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MissAnn 08:28 AM 03-14-2014
Yes, I have a gag girl.

For the most part I serve food and if they eat fine, if not, fine. This girl's mom asks me every day what and how much she eats. She is new here. She came from a center and parents had to bring food. Every day she asks for chicken nuggets. I serve only healthy food. So, I tried the "take one bite" tactic which caused her to gag. I know it's a show.

Just wondering, what do you do? Serve and not make a big deal if they eat or choose not to eat....or 1 (or 2) bites of each food? Thanks for suggestions.
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ihop 08:47 AM 03-14-2014
Originally Posted by MissAnn:

Serve and not make a big deal if they eat or choose not to eat
This

Any time I make a big deal about it tends to just upset me and them so they end up not eating anyway
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Blackcat31 08:52 AM 03-14-2014
I serve.

They eat (or not...their choice)

No alternate foods, no substitutions, no begging, pleading or rewarding.

Eat if you are hungry. Don't if you are holding out.

I do NOT stress about meals. It is NOT worth MY time to do so.

Parents have a HUGE influence on their child's eating habits so I try to stay as far out of that loop as possible.

I give educational articles and resources to parents about healthy eating and eating habits but that is the extent of it.

I serve. They eat. (or not).
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MissAnn 08:57 AM 03-14-2014
Originally Posted by ihop:
This

Any time I make a big deal about it tends to just upset me and them so they end up not eating anyway
Thank you....this is what I do but sometimes wonder. It does make a more pleasant armosphere and many times the kids will start trying more things as they see other kids eating.
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MissAnn 08:59 AM 03-14-2014
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
I serve.

They eat (or not...their choice)

No alternate foods, no substitutions, no begging, pleading or rewarding.

Eat if you are hungry. Don't if you are holding out.

I do NOT stress about meals. It is NOT worth MY time to do so.

Parents have a HUGE influence on their child's eating habits so I try to stay as far out of that loop as possible.

I give educational articles and resources to parents about healthy eating and eating habits but that is the extent of it.

I serve. They eat. (or not).
Thank you Blackcat. I will talk to the mom about this tonight and do as I was doing......the kids will make their own choice.
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melilley 09:37 AM 03-14-2014
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
I serve.

They eat (or not...their choice)

No alternate foods, no substitutions, no begging, pleading or rewarding.

Eat if you are hungry. Don't if you are holding out.

I do NOT stress about meals. It is NOT worth MY time to do so.

Parents have a HUGE influence on their child's eating habits so I try to stay as far out of that loop as possible.

I give educational articles and resources to parents about healthy eating and eating habits but that is the extent of it.

I serve. They eat. (or not).
Same here, except I never have given any articles to parents about healthy eating/habits.
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countrymom 09:47 AM 03-14-2014
I have this child too. I'm over it now. I refuse to engage in "you need to buy a certain brand" thing. At first I was putting food infront of the child but now, I don't invite to the table. The child started to become disruptive and all the kids started to see that if the child didn't eat, then they didn't need to eat either. It became insane. I have also witness the child stuff snacks into mouth like crazy, so no more snacks either (she doesn't like what I serve anyways) I get alot of "I want cookies, or I want a snack" oh, the child doesn't even drink water, even water down juice they won't drink. I'm done with family because they don't care, and really mean they don't care.
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TaylorTots 10:24 AM 03-14-2014
I agree with others - serve and if they eat or not, their choice. I don't require a bite of everything before seconds, but if you don't try three bites there are no thirds.

They eat a great snack if they hold out for the meal. I make it clear to parents from the get go that I do not offer ANY alternative meals unless it is due to a doctor documented allergy or intolerance. When we do field trips in the summer with the SA'ers I tell parents what lunch will be packed and that they can pack their own if their kids don't like it (but I don't discount for it or anything). Otherwise no outside food or drinks are allowed.

