i have some questions for parents whose kids are in daycare or workers at daycar...about my baby's daycare....

Question

o.k.
i'm starting to feel like my child's daycare is making life more difficult than making it easier, which i always thought was the point of daycare...

here are some things that have happened that i'm a little tiffed about:

-when i was signing registration paperwork i asked if they could mix his formula for him if i brought in empty bottles. example:
i bring him 5 premixed bottles, but he eats them all and needs another. i was told by one person that if i brought in an unopened canister of formula that they would mix it for him. then, on the first day his actual caregivers told me that they aren't allowed to do this... i kind of understand, but i'm ticked about the 2 diff stories.

-my baby spits up ALOT, b/c of his caregivers mentioning it to me on numerous occasions i took him to the ped. the dr and i discussed some ideas to help and one of them was thickening his formula with a little rice cereal. well, i thought his teachers would be happy, but instead i had to go

i had to go through all kinds of hoops to get a dr's note stating that he could have cereal in his bottles even though he was 3.5 months. i kind of understood this, too, but they just told me they couldn't give it to him and that's that. they didn't offer and help or anything. plus, this was never mentioned upon registration...which would have been nice.

-so, b/c of the cereal they said they had to poke some holes in the nipples, although at home i've had no issues. this caused the nipples to split into one giant hole and i had to go buy new nipples.

-my husband is about to deploy for 6 months and there is a brief on friday night. i signed the baby up for care while we go to the breif and they said he can't stay all day and then for the breif. i have to leave work early to pick him up so he's gone for 2 hours before returning.

i'm just very frustrated and not sure if i'm overreacting or if i should change daycares...

thanks for your thoughts..

oh and they have to ask the director if they can give him fruit for lunch. he has started baby food and the only veggie that he has eaten is sweet potatoes. long story short...i asked that they alternate among all the food he eats and they said that for lunch he only gets a veggie and they have to ask the director if they can give him a fruit.....ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? i'm his mother and i want him to have a fruit sometimes for lunch!

please...opinions.

Answer 1

It sounds like you and your daycare need to sit down and put some things in writing.

You need their policy on feeding in writing so that they can not go back and forth on you.

You should write down instructions on how your child should be cared for during the day. Daycare should be a continuation of home care - kids like consistencies and routine.

That being said, your childcare is probably asking for a doctor's note on everything to cover their backs, legally. They don't want to be held liable if your child gets sick off of food, chokes because he's not ready to eat, etc... While it may seem like a hassle; consider what it would be like if they didn't care at all and fed your son whatever.

But, talk to them - maybe you giving permission in writing is enough - it is a hassle to go to the doctor.

If this doesn't work. You should start looking for a new childcare provider - one that puts their requirements in writing up front and is more convenient for you.

GOOD LUCK!!

Answer 2

I have a 15 month old in daycare and she has had to be in daycare since she was 3 months old. I have never had problems like that. She has been in two different daycares because in the first one, the owner of the building sold the building. We made sure to discuss these things before hand. I know you said that you spoke with many different people, but I would suggest that you speak with the director of the daycare and agree on a schedule and write it out, with both of you signing it. I kind of understand the whole not putting cereal in a bottle. I was always told never to do that as it can be a choking hazard. Now if you talked to the doctor and she told you it was ok, then I guess you can do it. But the daycare probably won't without a note from the doctor or at all because they are trying to cover their own butts in case something happens. I DO think that they should be allowed to mix the formula for your baby. I can't see any reasoning for that as many babies on formula have the powdered kind. This is what I would suggest. I would start looking for other daycares. You need to go around to different ones and speak to the directors about the issues you are having with your present daycare. See who you feel comfortable with. Who is willing to help you? Get to know the other teachers and have them give you a daily schedule. Write down lots of questions before you go. And watch how the other kids interact with the teachers. Do they look comfortable? Happy? I know it is a lot of work when you are working full time yourself, but you are the only advocate of your child and you need to make sure that your child is in the type of environment you would want her to be in. Good luck and I hope it works out!

Answer 3

I guess maybe my daycare center spoiled me. I have never had any of those problems. My daycare lady cooks food for the kids every day for lunch and gives them two snacks a day. She also takes them places. Unfortunately she is closing soon because she is selling her house and leaving the area. I would go back and read the contract carefully again. Then go to the director and find out the real story. It is not uncommon that a baby needs cereal in his bottle. I know several daycare centers that will mix bottles. Most of them require that you bring them a brand new can of formula so they know it was not tampered with. I would check around your area for another daycare center. Ask them these questions that you are concerned with before resigning your baby up with another daycare provider. Depending on what time you take your baby to daycare they are only allowed to keep a child up to 10-12 hours. Although you may have to pay extra for after 8 hours. Instead of keeping the baby there for that length of time I would think about hiring a babysitter. The reason why I say this is because if you are having problems with your current daycare you don't want to leave your baby there longer than you already do. How big is the daycare center? If you are thinking of changing try looking into one that is out of a home. That way is will be a small setting. They tend to be more personal with the kids than if in a big building. Feel free to email me if you need to talk. Good Luck.

