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Pain in the a** mom.
Which I don't think you're being. I recently started a new 12 month old (14 months now) who was a vegetarian and eating primarily pureed foods. Talk about a coincidence. :
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Anyway, I pureed her entree for the first two weeks and fed her soft fed snacks (like yogurt and applesauce) with finger foods as a secondary part of the meals. I would give her ten minutes with the finger foods at the table with the crew and then I would get her pureed food and give it to her. Week 3 I didn't puree and gave her everything as bite sized pieces. I had to puree 2 of 5 days so she would eat for me. Week 4 she ate the regular menu and hasn't stopped. She's now on mostly table food at home as well. I think in my case mama and dad weren't giving her enough time to try and eat....everything takes practice for babies.
My menu matched their food choices so we had no conflict there although I do make the occasional substitution for treats (cookies on Friday!) because she doesn't eat processed sugar yet. We talked about it and I agreed to the restrictions since they didn't put me out and I agreed with their food philosophy in general.
I would have a talk with your provider and let her know exactly what you like to go into your child's belly. If it doesn't work with her menu then send in the food ready to serve as pp have suggested. Good luck!Comment
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Yes this. If her DC provider is on the food program dcm should be able to opt out, it's worth checking anyway. And what Nan says. Talk to the DCM about providing your own food for him at DC. If she's not open to the idea then I too think that it's probably time to start looking for a new DC.Comment
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When I was younger, I didn't understand anything about nutrition. If I could raise my kids again, the one area I would change completely is food.
I would assume that your provider is like many other people who just never have understood the value of a healthy diet.
I had a kid that brought his lunch every day. He brought freakishly healthy foods. When he got to school, the kids all called him salad boy. Back then, his parents had to drive 30 minutes to a Whole foods store to buy him healthy foods. Stupid people!
BUT... now.. there's a healthy food store every few miles. Most grocery stores carry a good selection of healthy foods..... so obviously they weren't so stupid.
I learned (years later) how to eat clean and healthy. But, it was too late for my kids.
Salad boy is a very, very tall, brilliant, healthy teenager. He eats healthy, but will occasionally eat a little junk food too.. it's never been forbidden, he just prefers healthy foods.
I wish I'd understood when he was little and his parents were trying to gently tell me about his "diet". I wish I'd put more effort into learning.
So.. my point is, bring his food. Then, slowly introduce her to the world of clean eating. If you are excited about it, then maybe she will get excited too. If not for your son, but for her kids too.... and for her.
I'm not a vegatarian... I really don't think it's a great idea. But, if I had a friend or client that was excited (not preachy) about their diet, I'd probably take that seriously and respect the heck out of it. Then, maybe I'd learn something too.Comment
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I agree with the above poster too!! I am excited to cook vegetarian when he is with us! It's a great opportunity for my whole daycare, including my own children, to learn about nutrition and what we put into our bodies.Comment
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I thought you all might pick up on this but didn't want my message to be crazy long so I didn't explain. We've been struggling to get him eating table foods for many many months (he's turning 20 months next week!) and he is FINALLY starting to transition. Believe me (!!) I know he shouldn't be eating purees anymore. His provider and I agreed that being in a daycare with other kids would probably help and now, after a few months of watching the older kids eat, its starting to work. I always offer table foods first, he ****s on them and then spits them out and asks for baby food. I got tired of fighting him and don't want him to have food issues when he's older so I just went with the flow. He didn't get any teeth until after he turned one so I think that's why he's so far behind. Anyway, he feeds himself his pureed foods very well and surprisingly without much mess so it hasn't been an issue for his provider.
Thanks for the advice everyone! I'm going to talk to her when I pick him up this afternoon and ask if she minds me bringing his food (ready to serve as you suggested).Comment
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Hope it works out! Definitely keep encouraging solid foods. I missed that he was almost 2 and still on purees. I personally would just stop the purees altogether. You know that he is physically able to eat solids so I would just offer that and he will come around. Kids dont' starve themselves. Thats just my opinion. Anyway, hope the sitter works it out with you.Comment
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be careful - she may term you
To the OP:
I read through the threads and agree whole heartedly with everyone. One thing I saw that was missing is the possible repercusions of your brining this up to her. If I were you, I would be careful how you approach your current provider about the menu. Tread lightly and respectfully. Many providers can't afford to serve anything else or furthermore, aren't willing to put in the extra prep time. Don't be surprised if your provider terms you over the diet request, JMHO. My state is required to post a weekly menu - if yours is as well, I would request the menu to see what she's serving first, then go from there. Might have just been cinnamon roll and mac & cheese day. Also, one thing I wanted to mention about nutrition is that many parents make the mistake of thinking that fat free foods and a very low fat diet are healthy for their young children when it's not. Children require a certain type of diet for proper brain and bodily development. I think the best solution is to bring in your own food, that way you can control what your child eats.Comment
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Oh and, she's not on the food program. Interesting info on that program though, Doritos a veggie? good lord!Comment
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I completly agree with what you want, I know when I had my son in childcare, nutrition was a huge reason for me removing my child and starting my own childcare, with healthier meals and organic fruits and veggies, no Mac n cheese and hot dogs, unless the mac n cheese is homemade. Good thing your going to ask about bringing your own food, but I do think this will cause an issue for your child in the long run, the other kids will not be jealous of your childs food, but your child will end up being jealous of the other kids, you just have to picture him sitting at the table with all the other kids while their having cookies, cinnamon rolls, and other snack crap, and your kid has his carrot sticks, he/she will be one unhappy child, that will not understand why they get that , and he doesn't......I personally think this will cause issues in the long run, and think your best bet would be searching for someone with the food values that you have. Its an easy mistake when you have a baby, and interviewing daycares to overlook food after the baby stage, I did the same thing with my son, I never thought to ask about the future with food, because i never thought about it, And most providers just respond saying they are on the food program, and follow their guidlines, which can be as healthy as you make them, or just plain crap. Pizza sauce is a veggie, canned corn is a veggie, cookies are allowable as a grain....its so stupid.Comment
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I wouldn't take that approach. It can land you a kid that will only eat bread and treats. Kids who won't eat meats, veggies, and fruits unless they are completely pureed very OFTEN will chow down bread products. This kid is a great example of one who scarffed down mac n cheese and a cinnamon roll.
If you allow them to eat bread and treats very soon they stop eating the purees and then you have no way to get meat, veggies, and fruit down them. The only thing they progress to is increasing their bread portfolio and eating melt in your mouth foods or swallow whole foods.
If this was my kid I would make sure NOT to exceed the grain serving size at all on any day and use the grains as a host food to get the thicker purees down him. Like use crackers and put puree chickens with a bit of chunk on them.
Once they get a load of woofing down bread products you will end up with a kid that will only eat cereals... and soon it will be sugar cereals, crackers that are high sodium, yougurt which is high sugar, sweet sauce like surgar applesauce, french fries, mac n cheese, fried salty chicken nuggets... etc. Then you have a kid that will only eat "kid friendly" food.Comment
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have you had him evaluated for any sensorial issues? This sounds to me like a child who has some oral aversions/texture issues, maybe other sensory issues. I would speak with his doctor and push for an evaluation.
Have you tried pureeing your own stuff? If you do that you can not only at least save some $$ and give him a greater variety, but slowly, slowly increase the "chunk" level of the foods. The Super Baby Food Book is a great resource for making your own baby food.
But try for that evaluation first.
Hee hee! Look, I have a signature!Comment
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