

IIRC, almond milk can not be substituted for cow's milk.
You can substitute with soy milk without a Dr's statement.

If you are on a food program, the Dr needs to list a substitute that meets the same dietary equivalent to cow's milk and like I said I don't "think" almond milk is acceptable.

Here's our annual training (sorry, it's 9 pages, look on page 4 if you're interested). It says another substitute (other than Soy), only with a doctor's note.

http://www.4-c.org/images/stories/2014-2015_Record_Keeping_Assignment.pdf

Once again, though, I think different FP's interpret things differently, so maybe you got other information from yours.

[Blackcat31]

Here's our annual training (sorry, it's 9 pages, look on page 4 if you're interested). It says another substitute (other than Soy), only with a doctor's note.

http://www.4-c.org/images/stories/2014-2015_Record_Keeping_Assignment.pdf

Once again, though, I think different FP's interpret things differently, so maybe you got other information from yours.

I guess I'm not understanding what you mean?

Aren't we saying the same thing?

[CraftyMom]

The dcg is okay I called her mom and she said she sometimes doesn't have a reaction to things with peanut butter in it. In my state we are required for a parent to submit an emergency action plan for children with allergies or Asthma when they enroll. She never provided me one. He medical papers that her pediatrician signed said she has no allergies. But it was done back in 2014. I don't know if children can suddenly develop allergies but I will take her word for it. I did have an issue with mom telling me that her younger son Asthma symptom is a runny nose; I have never heard of this so on there first day when she brought him in with a runny nose and a cough I let him stay in care because she said it was his asthma acting up. Big mistake! We all got what ever they were caring. My regular assistant is out sick no. That is why my sister had to fill in. She knew dcg's mom said that she had an allergy to peanuts but she didn't know that the bars I bought had peanut butter. We don't give the kids mid day snacks but dcg and her brother are always hungry and her parents won't bring snacks so we usually get them something when we go shopping.
The only reason that I had the bars inside my house is because I accidentally got the wrong ones from the store. I realized it immediately but thought it was OK because they are not meant for the daycare kids consumption and my daycare is in the basement. Also the mom brought her sibling a pb&j sandwich for lunch. Dcg hands were all over it trying to force feed he younger sibling (she is 5 and he is 2). Mom said it was fine and she had no reaction even when she took a chip that was on the side and eat it. I will call my rep tomorrow. Thanks ladies for all of your help!

The bold part above. I don't know your state laws. Is your sister an authorized assistant? If not that's where I see a big issue with licensing. Here I couldn't have someone just fill in unless they were cleared by licensing

I also think there is no real allergy or it would be on the dr form and mom would be sure you had an epi pen. She also would have FLEW there, not take 90 minutes to get there.

[Leigh]

Are you on a food program?

IIRC, almond milk can not be substituted for cow's milk.
You can substitute with soy milk without a Dr's statement.

If you are on a food program, the Dr needs to list a substitute that meets the same dietary equivalent to cow's milk and like I said I don't "think" almond milk is acceptable.

Not arguing here, just letting you know my situation:

Rice milk is also not nutritionally equivalent, but I do have a kid on rice milk who has milk allergy, and because of the prescription, the food program allows it. For some reason, his doctor doesn't want him using soy milk, though the same doctor has this child's sister using soy. I can only substitute Silk brand or 8th Continent brand soy milk, because the others available in my area are not nutritional equivalents.

[Unregistered]

Op

She is a planed sub and was approved by my state office of licensing. Dcd dropped kids off this morning without a word. I will talk to mom in the afternoon about getting me some documentation.

[Sugaree]

Not arguing here, just letting you know my situation:

Rice milk is also not nutritionally equivalent, but I do have a kid on rice milk who has milk allergy, and because of the prescription, the food program allows it. For some reason, his doctor doesn't want him using soy milk, though the same doctor has this child's sister using soy. I can only substitute Silk brand or 8th Continent brand soy milk, because the others available in my area are not nutritional equivalents.

There are some studies that excess soy in children, especially boys, can cause hormonal problems because soy is a phyto-estrogen. That would explain why the doctor would prefer that a boy not drink it, but okay it for the sister.


ETA: For the record, a lot of other studies that contradict the aforementioned studies. I don't think it's as a big of a deal as people think. Just wanted to clarify.

[daycare]

I cal Bologna...............

I have had children with mild peanut allergies in my care and even those kids had to carry epi pens with full doctors treatment plan. Not because their parents said so, because I said so and it is what I require.

Not to be rude, but I do think that there is where it all started to go wrong. You should have required the proper documentation with diagnosis from the doctor, and life saving medication before even providing care for this child. The brother has asthma? Same thing, you need a doctors note of diagnosis and treatment plan along with his life saving meds. BOTH of these can end in death.

