Am I over reacting or not in my current daycare situation regarding what she's feeding my 5 yr. old son.

Sharon - posted on 02/13/2013

I am a home daycare provider in New Brighton since 1993 ... send any 2-5 yr olds my way and I will stuff them with homemade food, play outside 2-3 hours and just have fun. slheisler@msn.com

Lynn - posted on 09/26/2011

I've had my home preschool since 1996, and I serve hot lunches, and snacks every day. In AZ, one home day care provider would not be legally allowed to have that many kids. Food programs require you to submit menus, in order for you to get reimbursed. You have to serve a main dish, fruit, vegetable, or bread, and dairy at meals. You have to serve a variety of healthy foods or they will revoke the reimbursement, and they are supposed to come out once a year to observe what you feed the kids. I'm surprised the food program allows so many kids, since they usually follow state licensing laws, and they will throw you out of the program for not following the laws. I serve a variety of main dishes, fruits and veggies (not that they always eat it-lol!) and I wouldn't be okay with my kids eating the same foods every day. I also submit menus to the state when I file my taxes, and I get money back for the food, plus a bit more for serving cooked lunches. If she was doing that, and every day she wrote that she was serving the same cold sandwiches, that would be a red flag on her taxes, I would think. She sounds pretty money-hungry if she expects the state to pay for all food she gives the kids, when you are already paying for it in your tuition fees. No way are bologna sandwiches and dry cereal costing $2 per day, pre child. She's just keeping that money for herself, and that's not the way it's supposed to be used. If I were you, I would find somewhere with fewer kids, and who would take care of them better, since I doubt your child is getting the best care in such a large group. After you've already left, I would look into filing complaints with the food program, and with the state, since I'd bet she's lying on those menus she submits. They can do a surprise inspection and may issue a warning, or revoke her membership.

As a preschool teacher, I wouldn't have the parents supply their own food, since I would think it would cause problems with who has what food, and trying to keep track of it all. I feel that it's my responsibility to provide it, because that's part of what the parents are paying for.

Sherri - posted on 09/26/2011

This is exactly why in my daycare all parents supply ALL food and drink for their child. I would be looking for a new daycare this is not okay and if this is how she views it, to me it isn't working.

It also seems she has way too many children. If your child is with 1 provider watching 12 kids. What kind of attention is he receiving anyways??

@Amy I do daycare too and sorry our kids don't go on any fieldtrips either. So that is really irrelevant.

Amy - posted on 09/25/2011

Okay. Wait....isn't it her job in the first place to be taking care of these kids. What do you mean she doesn't have time to feed 12 kids. What is she doing with that many kids anyway?? I was fortunate enough to be home with my kids but would NEVER put up with this from anyone. Stop and really think about what she is doing. You are basically paying her for nothing. It's not for the food and with 12 kids I'm sure they aren't going on field trips or getting instructional time. My advice is the fact you had to ask you know ini your heart this isn't the place for your child.

Teresa - posted on 09/21/2011

She has 10-12 kids there? Does she have an aide? It 'might' depend on the area, but here... the limit w/ no aide in a home daycare is 6. If she's getting reimbursed... then she should be regulated, so the number of kids might be fine. Honestly though, if she doesn't change the menu... I'd be investigating if she's following all the regulations or not.

Jenelle - posted on 09/21/2011

I also feel that with all the carbs and sugar he gets all day long, that that's not good for his behavior or health. I did mention this to her also. I told her he needs more protein to stay alert. I am currently looking for a new provider, but until I find one, I am now feeding him things like hard boiled eggs and fruit in the morning on the way to daycare, so at least he's getting somethings of value in his tummy in the morning. We have always had decent and healthy enough dinners, so I'm just making sure he's getting better foods at home.