Answer 4

Consider yourself lucky that they are so anal about food... my daughter's last day care decided that it was a good idea to give her pizza, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and honey nut cheerios when she was 5 months old (things that can kill a baby) Basically a daycare has to cover their bases, they have to make sure that it is okay to do everything so that if something happens, they are not held liable. As for having to buy nipples, you would have to do that anyway, having rice in the bottle is rough on the nipple and quite frankly, I'm really shocked that your pediatrician recommended it because that can cause serious digestive problems which is why they made you get a note. With the formula, if you bring in some that you want them to mix for you, it has to be in a jar premade... I know that it's a pain but if you had the experiences that I had at my last day care, you would understand the importance of this. At 3.5 months, they have to be really anal also about the type of food that they give the baby, if you want him to have fruit, then I would suggest bringing in your own baby food. If you provide it, then they will serve it. You should read the state guidelines because they are only allowed to give babies under 5 months old formula or breastmilk unless they have the parents written approval and with written approval you have to be very specific or they may not be able to feed him anything. For him not being able to stay, there is a legal time limit for each day that the child can be in daycare, they cannot have a child there for more than 10 hours, I understand that you want to spend some time with your man but for that you would need to find a babysitter.

I know that it seems like they are making things more difficult but it's really for your son's best interest. If that's the only thing that is bothering you, consider yourself lucky because there are way worse daycares out there. Do your research and look around and remember that the daycare isn't going to write everything out for you... in the paperwork there's not going to be a special section stating what is common knowledge to most parents... like not putting rice in a bottle for a three month old. Good luck and I hope it all works out for you.

Answer 5

As a daycare provider I can assure you that when it comes to feeding your baby you have the final say. I have worked in many different daycare centers (I now own my own in-home daycare) and at least here in Iowa DHS does not mandate anything as far as nutrition for infants under one year of age. You should right out specific feeding instructions for your child and expect them to be followed, no questions asked. As far as them being able to mix the formula that also should not be a problem.
Many daycares have a strict policy on how long the child can be left at daycare. Most around here have a 10 hour rule and if the child is there over 10 hours a day there is an extra charge (this is to discourage parents from dropping their children off then running around town for hours after work).
I would recommend that you discuss your issues with the director and request that he/she takes care of them directly. If you still feel that your needs aren't being taken care of or that you are not being treated with the respect you deserve, you should definitely look into another daycare.

Answer 6

I totally understand your frustrations...I have experienced similar things with my kids. I'm sure that they are just trying to follow the rules and guidelines laid out by the state. So, you could feel comforted that your daycare is paying attention to the guidelines laid out by the state...which means that they are probably being very safe with your baby. HOWEVER, I am regularly seeing my daycare not follow state mandated rules and guidelines that I would prefer they follow. So, I'd probably prefer them following the rules too closely than not. I understand it's a pain in the butt...We're currently getting dirty looks from one of our daycare workers because we told her to not wake the baby for diapers and bottles. I pump and don't want my baby being forced to eat just because someone thinks enough time has passed...he'll eat when he's hungry like he always does at home. Would it work if your baby ate the fruit in the morning and the veg. at lunch? What if you didn't tell your d/c workers that there was cereal in the bottle...then they wouldn't be tempted to widen the hole? Would they accept it if you premeasured the formula into a bottle but didn't add the water? You could even put the water premeasured into another container just in case the extra bottle needed to be used. That way it wouldn't go to waste if baby didn't drink it. We did the same thing with my first baby. Since I pumped there was never anything extra...so I kept a dry bottle with formula powder and another with the water in her box at daycare...just in case.

Answer 7

not all daycares require that much hoop jumping. BUT, that day care does seem to be doing things by the book. It sounds as if the daycare is more focused on protecting themselves from lawsuits than the actual care of a child. I'd shop around for another day care that will be more accomodating. Keep in mind, there may be some of the same rules, you may still have to sign waivers, but they could at least be more supportive. Good luck

Answer 8

It sounds like you need to get your son into a home daycare. There aren't as many regulations in a home daycare as there are at an actual center.I am an at home daycare provider and I agree with what you are addressing here. These are the types of issues you have to put up with at a center. I would dedinitly find new daycare

Answer 9

the story has been cut off....large day care centers are like that....you need to speak to 5 different people before you can get a straight answer...the bottom line though is baby doing well? You cant expect day care workers to do any food prep AT ALL...you think he might go through 5 bottles? bring 7...so you have 2 extra you use the next day....make it easier on them and they will be easier on you!

Answer 10

Maybe you should look into a new day care, if you do you should bring up all these points and ask them how they would have handled the situation? You need to feel comfertable with the care that your child is getting. If you have anyother concers make sure you bring those up to

Good Luck