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Daycare question for moms

Delilah moves up to the toddler room next week in daycare.  A few times a week, they serve juice.  Our doc recommended that we don't give her juice (except for cases like constipation) because she feels there is no real nutritional value and no need to get her started on it.  We agree with her.  It's not like I'm never going to give her juice, but at 1, we feel she doesn't need it.

According to the state laws, they must serve a fruit, veggie, or 100% juice at breakfast and snack.  So our daycare told us they are required to give her this juice.  Our doc wrote a note saying not to give the patient juice and the daycare told us it wasn't good enough without a medical reason.  Does this seem a bit ridiculous to you?  Shouldn't we have some say over this, especially with a note from our doc, no matter the reason?  Or are we being unreasonable?

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2/20/2011

Re: Daycare question for moms

  • I agree that they're being a little ridiculous. Can they serve her an actual fruit or veggie instead of the juice? I'd maybe see if my doctor could rephrase the letter so it sounded more like she wasn't allowed to have it because it gives her diaper rash or something.
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  • I don't think you're being unreasonable. We don't give our kids juice (except for the odd cup at Grandma's house), and I wouldn't want it to be given to them so frequently. I know that to be a part of the USDA food program you have to comply with certain dietary guidelines, so that's probably what this is, but there's no reason she NEEDS juice as the fruit or vegetable. It's just easier. Can you tell them that you'd be happy to provide another fruit or veggie to give her in lieu of the juice?

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  • I'm sure our doc would be willing to re-phrase the note.  She could probably argue it causes diarrhea or something, but we don't feel we should have to even do that.   Like you said they could give her fruit instead since that would meet the state requirement, but I think they will only substitute for medical reasons such as allergies which I think is why they are resisting.  It just seems like we should have some say in what they feed her. 
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    2/20/2011
  • And I'd be happy to provide fruits and veggies.  I already do that now.  But they will only allow that in the infant room.  No outside food is allowed in any of the other rooms.
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    2/20/2011
  • That's pretty unreasonable. They don't HAVE to serve juice, they choose to as one of the options.  Giving her something else wouldn't present them with any greater difficulty than they'd have if they had to provide an alternative to a child with an allergy.

    Just out of curiosity, is it state law that no outside food is allowed in the toddler room?  Someone else here mentioned that (Buddha maybe), and I'm so glad we don't have that restriction here. 

  • imageKayRI:

    Just out of curiosity, is it state law that no outside food is allowed in the toddler room?  Someone else here mentioned that (Buddha maybe), and I'm so glad we don't have that restriction here. 

    I believe it's only law if your daycare if part of the food program.  Our old daycare was, and no one was allowed to bring in outside food.  The reason is because they have to serve a certain amount of fruits and veggies everyday and if people were bringing their kid's food in, the daycare couldn't control it to make sure the fruit/veggie requirements were met.  We switched daycares (same state) and they aren't part of the food program.  They do serve food, but you can bring in whatever you want.

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  • I might think it's unreasonable if you were insisting they give her fruit since they are technically meeting food guidelines (even though I find the food guidelines wrongheaded) but water should be no big deal.
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  • i think they're being weird to push juice like that and be so disagreeable even saying the doctor's note is insufficient (!) when they could just as easily give her a cup of water and a banana or something.
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  • I heard about this story on the radio this morning

    http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2012/02/14/a-turkey-sandwich-and-chips-from-home-versus-school-nuggets-sounds-like-a-toss-up-to-me/

     

    I get that they're trying to get kids to eat healthier, but it just seems a little crazy.

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  • mashed, so did i! that was crazyland. they were joking on the radio show i was listening to that the "lunch inspector" was really just a racket led by a fat guy confiscating all the lunch boxes to eat himself.
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  • I would be pissed. I think they are being ridiculous in demanding she have juice. Maybe because I have a fatty boombalatty who eats like a frat boy, so she doesn't drink juice.

    I would also have a problem with not being able to send my own food, so I am glad that doesn't seem to be the norm here.

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    For less then ten cents a day, you can feed a hungry child.
  • Yeah, we're not allowed to send any outside food past the infant room, but we did tell them he couldn't have juice because he is extremely prone to diarrhea, and even a little bit means runny diapers for two days. They didn't require a note, but they were also experiencing the runny diapers, so they may not have needed it. He also can't have cow's milk, so I send him a sippy of soy milk every morning, and they just give him water the rest of the day. 

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  • Yeah, we're not too happy about it.  My husband is going to try to talk/reason with them more today and if that doesn't work we may start exploring other options.  We just really like the convenience of this place being right next to my husband's work and it seemed like one of the cleaner and more secure places when we were originally checking them out.
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  • Don't complain too much. You may get wendy-dismissed  

  • This would annoy me on multiple levels.