Jenelle - posted on 09/21/2011

She gets reimbursed $2.00 a day per child and says she doesn't have time to cook meals and if she were to buy the boxed pancakes or waffles that that would be too expensive. WHAT the heck? lol. So she's getting $2.00 a day FREE money per child, which she has 10-12 depending on the day. If you add that up, that's enough to buy decent foods in FREE money. Let alone the other money each parent is paying her. I understand that that money is for her time and service to us as parents, but it's also to pay for food. I am looking into other daycare's. Unfortunately I'm not having much luck as of yet.

Jenelle - posted on 09/21/2011

I feel the same way. I felt that no one will take care of them like I do lol. I couldn't bear putting my son in daycare and had the opportunity to stay home with him until he was 3 1/2 years old. For these exact reasons is why I did not want my children in daycare. Unfortunately, an unwanted divorce occured and I have no choice now but to work. I also did not want him in a daycare center and he is in a home daycare. That's the sad part.

Ashley - posted on 09/20/2011

I would not be ok with this. Then again, I would not be ok with anyone outside mine or my husband's family having any kind of responsibility for my child's well-being and nutrition. Babysitting is one thing, feeding, and being responsible for 2 out of 3 of their meals and all the snacks too? I'm really not trying to be judgmental but seriously moms spend too much time away from their children these days.



If parents must put their kids in daycare, a home setting is much better. More individual attention. They will care about your child more. And to be honest, moms who can't bear to leave their children and stay in their homes to do so will be better at caring for your child than those who are trying to make a business out of it (i.e., a daycare center -- they just want money).

Aurora - posted on 09/20/2011

Your child's nutrition is important and it was okay to approach it. I think it is time to start looking for a new provider when you see that the menu has not changed. Your child will be a provider all day until it is time for Kindergarten, so you want to make sure you find a provider in the meantime who cares for your child's nutrition throughout the day and who won't mind if you brought along your child's preferences for the day in a cooler/hot bag.

Teresa - posted on 09/19/2011

If she's being reimbursed then she is government funded and she HAS to legally provide a certain amount of all the food groups. If she doesn't, she can lose all her reimbursements... or be shut down... or something. I don't know the exact protocol since I haven't done it, but I DO have the paperwork information somewhere for my state.

Lynn - posted on 09/19/2011

here in oregon the USDA monitors what the kiddos are being fed and It is soposed to be balanced. idk what 2 say about witholding the fruits and veggies. Angel is 4 and goes to head start they are a state funded preschool and i get a paper each errk of meal plans that i sometimes copy here @ my own home they are so balanced and healthy covering all the fruits and veggies year around.
I would look for a new provider. It may take awhile before you find one you like.

Jenn - posted on 09/19/2011

This is not a balanced diet and definitely not appropriate. Find yourself another daycare provider!

Amanda - posted on 09/19/2011

I think this is ridiculous! My children go to a home daycare provider also and my provider also participates in our states food program. I dont know what they get reimbursed, but I do know that they have to follow certain rules and regulations about what they feed the kids. I believe they are also required to provide a menu for approval. If my daycare provider gave my kids that stuff to eat I would confront her also. Have you considered filing a complaint, or trying to find out if she is violating the food program regulations? Good luck, I would expect better too!!!!!

Tracie - posted on 09/19/2011

Not ok. She could get a huge bag of baby carrots at Costco for what a box of cereal goes for. She is doing the children and herself a disservice with all those carbs. If she switches to fruit & veggies for snack, she'll notice that the kids are less hyper and better able to focus. Bonus - most are cheap and require no cooking!

You definitely did the right thing bringing this to her attention. If she can't or won't change the snacks/meals, you have two choices. Send your son with your own food or switch daycare providers.

Good luck!

Tamara - posted on 09/18/2011

I think if you don't say anythting then you don't have a cause to complain actually, if you try to fix the situation then it don't go anywhere then you are do, you don't try then you don't have a leg to stand on.

Danielle - posted on 09/18/2011

I wouldn't be okay with this at all. The little boy I babysit brings his own food but that is his mom's choice not mine. Can you do that? Find somewhere else maybe?