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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Coming With Pop Tart 5 Days In Row...Plus Other Eating Issues
bluemoose_mom 06:29 AM 03-29-2013
I have an 18 month dcb who has come with poptart (buttered no less) in hand every day this week.

GRRRR. I didn't mind it in the past, as it was sporadic but it's happening regularly now. When this happens, I put him in his highchair, give fruit and milk and call it a day. I should add dad does this to make him easier to deal with (bribe) while getting ready to leave. Dad knows that I serve breakfast within 15 minutes of dcb arriving.

The problem is I have a little one arrive later, and my own child eats when she wakes up (usually around the same time). DCB has been having an absolute fit that he's not eating when the other kids are.

I would just tell dad to not bring it, but that would put the burden on dad getting dcb ready without a pop tart, and that's too difficult (for dad). Dad is just going to suggest giving dcb breakfast with the other kids.

The real heart of the problem is that these parents are instilling horrendous eating habits since day 1. Too much food, too soon with not enough physical activities (for months now all they do when they get home is watch kid movies). 18 month old dcb is 35 lbs, and eats garbage at home, in large quantities. Not a fruit to be seen. Chronic constipation, with meds as a fix because they've never thought of giving him fruit.

I will not serve this boy two breakfasts. Just because he would eat it doesn't mean it's what's best for him.

I also don't want to explain WHY I won't feed two breakfasts. My dh suggests throwing out the pop tart after dad leaves, but it's mostly gone by that time as dad is a chatter.


I don't know what to do. Any suggestions for me?
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Blackcat31 06:51 AM 03-29-2013
I do NOT allow food to be brought in from home. (Solve 50% of the issues)

and I do NOT serve breakfast. I serve a LARGE snack at 9:00 which includes all the components of a food program breakfast. (Solves the other 50% of issues)

My parents almost all give their kids a Pop Tart or granola bar or something to nibble on in the car or at home and then after all my DCK's arrive I serve ONE snack (breakfast).

That way I am not trying to serve food while kids are arriving and it also helps the kids because most of them aren't ready to eat a big meal upon arrival but are more than ready at 9.

If I were you I would stop allowing food to be brought in (for several reasons) and would serve a bigger snack/breakfast after all your DCK's arrive.

I cannot tell you how much it has simplified things for me.
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wdmmom 06:55 AM 03-29-2013
My policy for food is DON'T!

If anything comes in their hands, it's mine.

If it comes in their mouth, it gets spit out and tossed in the trash.

I don't deal with parents that feel the need to bribe their kids or entertain them in the car with food.

I have 1 family that gives their kids cheerios in the car. I'd much rather have that than the millions of other things!

I would either do 1 of 2 things:

Put a trash can right inside the door and start tossing the food in front of the parents OR tell them to stop bringing food in.

One of my key points of no food brought in is the fights it causes and allergies.
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bluemoose_mom 07:02 AM 03-29-2013
BC-I see how that can work, but I don't think it would work for me.

I have a small group of kids (only 3, plus my daughter) and everyone other than my daughter is a big breakfast eater and I'm not sure this would work for any parent other than DCB. Everyone else makes their kid wait. Plus, I can't eat before kids arrive (I'm not getting up earlier than 6) and I can't make it until 9 to eat (pregnant).

I agree with not bringing any food at all, I'm assuming that's what I'm going to do, I just don't know the reason for it (that will get around what I know dad will suggest).

The fight aspect isn't an issue but I could use it.
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Angelsj 07:08 AM 03-29-2013
I have a "no outside food" policy. I just remove the food from the kiddo and hand it to the parent, then usher the parent out. Usually only takes a couple of times before they no longer bring it.
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Blackcat31 07:08 AM 03-29-2013
Originally Posted by bluemoose_mom:

I agree with not bringing any food at all, I'm assuming that's what I'm going to do, I just don't know the reason for it (that will get around what I know dad will suggest).

The fight aspect isn't an issue but I could use it.
How about really pushing that
Maybe one or all of those reasons would help back up the No food from home rule if you decide to go that route.
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Angelsj 07:11 AM 03-29-2013
Originally Posted by bluemoose_mom:
BC-I see how that can work, but I don't think it would work for me.

I have a small group of kids (only 3, plus my daughter) and everyone other than my daughter is a big breakfast eater and I'm not sure this would work for any parent other than DCB. Everyone else makes their kid wait. Plus, I can't eat before kids arrive (I'm not getting up earlier than 6) and I can't make it until 9 to eat (pregnant).

I agree with not bringing any food at all, I'm assuming that's what I'm going to do, I just don't know the reason for it (that will get around what I know dad will suggest).

The fight aspect isn't an issue but I could use it.
Use allergies. Some kids are allergic to some things, and I have to only serve food from my house. Other food just can't be here.
In my home, that is true, but if they ask specifics, you can say that is a privacy issue, and you cannot be more specific.
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CedarCreek 07:28 AM 03-29-2013
I don't allow outside food either. I take it away and it goes in the trash. It's in my handbook so if there's ever an issue,I point to that.
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bluemoose_mom 07:48 AM 03-29-2013
This should be in my rather lengthy hand book, and it's not. That's why I'm having a hard time addressing in it. I'll just have to bite the bullet, and tell dad no more. I think I'll just say it's causing too many issues. It just makes me mad, cause I know that this will just cause dad to feed something that can be consumed quicker (another standby of his is cookies...at 6:45 in the morning).