I was also going to bring up the fact that your sister just filled in for the day, is that something you are allowed to do? In my state I can't just call someone up and have them assist me for the day. There are laws that they have to comply to with the state first.

We all make mistakes, and it stinks when it happens. Hopefully you are able to get through this with no big consequences.

BUT I would demand that the parents get you those meds, treatment plan and diagnosis so that you will know how to properly care for the kids.
I would be telling mom that you need to have this done by xxx date or you will have no choice but to term

she can't ask you to take care of kids that have medical issues and don't have their basic needs of life support should they become ill in your care.

[Heidi]

She is a planed sub and was approved by my state office of licensing. Dcd dropped kids off this morning without a word. I will talk to mom in the afternoon about getting me some documentation.

Good to hear she showed up. Thanks for the update.

[Blackcat31]

Not arguing here, just letting you know my situation:

Rice milk is also not nutritionally equivalent, but I do have a kid on rice milk who has milk allergy, and because of the prescription, the food program allows it. For some reason, his doctor doesn't want him using soy milk, though the same doctor has this child's sister using soy. I can only substitute Silk brand or 8th Continent brand soy milk, because the others available in my area are not nutritional equivalents.

Yep, that is what I meant in my post too... I just wasn't sure if Heidi was agreeing or reading my response differently.

The link Heidi posted says "The non-dairy milk substitution must be nutritionally equivalent to milk and meet the nutritional standards for fortification of calcium, protein, vitamin A, vitamin D, and other nutrients to levels found in cow’s milk, as outlined in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) regulations in order to be part of a reimbursable meal."

...and I think that is true for ALL programs on the food program. I was always under the understanding that the Dr has to list an acceptable substitution if the child can't drink cows milk.

I have had several families requesting almond milk or rice milk and most are usually surprised to find out the substitute isn't equivalent.

[daycare]

She is a planed sub and was approved by my state office of licensing. Dcd dropped kids off this morning without a word. I will talk to mom in the afternoon about getting me some documentation.

yes this is good news~! Phew.

[daycare]

Yep, that is what I meant in my post too... I just wasn't sure if Heidi was agreeing or reading my response differently.

The link Heidi posted says "The non-dairy milk substitution must be nutritionally equivalent to milk and meet the nutritional standards for fortification of calcium, protein, vitamin A, vitamin D, and other nutrients to levels found in cow’s milk, as outlined in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) regulations in order to be part of a reimbursable meal."

...and I think that is true for ALL programs on the food program. I was always under the understanding that the Dr has to list an acceptable substitution if the child can't drink cows milk.

I have had several families requesting almond milk or rice milk and most are usually surprised to find out the substitute isn't equivalent.

we can't rely on one course for vitamins and nutrients. I don't do any dairy or dairy supplements like soy milk, almond milk, or etc. I eat enough other foods to make up for it and I have it harder than other people who can eat dairy or supplement with like alternatives.

none of my kids drink milk or soy and they don't really eat any other dairy. I got very healthy strong kids..

[Blackcat31]

we can't rely on one course for vitamins and nutrients. I don't do any dairy or dairy supplements like soy milk, almond milk, or etc. I eat enough other foods to make up for it and I have it harder than other people who can eat dairy or supplement with like alternatives.

none of my kids drink milk or soy and they don't really eat any other dairy. I got very healthy strong kids..

??? okay, I'm confused now..... :confused:

I am not arguing or making a plea for or against cow's milk...

In my original post, I was just pointing out that a program that participates with the USDA CACFP must follow their rules for substituting items in place of cow's milk and that almond milk was not considered by the USDA CACFP as an equivalent substitute.


fwiw ~ I don't drink milk myself (not for any particular reason) but water is pretty much the only liquid I consume.

[Thriftylady]

There is no way that child would be in my house one more hour without the proper documentation. Which you won't get, because there is none in this case.

[KidGrind]

We're not assuming here though. We've had it happen to us, may of us and many times. I have had different parents tell me that their children were allergic to milk, gluten, peanuts and meat. Usually it's parents that prefer a certain type of diet and want me to continue it in my daycare ... which I don't do and clearly say this in my polices. For these four families they all claimed that their child was allergic so when I asked them for a DR's note and a form filled out by the child's Dr. they either don't ever furnish one or then they say that there isn't actually an official diagnosis but they don't want me giving these to their child.

I've also recently had a parent tell me that their child was allergic to vaccines in order to prevent having to supply me with vaccination records but when I tried to hand her the form that needed to be filled out by her child's Dr. for vaccination exemption she explained that she just didn't believe in vaccinating her child ... okay that's fine, but I still need that form to be filled out by the Dr. It's a part of my licensing requirements.

There's isn't an assumption, it really does happen.

I had a parent tell me their child was recently diagnosed with a lactose intolerance. Then a week later she’s requesting I give the same baby whole milk yogurt.