Originally Posted by Crystal:
hmmmmm......
I would not talk to Mom about it anymore. I would offer the child a sippy cup and small bits of healthy finger foods at each regularly scheduled meal and snack time. I would not offer the bottle with cereal AT ALL. It is filling him up and that is why he refuses to try anything else. If you keep offering him the regular foods and not the bottle, in time he will realize it's this or nothing. I have never known or heard of a child who will literally starve rather than trying the new foods. You may haver to put the bits of food in his mouth at first for awhile, just so he gets the idea, but he will eventually eat.
Mom doesn't want to hear what you have to say. She has made that clear. Telling her to do anything is not going to work. Seems that she wants her "baby" to be just that, a "baby" still.
I'd do what is right for the child on my watch, and when he actually starts trying and enjoying new foods, I'd take some photos, journal what he's been eating and give it to Mom.
Another thing, your food program specialist cannot tell you or the Mom that the child cannot have a bottle. Mom can give the kid a bottle til' he's a teenager if she wants to. You can give him a bottle as well. The only thing the food program specialist can say or do is recommend not giving a bottle, requiring that you provide the foods that meet food pattern guidelines, but she cannot say that you cannot serve his drink in a bottle. Not that it really matters, as I wouldn't give him a bottle anyway, but FP has no authority to say you cannot give a bottle.
Also, you can certainly contact children's protective services and get their opinion without actually reporting first. They'll tell you if you should report it.
My food program lady said that is one of their "rules." That at 2 years of age he needs to be drinking from a cup. If I don't follow their rules, I will get booted from their program, which means I'll have to charge all parents more because I can't afford all of that food! She said the food program is not just about eating, it's about forming good eating habits, good mouth muscle tone (which Nannyde covered) and proper eating skills for their age. It teaches a lot of hand-eye coordination as well.
Nannyde- The bottles with "cereal" were thick and white, like it was just milk and rice. No brown flecks. I still think that if that is ALL he gets at home it could cause the loose stools.
Today at drop-off, she said that he didn't bring a bottle. I said I'm sure he'll do fine since he only chewed on it anyways. I told her that for the past couple weeks I was putting milk in a cup for him. He barely drank any, but at least he didn't just chew on it. She said it's probably going to be harder on her than on him.
At lunch time, I told the kids to come sit down to eat. Everyone ran in and was so excited. He stood there and cried. After he sat down, I gave him a bowl with some cut up lasagna. He hit it away instantly. Then he pushes everyone else's bowls away. Everyone ate, and I put his bowl on the counter so it wouldn't end up on the floor. I later got him to take one bite. He acted like he didn't know how to chew!! He just let it sit there, then started screaming, then puked.
Wow. I don't even know what to do anymore. I offer every day, and everyday he throws this huge fit. Do I ask mom to pack a lunch for a day to see if that makes him eat? I'd be curious to see what she would pack. If it's all junk then how do I tell her that I'll start offering my food again?