Food Program Infant Guidelines

[SilverSabre25]

for an 8 month old...parents sent her with pudding, yes, pudding, for lunch today. . Wondering if I can blame the food program (not on it myself, but try to follow the guidelines 95% of the time) and not feed it to her. I have applesauce I could give her instead. Please, please, PLEASE tell me that I have some grounds for not giving freaking PUDDING to an 8-month old?! PLEASE tell me that pudding doesn't count as food?!

[MommyMuffin]

Why are they bringing food?

[SilverSabre25]

Because I don't provide infant food...although I must say that I am seriously reconsidering that position, if only I could figure a good way to do it.

[Michelle]

I have a parent that brings her 3 year old chocolate pudding, donut, and chips every morning, she even goes in my drawer to get a spoon and opens the pudding. I think she does this so kid doesn't cry when she leaves,she quickly sneaks out while kid is indulging in chocolate bliss.

[squareone]

I was going to ask why they were bringing outside food as well. If you are on the food program don't you HAVE to provide infant food and formula? At least that's how it is here. If I understand correctly, the parent may decline the formula choice that you offer and opt to bring their own brand but you still have to offer. Once the infant starts solids, you have to supply baby food too. If the parents want the kid to have something that you are not offering then you will need to have a dr. note indicating a special diet for this child. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

In addition, our state (not the food program) requires us to supplement any meals from home that are "incomplete" so that the child ends up with a "nutritious" meal for the day. So in a case like this we would have to give the applesauce instead of (or at least in addition to) the pudding.

[Blackcat31]

for an 8 month old...parents sent her with pudding, yes, pudding, for lunch today. . Wondering if I can blame the food program (not on it myself, but try to follow the guidelines 95% of the time) and not feed it to her. I have applesauce I could give her instead. Please, please, PLEASE tell me that I have some grounds for not giving freaking PUDDING to an 8-month old?! PLEASE tell me that pudding doesn't count as food?!

Yes, you are right, pudding is not a credible food for infants. The food guidelines say for an 8 month old it should be:

Breakfast: 6-8 fl oz breast milk or iron formula
2-4 Tbsp infant cereal
1-4 Tbsp PLAIN fruit or Vegetables

Snack: 2-4 fl oz of Breast milk or formula
1/2 slice bread OR up to 2 crackers (optional)

Lunch: 6-8 fl oz breast milk or formula
2-4 Tbsp infant cereal OR
1-4 Tbsp meat or meat alternative OR
1/2 - 2 oz cheese
1-4 Tbsp plain fruit or vegetables

NO WHERE does it include pudding!!!

[SilverSabre25]

Wondering if I can blame the food program (not on it myself, but try to follow the guidelines 95% of the time) and not feed it to her. !

See above; I state that I'm NOT on the food program. I try to follow the guidelines though, about 95% of the time. I want SOMETHING to back me up (besides, um, common sense...) on not feeding her the pudding.

I mean, I could just not give it to her, give her applesauce instead, and toss the pudding in the garbage where it belongs, but I'd like to be try and prevent this from happening again by telling the parents, with back-up they'll understand, that it's not okay to feed an 8-month old pudding.

[SilverSabre25]

Yes, you are right, pudding is not a credible food for infants. The food guidelines say for an 8 month old it should be:

Breakfast: 6-8 fl oz breast milk or iron formula
2-4 Tbsp infant cereal
1-4 Tbsp PLAIN fruit or Vegetables

Snack: 2-4 fl oz of Breast milk or formula
1/2 slice bread OR up to 2 crackers (optional)

Lunch: 6-8 fl oz breast milk or formula
2-4 Tbsp infant cereal OR
1-4 Tbsp meat or meat alternative OR
1/2 - 2 oz cheese
1-4 Tbsp plain fruit or vegetables

NO WHERE does it include pudding!!!

THANK YOU!!! That makes me MUCH happier. I knew it wouldn't include pudding anywhere () but now I have something official to back me up.

Of course, I'm also considering providing the food myself...wonder how much it would cost to feed one infant two meals a day? (and what sorts of things count as "meat alternatives"?)

[squareone]

See above; I state that I'm NOT on the food program. I try to follow the guidelines though, about 95% of the time. I want SOMETHING to back me up (besides, um, common sense...) on not feeding her the pudding.

I mean, I could just not give it to her, give her applesauce instead, and toss the pudding in the garbage where it belongs, but I'd like to be try and prevent this from happening again by telling the parents, with back-up they'll understand, that it's not okay to feed an 8-month old pudding.

Oops, my bad, I forgot that part when I posted my reply.

[Blackcat31]

Acceptable meat and meat alternatives are things like dried beans and peas, lentils, egg yolks (cooked), peanut butter and fish or poultry.

I have the parents supply formula because no one wants the generic brand I buy (offer) and the rest is super cheap. Infant cereal is less than $2.00 a box and a box goes a long ways and the amount of meat and/or cheese that you have to feed them is so minimal as well as the fruits and vegetables so I think it is super inexpensive and well worth it. You won't have to deal with pudding any more.

[happykidschildcare]

I use the food program and follow the guidelines... When babies first start out eating baby foods parents are allowed to bring me jarred baby food or their own home made baby food, on top of that I feed them baby cereal and formula ( unless they dont like the formula I buy) then they bring their own.
When they start eating table foods I let DCP know that everything I serve to the bigger kids can be chopped and smushed or put in the magic bullet for baby. Other then the baby foods I dont permit DCP or DCK to bring in any outside food.

[SilverSabre25]

Thank you everyone. I did go ahead and give her the applesauce with lunch of course.

Now I'm torn...do I just throw the pudding away and say nothing about the applesauce, and go about working out how to provide the food on my own? Or should I leave the pudding in her bag and talk to the parents about it?

Keep in mind that I'm a total wimp and *hate* these sorts of conversations...I never know how to have them and am always terrified of the parents getting mad at me. I've already had a couple "talks" with these parents and they've made it clear they don't really believe that I know what I'm talking about, so I'm torn...

[KEG123]

I'd talk to them about it.

[Blackcat31]

I'd talk to them and possibly share the guidelines with them as well they may not even be aware of what the guidelines are.

[countrymom]

you know what, I would just supply the food, its so much easier also its a write off. I also found that then this way I knew that the child ate good "in my house" whatever she ate at home was their buisiness. I have kids who eat crap everyday at home, but in my house I know they eat good and thats more important too me.