Question About Milk
 

Recently, dcm has been dropping off and stating that dcg won't drink milk at home, and says that she will need a cup from me. She makes it out that dcg won't drink at home, but I am beginning to wonder if it is because of the price of organic vs. regular milk, and she would prefer me to take on this additional cost.
Dcm and I have never really discussed how much milk she gets per day, but these additional morning requests are somewhat costly for me (other kids drink regular, just this child is on organic). How much milk do you give to the kids per day? Since I'm not on a food program, I'm not sure how much I am expected to provide outside of the usual cup at lunch time.

I just serve milk w/ breakfast and lunch. The serving size for 1-2yo is 1/2 cup per meal and 3-5yo is 3/4 cup per meal. After they drink their milk at the meal they can have "seconds" of water. We drink water at snack and anytime they are thirsty during the day.

Put a stop to that now! I had a parent do the same thing. They would request a cup of milk at pick up each day. I started telling them that I would get them a cup of water or they need to bring the cup back filled with milk in the morning otherwise I wouldn't have enough milk for meals that week.

I thought it was absolutely ridiculous that the parents expected me to give them a to-go cup. I'm not a take out restuarant. Sheesh.

I'm sorry...it might just be me but I am not understanding what you mean?

How does mom want milk from you?

I serve milk with meals and snacks at the designated times ONLY.

I don't allow food OR drinks to be brought from home, nor do I send them home EVER.

If mom is requesting the cup to be filled so DCG can drink it on HER time, I would simply say "No, I am sorry but I don't send food/drinks home and we ONLY get them at the designated meal times."

If she wants to buy and leave organic milk at your house for those times she needs a cup to go, great but if she isn't buying it, she shouldn't be getting it on HER time.

I absolutely would NOT provide organic milk for this child. I would only provide what the other children drink. If Mom wants organic, Mom can buy it.

My kids only get milk with breakfast and lunch. They drink water the rest of the time.

Originally Posted by sharlan:
I absolutely would NOT provide organic milk for this child. I would only provide what the other children drink. If Mom wants organic, Mom can buy it.

My kids only get milk with breakfast and lunch. They drink water the rest of the time.

likethis

I know that you are not on the food program, but they require us to give milk at Breakfast and Lunch and we can pick 2 out of 4 components for snack and one can be milk. Here are their requirements (you can use them as a guide if you want)
For ages 1-2 1/2 cup
For ages 3-5 3/4 cup
For ages 6-12 1 cup

If I were you, I would tell her that you provide milk that isn't organic, but if she wants organic, she has to supply it or ask for an additional fee and you can buy it when you go shopping. I only supply non-organic milk and also a substitute for my child who has a milk intolerance. If a parent were to request organic, I would def. tell them that what I offer and they can bring it if they wish.

I personally give them at least the minimum, but for some I do give more if they want it. :)

Originally Posted by sharlan:
I absolutely would NOT provide organic milk for this child. I would only provide what the other children drink. If Mom wants organic, Mom can buy it.

My kids only get milk with breakfast and lunch. They drink water the rest of the time.

I would to the same.

Originally Posted by sharlan:
I absolutely would NOT provide organic milk for this child. I would only provide what the other children drink. If Mom wants organic, Mom can buy it.

My kids only get milk with breakfast and lunch. They drink water the rest of the time.

Agreed.... likethis

(well I serve 100% juice at snacks, water all day ;) )

*1% or 2% (depending on your preference) anything else DCM buys.

Originally Posted by sharlan:
I absolutely would NOT provide organic milk for this child. I would only provide what the other children drink. If Mom wants organic, Mom can buy it.

My kids only get milk with breakfast and lunch. They drink water the rest of the time.

likethis

Originally Posted by sharlan:
I absolutely would NOT provide organic milk for this child. I would only provide what the other children drink. If Mom wants organic, Mom can buy it.

My kids only get milk with breakfast and lunch. They drink water the rest of the time.

likethis Same here. I would not be taking on the cost for this child to have something different than the other children.

I would have mom provide organic milk OR let her know that you provide X amount at X times and anything that a child needs above that is to be provided by the parents. dont let her pressure you into parenting this child....thats her job!