    1. I would be pissed that they're insisting on giving her juice, when I agree with your Dr. that it has no nutritional value.

    2. That they're insistent on dismissing written instruction from your Dr. Not cool. 

    I agree that you shouldn't have to, but if it comes down to it, I would probably ask my dr to reword the letter so it's "for medical reasons".

     

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    Baby Boxer is coming! 5.23.12
    www.focushunting.com
  • Every medical professional I have come into contact with always says to stay away from juice.  It would piss me off if they insisted on this.  It just seems lazy to me.  Plus, I do think you as the parent should have a say in this.

    Your daughter is 1?  It is just so unnecessary for her to have it.  I wish we would have pushed whole fruits on Andy more when he was younger because now, he won't touch any fruit except McDonald's apple "fries" (yet, he loves vegetables - my kid is backwards). 

    Sorry if I missed this in your post, but do they give fruit at other times, or do they pretty much just use the juice to comply with the regulations?

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  • I'd get the doctor to re-word it before I looked at other daycare options.  They're pretty rigid in their rules, but for other situations that's not a bad thing.
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  • imageVinny2008:

    Every medical professional I have come into contact with always says to stay away from juice.  It would piss me off if they insisted on this.  It just seems lazy to me.  Plus, I do think you as the parent should have a say in this.

    Your daughter is 1?  It is just so unnecessary for her to have it.  I wish we would have pushed whole fruits on Andy more when he was younger because now, he won't touch any fruit except McDonald's apple "fries" (yet, he loves vegetables - my kid is backwards). 

    Sorry if I missed this in your post, but do they give fruit at other times, or do they pretty much just use the juice to comply with the regulations?

    She'll be 1 Monday and that is when she'll fully transition into the toddler room.  Since she's not in there full-time yet, they haven't given her anything and I am still sending in her food.  And yes they do give fruit at other times, so it's not like they don't have fruit to give. 

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    2/20/2011
  • Totally ridiculous ! It's your preference what you want to be put in your child! Doc note or not! 
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  • I have mixed feelings here. On one hand, I get why they don't want to make special accommodations for individuals based on parent preference. It's extra prep time, buying different foods, dealing with other kids who don't understand why they didn't get a banana too, etc. if they accommodate one parent preference, what else do they have to accommodate?  I think by sending your kid to a place that serves food, you accept their menu to some extent. 

    On the other hand, I think the daycare food is crap and I hate that they give my kid straight juice.  He isn't allowed any sugared beverages at home, so I don't like his teeth rotting all day at daycare either. That said ive checked out a LOT of daycares lately and haven't encountered a single one not on the federal food program.  

  • I only got to read through some of the responses, but yes I think it's absolutely ridiculous, and would find a loophole. I'd see if I can send in one of the puree pouches (Plum Tot, Revolution Foods, Happy Baby, etc- now everyone makes them) in lieu of juice. I would think that would suffice. And it's real fruit/veggies
  • Lurker here.... You are not being unreasonable.

    My dad is a food program inspector so I've heard stories like this. If the daycare is on a state food program they may have to serve juice to get the money for it. That being said, they may be required to serve it, but your child in not required to drink it. My dad has seen several food programs where the children are served what is required but it just goes in the trash. As long as it's served that's all that matters. It's sad, but serving is all the matters when there's money involved.

    You have the right to medical confidentiality so what your Dr wrote should be good enough. I would put up a stink. The building I work in has a preschool and we have parents who make specific requests of what is served to the kiddos and the preschool ALWAYS complies. ALWAYS.

     

  • Krisdi, any updates?  Did your husband get them to see reason?  I told my H about this last night, and he got all riled up on your behalf.  It was kinda cute.

    imageGenevaV:

    Lurker here.... You are not being unreasonable.

    My dad is a food program inspector so I've heard stories like this. If the daycare is on a state food program they may have to serve juice to get the money for it. That being said, they may be required to serve it, but your child in not required to drink it. My dad has seen several food programs where the children are served what is required but it just goes in the trash. As long as it's served that's all that matters. It's sad, but serving is all the matters when there's money involved.

    So, how do you get a one year old to politely decline the juice that's served to her 3 times a week?

    image
    Baby Boxer is coming! 5.23.12
    www.focushunting.com
  • No idea. My one year old will eat/drink anything you put in front of him.

    My point is that the daycare may be required to serve the juice. If they aren't serving the juice they don't get mony from the government. I personally think it's silly and a waste but "required to serve" means $$$. In the end, a request from a parent and a Dr's note should trump everything else and this kiddos should be served milk.

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