Thanks everyone!
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EntropyControlSpecialist 07:57 AM 03-29-2013
Originally Posted by bluemoose_mom:
This should be in my rather lengthy hand book, and it's not. That's why I'm having a hard time addressing in it. I'll just have to bite the bullet, and tell dad no more. I think I'll just say it's causing too many issues. It just makes me mad, cause I know that this will just cause dad to feed something that can be consumed quicker (another standby of his is cookies...at 6:45 in the morning).

Thanks everyone!
Add it to your parent handbook now and type up a notice about the change and issue it to all of the parents.
Unfortunately, if a parent wants to feed their child garbage in the morning before coming we really can't change that. We can, however, change what we allow on our premises.
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MotherNature 09:31 AM 03-29-2013
I just have to ask...Who butters a poptart???? Why? Is that a thing?? Can I use more question marks??
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SquirrellyMama 10:07 AM 03-29-2013
Originally Posted by MotherNature:
I just have to ask...Who butters a poptart???? Why? Is that a thing?? Can I use more question marks??
I was wondering the same thing. They are bad enough for you

Not dissing people who eat pop tarts. We are having some tomorrow.

K
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bluemoose_mom 10:39 AM 03-29-2013
Feel free to add more questions marks cause yeah, I don't know! Honestly, you should have seen my face when I found out they butter their pop tarts. I was in shock...I have no insights for you. That is an example of what their eating habits are like, all across the board.

I have nothing against pop tarts, we eat them, I even serve them to the dck but RARELY do we eat them or do I serve them. I mean seriously? Every day, twenty minutes before we eat breakfast??!
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SquirrellyMama 10:50 AM 03-29-2013
There is a facebook page for people who butter their pop tarts. I learned something new today

K
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Crazy8 11:09 AM 03-29-2013
Originally Posted by MotherNature:
I just have to ask...Who butters a poptart???? Why? Is that a thing?? Can I use more question marks??
LOL! I was wondering the same thing! But we don't butter anything here except toast so I thought maybe I am weird! I used to love pop tarts when I was younger and skinny - now I can't buy them cause then I'd want to eat them and damn, they have like 20 grams of fat in them, LOL!!!

I do not get into a huff about what my dc parents feed their kids at home - that's something I let go of a long time ago so I wouldn't give a lick about a cookie in the car, etc. as long as its not coming into your home and creating problems. I would feed the child the normal breakfast you serve everyone else.
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Hunni Bee 11:21 AM 03-29-2013
*huffs* I butter my poptarts (the 3 or 4 I may eat a year).

I like the unfrosted ones anyway. If I do have a frosted one, I butter it too. It takes away from the icky over-sweetness, which is why I rarely eat one.
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kimsdaycare 11:39 AM 03-29-2013
I butter mine too!

We rarely eat them either but mine must be buttered if toasted. And I'll one up the weirdness...I don't ever butter the top, only the bottom so the butter sinks in better. I then eat it upside down so any little butter puddles are held in by the natural curve of the pastry.

It does offset the sweetness, I have no idea why I started it though.

I cannot imagine traveling by car with a buttered poptart either. Thats just odd
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MotherNature 11:43 AM 03-29-2013
Originally Posted by SquirrellyMama:
There is a facebook page for people who butter their pop tarts. I learned something new today

K
Wow. I gotta go check that out. Thanks for your diligent research.
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AmyKidsCo 11:43 AM 03-29-2013
Originally Posted by EntropyControlSpecialist:
Add it to your parent handbook now and type up a notice about the change and issue it to all of the parents.
Unfortunately, if a parent wants to feed their child garbage in the morning before coming we really can't change that. We can, however, change what we allow on our premises.
I totally agree. To put a positive spin on it, think of how much more important the meals you serve are to him than maybe to other children; you're helping him learn good eating habits and providing the nutrition he needs.
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bluemoose_mom 11:49 AM 03-29-2013
I'm SHOCKED that other people do this!! Learned something new. I've never ever heard of this. I have to have mine toasted (I rarely eat them though...sigh) but I rarely toast the kids cause then they have to cool.

I really should learn to not care. His weight affects the things he can do though. He can't climb onto my couch cause his legs are too round. He's only been able to do stairs for a two months because of the same reason. He's horribly clumsy, in part due to his weight (extra top heavy, and not nearly as limber as most kids.) It's just sad to see. I'm serve lots of fruits and veggies, along with as much home cooked from meals as possible (only one meal a week is processed) with lean meats. His eating at home completely off sets every good meal I provide. It's just frustrating....wouldn't you want to set your kids up with better eating habits?? When he was little (before a year), all they served him was stuffing and corn. This kid will eat broccoli just as well (seriously, least picky kid I've ever seen, he will eat anything, I have yet to find something and I've served lots of different veggies/fruits) but nooooo, can't serve him that cause stuffing and corn is his favorite.
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