A lot of kids eat differently at different places. My own daughter only wants milk when the other kids are here and drinking it (and at grandma's). She doesn't ask or want it otherwise (only has it with cereal on the weekends), which probably has to do with me and my husband not drinking it for the most part (we do get dairy from other sources). I wouldn't necessarily think she's just doing it to push the cost on you, but regardless it is an 'extra' cost'
I would have her bring some extra 'organic' milk, or pay a bit more for her daughter to cover it. A lot of people have in their contract that children must be clean, fed, dry when they come. This seems to fit in that category, and you have to decide what works for you.

If I'm understanding this correctly, mom wants you to give the little girl a cup of milk as soon as she gets to your house in the morning. If I were in that position, I would mention to mom that you serve milk with meals, and water is available the rest of the time.
Or you could just mention it to mom. Something like "hey sue, please bring a sippy cup of milk for little sally from now on. Her extra morning cup of milk is causing us to run short"

What the ??????

I serve only organic but I would NEVER do it because a parent requested it and it was not my policy!

You need to stop NOW! Mom can bring it if she wants you to serve it and you agree to do so. That is still extra work for you and a bit of a hassle in my mind!

I serve milk @ bf & lunch and once in a very great while at snack.

Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
I'm sorry...it might just be me but I am not understanding what you mean?

How does mom want milk from you?

I serve milk with meals and snacks at the designated times ONLY.

I don't allow food OR drinks to be brought from home, nor do I send them home EVER.

If mom is requesting the cup to be filled so DCG can drink it on HER time, I would simply say "No, I am sorry but I don't send food/drinks home and we ONLY get them at the designated meal times."

If she wants to buy and leave organic milk at your house for those times she needs a cup to go, great but if she isn't buying it, she shouldn't be getting it on HER time.

That's what I would do

Originally Posted by JoseyJo:
I just serve milk w/ breakfast and lunch. The serving size for 1-2yo is 1/2 cup per meal and 3-5yo is 3/4 cup per meal. After they drink their milk at the meal they can have "seconds" of water. We drink water at snack and anytime they are thirsty during the day.

That's exactly what I do. In addition, if I provide regular for all the other children and a parent wanted organic for their child they would have to provide it.

Thank you all for the excellent responses. We kind of have it built in to the weekly price that I supply the organic milk- kinda wish I never started that, and just had her bring it weekly herself. It seems like the price of organic keeps on rising- she also can only have organic snacks, like Annie's, that cost almost $3 for a small box- it all gets so expensive!
She arrives after breakfast time, and should be drinking at home. I didn't realize until today, after reading your responses, just how much I have been over-pouring! I've been filling larger sippy cups to the brim twice a day for her (a.m. snack and lunch)- but that's going to change now :o

[quote=mrsmichelle;381858]Thank you all for the excellent responses. We kind of have it built in to the weekly price that I supply the organic milk- kinda wish I never started that, and just had her bring it weekly herself. It seems like the price of organic keeps on rising- she also can only have organic snacks, like Annie's, that cost almost $3 for a small box- it all gets so expensive!
She arrives after breakfast time, and should be drinking at home. I didn't realize until today, after reading your responses, just how much I have been over-pouring! I've been filling larger sippy cups to the brim twice a day for her (a.m. snack and lunch)- but that's going to change now :o[/

You answered your own question. If she arrives after breakfast. No milk. All of my children have to arrive fed, clean, etc and ready to start their day.

I'd explain that to mom. If the child refuses milk at home they won't get it again until eir normal time. You agreed to supply for her meals and snacks there, not when it isn't meal or snack time.

Originally Posted by mrsmichelle:
Thank you all for the excellent responses. We kind of have it built in to the weekly price that I supply the organic milk- kinda wish I never started that, and just had her bring it weekly herself. It seems like the price of organic keeps on rising- she also can only have organic snacks, like Annie's, that cost almost $3 for a small box- it all gets so expensive!
She arrives after breakfast time, and should be drinking at home. I didn't realize until today, after reading your responses, just how much I have been over-pouring! I've been filling larger sippy cups to the brim twice a day for her (a.m. snack and lunch)- but that's going to change now :o

I would have her provide the organic foods if that's what she wants. All children are served the same food in my home. If the parents want something else, they have to physically provide it.

