3.5k
Daycare and childcare providers in Winnipeg, Toronto, Vancouver, Ontario etc. in CanadaGarderies à Montréal ou au QuébecFind daycare or childcare providers in the USA
Forum control
+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 18

Thread: Cherrio Diet

  1. #1
    Starting to feel at home...
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Posts
    211
    Thanked
    30 Times in 25 Posts

    Cherrio Diet

    So I have this 13 month old that will ONLY eat Cheerios. I serve a WIDE variety of lunches with at least 3 options per meal (all of which I expect to be eaten). However, this child will only eat Cherrios for every meal. Breakfast, snack, lunch, snack. His mom supplies the box of cereal, as I normally do not have specific cereals on hand. But I WANT him to eat what I serve. He is very little to begin with.

    Today I tried to serve shredded roast beef with gravy (last nights dinner), roasted potatoes, grape tomatoes and barlett pears. He SCREAMED for about 10 minutes until I poured cheerios onto his highchair and he downed them.

    His mom does not seem concerned and openly said that she is fine if he only eats Cherrios all day (5:45am-4:45pm). What should I do? Should I even continue to waste food by serving it to him? Should I take away the Cheerios completely? Should I offer just a small option of the real lunch?

    I have done ALL of the above by the way, just not sure which method I should stick with.

  2. #2
    Outgoing
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Durham Region, Ontario
    Posts
    300
    Thanked
    70 Times in 58 Posts
    I had one like that last July. She was my screamer who I couldn't put down or leave the room. She lasted a month, parents got their notice at the 2 week point.

    This kid was sent (14 months old BTW) with cheerios, goldfish crackers, and arrowroot cookies as well as pureed fruit packages. I accomodated to her fussy appetite the first week to help her settle in here. After the first week she was given what everyone else was eating or she didn't eat. Well, she didn't eat. I would tell her mom at pickup that she wasnt' eating anything I offered her. Mom was fine with her only nibbling and having the cheerios, goldfish and arrowroot cookies. I was NOT. The other little ones began pointing at her "food" and wanting it themselves. She lasted another 2 weeks in my care. She is clearly being babied and catered to at home and parents clearly were not working on her independence as I was being told.

    This is not a good habit to get into. How long has she been with you?

  3. #3
    Starting to feel at home...
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Posts
    211
    Thanked
    30 Times in 25 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Sassygirl View Post
    I had one like that last July. She was my screamer who I couldn't put down or leave the room. She lasted a month, parents got their notice at the 2 week point.

    This kid was sent (14 months old BTW) with cheerios, goldfish crackers, and arrowroot cookies as well as pureed fruit packages. I accomodated to her fussy appetite the first week to help her settle in here. After the first week she was given what everyone else was eating or she didn't eat. Well, she didn't eat. I would tell her mom at pickup that she wasnt' eating anything I offered her. Mom was fine with her only nibbling and having the cheerios, goldfish and arrowroot cookies. I was NOT. The other little ones began pointing at her "food" and wanting it themselves. She lasted another 2 weeks in my care. She is clearly being babied and catered to at home and parents clearly were not working on her independence as I was being told.

    This is not a good habit to get into. How long has she been with you?
    He has been with me for just over a week. He is also my screamer, with the same situation, screaming when I leave the room or take a step away. However, he is slowly getting better in that regard. He mom said that he is the same way at home, follows her and is constantly by her side.

    This is the little boy whos father just pasted away. So I feel for the mother. I am trying my best to get this little guy set, settled and into routine as I imagine his home life is completely upside down at the moment. That being said, it seems normal for him to only eat cereal.

  4. #4
    Euphoric ! bright sparks's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    2,074
    Thanked
    807 Times in 564 Posts
    I think you should remove the cheerios COMPLETELY. I think you should also have a very frank conversation with the parents on the plan of action and try to get them on board with removing cheerios from their house altogether. I hazard a guess, a pretty confident one at that, that the parents are catering to him and that is where the problem lies. It is going to be very difficult to break but not nearly as difficult as if you wait to take control of this and try when the child is 18mths or 2yrs. The child knows with absolute certainty that if they scream long enough they will get what they want. A strong willed child will probably hold out for a good day or two fighting you and the parents before they break and try other things, maybe even longer. Ultimately it will probably take a few naptimes and bedtimes with an empty stomach before he realizes that the grown ups aren't playing this game anymore. Can you spoon feed? I totally get that at this age they should be more independent and you are busy with the others, but if the child were able to at least taste something else on a regular basis, even if they don't have more than a spoonful, it may help. It's like the child needs to be weaned again.

    This parent is okay with you feeding them cheerios all day because THEY ARE LAZY! They don't want to deal with being the PARENT as the child is to demanding and challenging so as a result they have given in to the childs mealtime demands and have a child who is ruling the roost. If every adult who cares for this child NEVER EVER EVER, gave in to the "cheerio screaming" I am very confident that in a week or two there would be some changes in this boys diet. It is our job as caregivers to cater to the childs needs not wants. I would offer 2-3 tbsp. of food per meal or snack time so there is less waste and have some reserves in case he eats and wants more. NO CHEERIOS. If you want him to eat, take back control and have the parents on board by telling them as it is. Otherwise you will likely be fighting a losing battle.

