How to Nicely Tell Daycare to Stop Feeding My Child JUNK?!

Updated on March 29, 2008
L.Y. asks from Minneapolis, MN
4 answers

This week I found out daycare has been giving my daughter M&M's and chocolate chip cookies as a snack/treat. So my daughter had her first taste of candy and chocolate at daycare. My daughter is 21 months old and I would like to provide her with healthy eating options and try to stay away from sweets for as long as possible. Since this is happening I feel like my daughter is getting mixed messages. She looks in our pantry and looks for candy. She even ask for it ("where candy"). How do I tell my daycare nicely, but in a way where she will not think I am a controlling...you know what? I like our daycare provider, but have a fear that she will not receive it well and will treat my child differently afterwards. Any moms who has confronted their daycare about this same issue, please help. Thanks!

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

So I talked to my daycare provider and told her that my husband and I are trying to teach our daughter to eat healthy and noticed the other day she was eating M&M's and chocolate chip cookies. I told her we do not have sweets and sugars in our home and don't want our daughter to get mixed messages. We want her to eat as healthy as possible and if she could give our daughter fruits, crackers instead of candy. At first her initial reaction was 'shock'. Then she received it pretty well after her first initial shock. Going forward she will not be giving my daughter candy or chocolate chip cookies as a snack...so thank goodness! Thanks for all the advice. It was the courage and support I needed to build up enough courage to speak to her.

More Answers

N.B.

answers from Minneapolis on

You just need to talk to your provider...its a simple as that.

I am a licensed provider...and in response to others who posted...No, we are not restricted to what can or can't serve the children. There are not any set in stone rules, licensing or otherwise (here in MN) that restrict us from serving cookies or candy for a snack or treat....but we do have criteria if we claim them for that meal on the Food Program. Candy does not qualify...but cookies do a few times a week..there are limits, they won't qualify for an every day snack....but as I said, if you do not claim that snack or meal...there is no specific criteria that must be follow. However, common sense should prevail..for me it would anyways.

I don't have a problem with, and I do, serve cookies or treats on occasion...a few times a month or for holidays/parties, etc.....but mostly here...a snack is crackers and milk (fishys, ritz, cheese its, etc)...if parents have concerns about it I would hope they would ask and discuss their concerns with me. This is my advice to you....talk to your provider.....tell her your concerns

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.D.

answers from Minneapolis on

Linda,
I am a licensed child care provider and am really shocked that another provider would serve candy and cookies on a regluar basis! The kids end up being wild and hyper, which is not a good thing!! Not to mention how unhealthy it is. If she is licensed and on a food program, she needs to follow certain criteria as far as what foods she serves, and candy and cookies don't count! I just don't understand why should would want to serve them. Not only all the sugar, but treats are more expensive them better alternatives.

Anyways, you need to say something. I would just let her know that you don't want your child being served treats like that, period. But start out with saying some good things about the daycare - how your dd loves going there and you feel so comfortable with her that you feel you can talk to her about an issue that is bothering you and not offend her. Just be honest, she should understand. If she is a good provider, she will not feel any differently about your child, nor treat her any differently after your conversation.

Good luck!
S.
mom of 3 and licensed family child care provider

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

Is your provider licenced, because I don't think those are approved foods for licenced providers.

I wouldn't worry about being nice. I'd just say..we don't do candy or sweets for snacks. She only gets them on special occasions. We are trying to limit her sugars.

If she has a problem with that, I'd suggest looking elsewhere. Even if you do like her. I haven't confronted day care about it as I know we're on the same page as each other in relation to snacks and sugars...but I have had to have the conversation with my MIL.

If you end up having to bring your own snacks, I would ask for a discount in your rates, because your rates were originally including her providing food and snacks.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.K.

answers from Minneapolis on

When my daughter was about 15 months, she went to an in home daycare that gave snacks like that. I knew this before I brought her there, and like you, wanted my daughter to have healthy snacks. So every day I packed snacks for my daughter and told the woman that is all i wanted her to eat at snack time. She totally respected my wishes. I think the weird thing in your situation is that you didn't know that snacks would be candy and cookies!

So, my advice is to just straight out tell her your wishes. And offer to bring your own snacks. It's tough, because as you now know, once a kid has the "candy-bug" you can't go back.

Good Luck!

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions