How to approach?

[Skysue]

I just started watching a very sweet and caring almost 3-year-old boy. He is clearly obese; I can't even lift him very well to take him over the gate to the nap room. My DD is 6 years old and is close to 48lbs he is well over her weight. I would say close to 60lbs.

His Mom on his medical info sheet says he doesn't know when to stop eating and to watch his portions and only offer healthy alternatives.

When it comes to nutrition that’s my middle name! I'm just extremely confused as he tells me they give him chocolate cereal for breakfast and lost of chocolate treats at home?
He is always asking for juice but I told him we get water at my house and juice once and a while as a special treat.

How to approach the subject without hurting feelings? He has only been with me for a week and I have been thinking of doing a cooking corner to my electronic daily reports. Plus nutrition facts and tips.

What do you ladies think?

P.S He isn’t fussy when it comes to eating anything he loves fruits and veggies!

[AmandaKDT]

You can only do so much at daycare, it has to be at home as well. You could serve him only the most nutritious food, but if he is eating junk at home it negates all your good efforts. If you really want to help him, you are going to have to talk to his parents.

I am in a similar situation right now, I have a 3 year old dcg that apparently lives on juice at home (and not even real juice, the sugar-filled fruit punch type juice) and gets sent it in her lunch here everyday as well. I have to force her to drink water everyday because all she wants is her juice box. She is a skinny little thing, but I really think she is getting sugar overload everyday. She also told me she eats Lucky Charms for breakfast everyday too - lovely! So I am just getting my thoughts together now about how to bring up this discussion with her mom because I think it is really detrimental to her long term health. Don't mean to high jack the post, but I was just about to put my own post up when I saw this.

[torontokids]

You could say to mom that you guys were talking about healthy eating and he mentioned he eats a lot of chocolate etc when each child spoke about what they eat at home. I would say that you are confused as they asked that he eat a healthy diet and inquire about what their ideas are for healthy eating. You can then give a copy of your menu and explain what the kids are eating and that he has been eating super healthy without issue.

If he gives his parents a hard time at home re: food (or perhaps they have just developed some bad habits) offer to have a healthy eating week as one of your themes which incorporates them tracking what they eat at home or perhaps trying a new healthy recipe at home. I've had these conversations with families that have very small children and the child is a very picky eater. One family consulted with a nutritionist and is incorporating some of our meal ideas at home.

[mimi]

I don't think you can change what these parents are choosing to feed their child. I am sure their family doctor is aware of this child's weight issues and has already advised Mom who may not be following doctors advice but is well aware of what he should be eating. All you can do is feed him well at your home and to help him want to make healthy choices by teaching him the benefits of doing so.
Explain your food choices to him like juice tastes good, but it has a lot of sugar which our body doesn't like so we chose to eat our fruit instead. Just encourage his love of the fruits and vegetables and congratulate him on his good choices.

[Skysue]

I don't think you can change what these parents are choosing to feed their child. I am sure their family doctor is aware of this child's weight issues and has already advised Mom who may not be following doctors advice but is well aware of what he should be eating. All you can do is feed him well at your home and to help him want to make healthy choices by teaching him the benefits of doing so.
Explain your food choices to him like juice tastes good, but it has a lot of sugar which our body doesn't like so we chose to eat our fruit instead. Just encourage his love of the fruits and vegetables and congratulate him on his good choices.

Thanks I will push promoting what's healthy to my daycare group. I need to get food group cards like the food guides used in the schools.

We preach this to our own DD and she knows what's junk and what's good. She has turned down stuff from friends due to it being bad for you. She loves Nips crackers and always asks me to buy them but I explained that they contain MSG and that is a poison to our bodies.

I will work on finding those cards!

[Crayola kiddies]

Also I read an article in the newspaper last summer regarding cereal and it said that if two of the first three ingredients are sugar or forms of sugar (corn syrup, glucose/fructose ect) then don't buy it .... It's like eating candy for breakfast.

[daycarewhisperer]

I did an interview a while back with a family that had two girls. A one year old and 2.5 year old. They were the heaviest children I have ever seen in real life. The older girl was so heavy she couldn't climb the basement stairs. She got really winded before we got up six stairs and had to stop. Just walking around in my playroom winded them. I cut the interview short because I knew I couldn't accommodate them. They wouldn't fit in my equipment and they wouldn't be able to make it two houses down the sidewalk for our walks. I would have had to hire an assistant for them to adapt my environment to meet their needs.

It was very sad that kids could get that heavy that young.

[Skysue]

I did an interview a while back with a family that had two girls. A one year old and 2.5 year old. They were the heaviest children I have ever seen in real life. The older girl was so heavy she couldn't climb the basement stairs. She got really winded before we got up six stairs and had to stop. Just walking around in my playroom winded them. I cut the interview short because I knew I couldn't accommodate them. They wouldn't fit in my equipment and they wouldn't be able to make it two houses down the sidewalk for our walks. I would have had to hire an assistant for them to adapt my environment to meet their needs.

It was very sad that kids could get that heavy that young.

I would never turn a child away based on the issues you just posted about. This little man needs me to help mold him and guide him to have healthy core values and to help him identify the best food choices to make.

My group lives outside going on walks, hikes, we ride bikes and are always at the park. In the winter we dance a ton and are as active as possible. Getting physical is what he needs.

I am so saddened by your rude remarks and hope that one day you will be convicted of your un loving heart.

[daycarewhisperer]

I would never turn a child away based on the issues you just posted about. This little man needs me to help mold him and guide him to have healthy core values and to help him identify the best food choices to make.

My group lives outside going on walks, hikes, we ride bikes and are always at the park. In the winter we dance a ton and are as active as possible. Getting physical is what he needs.

I am so saddened by your rude remarks and hope that one day you will be convicted of your un loving heart.

Sorry you are sad! :-)

I couldn't accommodate the children. I would have to hire someone for them to supervise them and care for them during activities they could not do. My business is too small to spread out the cost of an assistant for them. I would have to substantially alter my program to meet their needs.

If they could have come with a subsidy to purchase equipment and hire staff for them then I would gladly taken them.

I simply couldn't afford to provide care. It isn't personal. It's just money.

[Skysue]

1st off this will be my last time responding to you as I feel like a hamster on a wheel going nowhere.

You make your equipment sound state of the art? Are you a licensed centre or a home daycare? What kind of stuff do you own that cant handle larger kids?

My daycare kids play with puzzles, blocks, playdough, books etc... what could they possibly break? I also have booster high chairs nothing a baby can break.

I'm beyond sad ...