When I get a complaint my response is always the same: " I'm not asking. This is your food/drink/snack/whatever. It is your choice whether you eat/drink or not." And I turn my back so any fits/tantrums/etc are not acknowledged.
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mia 11:16 AM 03-14-2014
Im the same ...serve it ... if they eat they eat if not then they wait til snack time .... I then let parents know at pick up time that the child did not eat lunch so they may be extra hungry at dinner ( supper time ).....
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EntropyControlSpecialist 12:52 PM 03-14-2014
My fake gaggers/pukers? I look at them in the eye and sternly say, "Stop it. It is time to eat." And repeat as necessary. I have kids that play it at home but don't do it here now. Nuh uh.
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EntropyControlSpecialist 12:53 PM 03-14-2014
Oh, and if they don't eat then that is fine...they will be hungry. But, the gagging act I do not tolerate around 8+ other little parrots. Nooo way. Gross.
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MissAnn 02:18 PM 03-14-2014
Originally Posted by EntropyControlSpecialist:
Oh, and if they don't eat then that is fine...they will be hungry. But, the gagging act I do not tolerate around 8+ other little parrots. Nooo way. Gross.
This one is new.....she had to try it once and I out a stop to it.....but she is still not eating. Her choice.
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Atroya 10:51 PM 03-17-2014
How long do all of you wait for them to eat before you let them leave the table? I have one picky eater that I was giving 10 minutes after the last child left the table to eat....is that too long? Should I just say the heck with it and if he doesn't eat by the time the last kid left the table, pick up his plate and be done with it?
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MissAnn 05:57 AM 03-18-2014
Originally Posted by Atroya:
How long do all of you wait for them to eat before you let them leave the table? I have one picky eater that I was giving 10 minutes after the last child left the table to eat....is that too long? Should I just say the heck with it and if he doesn't eat by the time the last kid left the table, pick up his plate and be done with it?
We have to stay at the table and not even look away if a child is still at the table eating. We all get up at the same time. I'm going to just not "care" if the kids eat or not. Of course I care, but I'm not going to show it. I feel like if they know you are trying to get them to eat they know they have the "power" to keep from eating. I'm hoping that once the pressure to eat has vanished so will the pickiness. Let's see.
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Cradle2crayons 06:08 AM 03-18-2014
Originally Posted by EntropyControlSpecialist:
My fake gaggers/pukers? I look at them in the eye and sternly say, "Stop it. It is time to eat." And repeat as necessary. I have kids that play it at home but don't do it here now. Nuh uh.
totally agree. I don't have an eating gagger I have a crying hand in he mouth gagger... Or I used to... She pulls it at home but let's just say... She wouldn't even THINK about doing it here anymore.
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MissAnn 10:34 AM 03-18-2014
She did better today. I didn't ask her to eat. I did keep the kids at the table longer. At first she ate nothing then eventually tried several things. Another picky eater did the same thing. Maybe I've rushed lunch too much????
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lovemykidstoo 06:08 PM 01-13-2018
I just found this thread. All of a sudden, I have a 3 yr old dcb that is gagging anytime he gets upset. I leave the room to go to the bathroom, he cries and gags. I even mention a snack, or lunch and he cries and gags. I put him at the table to eat and he cries and gags so bad I swear he's going to puke. I have talked sternly to him, ignore him, put him in bed etc and nothing is working. Help! He hasn't eaten anything here in a week. He does the same thing at home. I texted mom and she said, tell him to stop being a sap! lol
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flying_babyb 08:34 AM 01-15-2018
I have that kid! He ate one food a week at daycare (usally toast). There was one week where the only thing he had from 6am to 5pm was water.. Yep! After about two weeks relizing there was NO choice he stopped and ate.
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HappyEverAfter 11:20 AM 01-15-2018
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
I serve.

They eat (or not...their choice)

No alternate foods, no substitutions, no begging, pleading or rewarding.

Eat if you are hungry. Don't if you are holding out.

I do NOT stress about meals. It is NOT worth MY time to do so.

Parents have a HUGE influence on their child's eating habits so I try to stay as far out of that loop as possible.

I give educational articles and resources to parents about healthy eating and eating habits but that is the extent of it.

I serve. They eat. (or not).
This is exactly what I do. I serve it and they eat or don’t. And if you don’t eat, you have to wait for the next snack or meal time too.
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lovemykidstoo 11:56 AM 01-15-2018
I have zero problem with him not eating. I figure, he's not going to starve. The issue i have is when I mention food or he sits at the table, he gags, cries and carries on. It's flipping annoying.
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AmyKidsCo 08:41 PM 01-15-2018
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
I serve.

They eat (or not...their choice)

No alternate foods, no substitutions, no begging, pleading or rewarding.

Eat if you are hungry. Don't if you are holding out.

I do NOT stress about meals. It is NOT worth MY time to do so.

Parents have a HUGE influence on their child's eating habits so I try to stay as far out of that loop as possible.

I give educational articles and resources to parents about healthy eating and eating habits but that is the extent of it.

I serve. They eat. (or not).
This. 100%.

My only rule is that they must have a little of everything on the plate. If they balk at taking something I ask if they want to take some or have me give them some. If they choose me I give them a TINY amount, like 2 peas.
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lovemykidstoo 11:19 AM 01-16-2018
I just keep making him sit at the table and put very little on his plate. Why waste food right? His dad irritates me though. Yesterday he was off and dropped off at 8:00. Said he'd be early picking up. Showed up at 5:25. I close at 5:30. He knows son is a train wreck lately. He asks if he ate, how was he. I said, nope didn't eat and was a mess especially the last 40 minutes when everyone else had been picked up already. grrrr
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Mom2Two 12:22 PM 01-16-2018
Maybe I missed it, but I couldn't see how old this child is. It would make a difference. Having dealt this in our long journey with feeding issues, I would just make sure there were some different textures available.

I wouldn't assume it was fake. If you are wrong, you would be being (not knowingly) very insensitive to someone who might have oral-motor issues.

A good suggestion would be a good SLT/feeding therapist for the LO who would recognize oral-motor issues.

Brand won't make a difference--just textures. Maybe pay attention and see if the child handles pudding/bananas/apple sauce differently than food that is dry etc. See what you notice.
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lovemykidstoo 12:25 PM 01-16-2018
Originally Posted by Mom2Two:
Maybe I missed it, but I couldn't see how old this child is. It would make a difference. Having dealt this in our long journey with feeding issues, I would just make sure there were some different textures available.

I wouldn't assume it was fake. If you are wrong, you would be being (not knowingly) very insensitive to someone who might have oral-motor issues.

A good suggestion would be a good SLT/feeding therapist for the LO who would recognize oral-motor issues.

Brand won't make a difference--just textures. Maybe pay attention and see if the child handles pudding/bananas/apple sauce differently than food that is dry etc. See what you notice.
The child I'm referring to is 3. It isn't as though he has something in his mouth and then gags. Just mentioning the words, lunch, breakfast, snack, cracker, food etc he starts crying and gagging. Then it is unrelated to food. If I get up to go to the bathroom he starts gagging and crying. He's playing and out of nowhere he starts crying. This is new behavior. He hasn't always been like that and he does it at home too.
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