Originally Posted by sharlan:
I absolutely would NOT provide organic milk for this child. I would only provide what the other children drink. If Mom wants organic, Mom can buy it.

My kids only get milk with breakfast and lunch. They drink water the rest of the time.

Agreed!

Originally Posted by mrsmichelle:
Thank you all for the excellent responses. We kind of have it built in to the weekly price that I supply the organic milk- kinda wish I never started that, and just had her bring it weekly herself. It seems like the price of organic keeps on rising- she also can only have organic snacks, like Annie's, that cost almost $3 for a small box- it all gets so expensive!
She arrives after breakfast time, and should be drinking at home. I didn't realize until today, after reading your responses, just how much I have been over-pouring! I've been filling larger sippy cups to the brim twice a day for her (a.m. snack and lunch)- but that's going to change now :o

I related last year that I was totally overpouring. I knew the measurments, but was eyeballing it and my eyeball estimation was getting looser and looser. I have seen such a difference in how fast we go through milk.

Even if the mother is paying extra for organic, if the little girl arrives after breakfast she shouldn't get special treatment. The DCM is paying you extra to serve organic at meal times, not paying you for alternate meal times. I would say something along the lines of "all meals/drinks outside of my planned meal times need to be provided by the parent" (that is IF you want her to send them and deal with serving a child outside of meal timesz

I can see how you regret starting the whole thing. I think it would be perfectly acceptable for you to talk to DCM about her not paying the extra for organic, and instead supplying the special snacks and organic milk herself. That way all of the extra burden is on her. And if she plans poorly or forgets, than DCG can have what the other kids have.

Originally Posted by blandino:
I can see how you regret starting the whole thing. I think it would be perfectly acceptable for you to talk to DCM about her not paying the extra for organic, and instead supplying the special snacks and organic milk herself. That way all of the extra burden is on her. And if she plans poorly or forgets, than DCG can have what the other kids have.

I agree, I'd tell her that the costs were not working out, with the extreme rises in cost for organic, and tell her that you will have to reduce her rate to what the others are paying and have her supply the organic milk/food. You should not have to burden yourself with the special things that DCM wants. I'd also make my contract reflect that any special dietary needs would need to be provided by the parents. Good luck!

Originally Posted by Mama2Bella:
I agree, I'd tell her that the costs were not working out, with the extreme rises in cost for organic, and tell her that you will have to reduce her rate to what the others are paying and have her supply the organic milk/food. You should not have to burden yourself with the special things that DCM wants. I'd also make my contract reflect that any special dietary needs would need to be provided by the parents. Good luck!

Great advice from both of you:) I showed dh last night how much I've been over pouring, and I've actually been pouring an extra cup per day/ per child- ridiculous! I've done a lot of thinking about this, and I am going to do what you advise- I think it will be a lot easier to lower her rate than to have to run around to various stores each week looking for the best price on organic. Thanks again to everyone that responded.

What I serve:
I serve Vitamin D milk for children under 2 and 1 percent or skim for children 2 and over. If a child needs something other than that, the parent must provide it.
When I serve:
Breakfast and Lunch. If a child arrives after breakfast time, or having already eaten, I would not serve them milk.

I do have some that will ask for something for the ride home. They are given ice water. No other choices.

Originally Posted by sharlan:
I absolutely would NOT provide organic milk for this child. I would only provide what the other children drink. If Mom wants organic, Mom can buy it.

My kids only get milk with breakfast and lunch. They drink water the rest of the time.

likethis

I'm lucky to live in an area that has a lot of dairy agriculture and can get local milk that has an excellent humane rating, hormone free, etc. for about $5/gal. Organic may be better, but its just SO expensive. Plus we only drink whole milk for the health benefits plus I have mainly infants in DC so it works out better than buying different kinds of milk.
eta- If she wants a cup to send home, consider offering a surcharge. Figure out how much of the gallon it is and charge her that much. If a gallon of milk is $7 and she takes 1/16th a day times 5 days a week, 4 wks a month... offer $10/mo. for that.