Originally Posted by Unregistered:
I am worried about a three monh old in the center I work at. I have asked the mom to bring formula many times and she refuses. So have other staff in my room. The baby finishes all it's breastmilk after six of the nine hours I watch it, it takes a bottle every two hours. Mom has even said she did not nurse since early morning before alarm clock repeatedly. Now she feeds the baby cereal at only three months and says center feeds other baby's so we should feed hers. I feel bad about it and do not want a hungry screaming baby I can not help. Do I do what mom says or stick to the center policy to wait till six months and sitting up in chair? Do I ask manager to call mom to get her and risk being seen as not doing my job?
I wouldn't break center policy without approval from an administrator.
I would let the director (or assistant director or owner or whoever is best for solving problems) know when baby is out and still has a significant amount of time left in care. "Hey, director, Susy is out of milk, but she will probably still be here until 6 and it's only 2:30." If nothing is done, let them know when baby is hungry. "Hey, director, Susy is hungry, but we're out of milk. What would you like me to do?"
If that doesn't resolve the problem, then put in your notice and find a better center to work at. Child care doesn't pay enough to make it worth it to be covering your boss's inability to solve a basic problem.