  5. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to bright sparks For This Useful Post:


  6. #5
    Euphoric ! bright sparks's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    2,074
    Thanked
    807 Times in 564 Posts
    Okay, after reading your last post I feel like a complete ass for the "LAZY" comment. For obvious reasons this child has probably been allowed to get his own way as mum has been trying to cope with the recent loss, which is totally understandable. That being said, it still needs to be addressed and she still needs to get the cheerios out of the house and just deal with it asap and then he will no doubt settle better into daycare too. Apologies if I came off as insensitive. That's what can happen sometimes when significant pieces of info are not given.

  7. #6
    Euphoric !
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Posts
    1,340
    Thanked
    751 Times in 483 Posts
    With the passing of his father recently I would be more lenient with him as his world has been shook up pretty good.

    Have you tried serving your food then sprinkling cheerios on top of the food with him watching? Maybe it will be enough to get him eating other foods.

  8. #7
    Starting to feel at home...
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Posts
    211
    Thanked
    30 Times in 25 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by bright sparks View Post
    Okay, after reading your last post I feel like a complete ass for the "LAZY" comment. For obvious reasons this child has probably been allowed to get his own way as mum has been trying to cope with the recent loss, which is totally understandable. That being said, it still needs to be addressed and she still needs to get the cheerios out of the house and just deal with it asap and then he will no doubt settle better into daycare too. Apologies if I came off as insensitive. That's what can happen sometimes when significant pieces of info are not given.
    No worries. That is why I mentioned it in the response comment. But to be completely honest, the 3 days that I served him lunch before his father passed (and had been out of daycare for 1.5 months) he would not eat lunch here. However, he was not supplied Cheerios, so he was just hungry. On his first day back to daycare, last week, Cheerios were not brought into the picture until I mentioned to his mom that he took all of his food and put it into the pile on the highchair.

    Yes, I have tried spoon feeding him. But he shuts him mouth tightly and buries his head into the side of the highchair. He is more then capable of finger foods, as he downs the cereal.

    I have NOT tried sprinkling his food with the cereal. But I imagine, that he will just pick them out.

  9. #8
    Outgoing
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Durham Region, Ontario
    Posts
    300
    Thanked
    70 Times in 58 Posts
    I think that you need to help this little guy. By continuing on with this he is going to have nothing but food issues later on. He is young enough that after a few days he will give in and realize he needs to eat what he is being offered or he goes hungry.

    Talk to mom, say you understand that there has been a huge loss in their family and that she is doing the best that she can but you have concerns about him fitting in your daycare. You simply cannot accomodate this Cheerios diet as its impacting the other kids which if it hasnt yet, it will.

    You mentioned the other screaming issues similar to what I had. That is another issue as well which has to do with fitting in a group setting.

  10. #9
    Euphoric ! bright sparks's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    2,074
    Thanked
    807 Times in 564 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Lee-Bee View Post
    With the passing of his father recently I would be more lenient with him as his world has been shook up pretty good.

    Have you tried serving your food then sprinkling cheerios on top of the food with him watching? Maybe it will be enough to get him eating other foods.
    The loss of his father is absolutely devastating and I don't mean to sound callus because I am not that person. But....this child needs stability and routine more than ever. If leniency is given it is going to be counter productive. He is 13mths old not 5. He isn't acting out because of the tragic passing of his father. The OP also mentioned that before his fathers passing he was not a good eater. I think a gentler approach with the mother is needed but still the conversation needs to be to the point so she doesn't miss how this could turn into a much greater problem to be dealt with in the future. If this child is molicoddled due to the loss of his father then he will likely not just be a picky eater but problematic in other areas too. He can still have lots of extra love while still doing whats best for his actual needs, not his caregivers transferring there needs on to him by babying him more than necessary. If this child was 3, 4 or older, then things would be very different, but the sad truth be told, at age 13mths he probably doesn't notice the absence of his father that much.

    Such a sad situation for the family, I hope you are able to work through this eating issue and that having a stable caring caregiver will not just help the child but reassure the mother too.

  11. #10
    Euphoric !
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Ottawa, Ontario
    Posts
    4,499
    Thanked
    1,469 Times in 1,125 Posts
    I would try the putting the cheerios on the food and so what if that is all he picks out it will have the flavours at least or a bit of mashed potatoes or cheese sauce of the food. Over time he may eat some of the food too. To compensate putting 5 cheerios on the plates of the other kids is not going to make or break their meal either. No seconds of cheerios for anyone. I would also not allow the child to have just cheerios ever even if it means zapping a tablespoon of potatoes to give at snack - again even if he just picks out the cheerios to eat.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts

A few tips...

Do not hesitate to refer to this article to help you choose a daycare provider, know which questions to ask, have an idea of what to look for...
Did you know?
Current available openings are updated constantly. Come back often to see the newest daycare openings in your neighborhood!
Partner in your
search for a daycare provider