Almost 2-yr-old still on baby food!

[Lee-Bee]

I see 2 options. Continue to only offer foods...and hope he will come around eventually.

Or just give baby food and let the mom do it on her own.

I would pick the route that makes my life easiest as you clearly are not going to change the family for the better without a lot of aggravation on your part.

How disruptive is the kid crying all through nap to you? How miserable is he? If he's stressing you or the other children out with his hungry whining then I'd just give baby food and tell the mom that when she is ready to do her part at home you will do your part, until then he gets the food he is trained to want.

I don't think it's worth your energy and stress to try and fix this problem. Take the easy route and enjoy the peace you get from his belly being full!!

[mickyc]

I disagree! There is no way I would be feeding the child baby food. Mom can do what she wants at home but the child isn't stupid. He will know that he doesn't wine and get his way at your house. Go hungry then and be cranky but do not let the child win.

Ha ha, maybe I am too much of a mean a$$ LOL

[Teagansmom]

I disagree! There is no way I would be feeding the child baby food. Mom can do what she wants at home but the child isn't stupid. He will know that he doesn't wine and get his way at your house. Go hungry then and be cranky but do not let the child win.

Ha ha, maybe I am too much of a mean a$$ LOL

I totally agree, I learned my lesson about parents supplying food.

[kimg]

I disagree! There is no way I would be feeding the child baby food. Mom can do what she wants at home but the child isn't stupid. He will know that he doesn't wine and get his way at your house. Go hungry then and be cranky but do not let the child win.

Ha ha, maybe I am too much of a mean a$$ LOL

I get what you're saying, and I don't think you're mean at all. That's what I do for a lot of other situations. But at this point, the provider has done all she can for this kid, but the parent is making it basically impossible for her to make a difference. I'd suggest to do whatever makes her life easier. This isn't mentioned, but does he at least know how to use a spoon? If not, start there, so at least you don't have to actually spend the time spoon feeding him at every meal. Hand him a bowl with his food and have him go to town until he figures it out.

[CrazyEight]

Nope, won't use a spoon. They've never given him a chance to try. I gave him a plastic spork with his pasta today, which amused him for about 30 seconds, but he never makes any attempt to actually use a spoon; doesn't even try to grab the spoon when I'm feeding him yogurt or something.

He ended up going to naptime hungry, wailed for a while, but did sleep for about 2 hours, so I'm really at a crossroads. I either put up with the noise at the beginning of naptime, knowing that eventually he'll probably sleep, or I just give in and feed him the stuff. For now, technically I can, since I only have him and my own 16-month-old who eats everything and doesn't need any help, during the day. I'm advertising to fill spots, however, and if I end up with one or 2 more little ones, then I really won't have the time to be feeding him. It was one thing when I had 3 1-year-olds all on baby food, it was just an assembly line, but now that he's the only one on baby food and is making no attempt to get off of it it's becoming a problem.

I really want to keep at it, and not give him any, in the hopes that he will eventually eat. I worry about his nutrition though, eating essentially nothing except cheerios and crackers here all day, and then going home to have a couple bites of pablum and some baby food, which is all he eats at dinner. It's just not enough. He's on milk now too, not formula, which would at least give him the nutrition he's missing. With the parents not on board it could take weeks at least, he's an incredibly stubborn little guy, and I don't want him to suffer nutritionally for weeks on end.

[AcornsFalling]

I agree with mickeyc. He will get it eventually.

[bright sparks]

How long have YOU eliminated baby food as an option at daycare?

[CrazyEight]

Almost 2 weeks, and zero improvement. The only things I have spoon-fed him are yogurt or applesauce, when everyone else is having it for snack. I feed these to my 16-month-old as well, or nothing would make it into her mouth! I really think I haven't gotten anywhere because he knows he'll get fed at home. He will eat crackers, goldfish, toast, rice cakes, cheerios, etc for me, but I've started limiting those because he just fills up on them and won't eat anything else. I've also limited his milk intake, since again, he just fills up on it. I offer water with meals, which he generally refuses.
It's now the point where he will just sit and cry and whine through lunch, as soon as he eats the one thing on his plate that he will touch. If I don't provide anything that I know he'll eat, he'll just sit there and whine. I try to put it on a spoon and feed it to him, no dice. I ignore him, no dice. I say things like, "you're a big boy now, you eat big boy food!" and show him how all the other big kids are eating big kid food too, no dice. I remind him he's not getting anything else and it's nap time after lunch, no dice.
I don't think it's going to change unless his parents wake up and stop the baby food, and they apparently have no intention of doing so. At some point I think I have to realize there's only so much I can do, and he's not my kid to parent. I just don't know if it's better to continue in the hopes that eventually he'll relent, or cave and do it the parents' way.

[mickyc]

Honestly, still after reading your posts I wouldn't give in! Maybe it is because I am stubborn too but I would never let a child win over me. I am the boss and it is what it is. Don't like what I am serving then too bad, go hungry. My 12 month old started at daycare a month ago on baby food and mom still holding his bottle. In the last 4 weeks he has been switched completely over to solid food (cut into small chunks) and his formula in a sippy cup. He is getting the hang of feeding himself too which is something he wouldn't do before.

Don't give up.

[5 Little Monkeys]

I sort of agree with both sides. I make one meal and that's it. If it's something that I obviously know a child really really doesn't like than I will add something to the meal that I know they do like so that at least they are eating something. Or I will make sure afternoon snack is one they will eat. I do think kids will eat once they get hungry enough but this can only go on for so long.

It sounds like you have given this a fair shot and have also spoke to the parents. I treat some things case by case and I think in this case, I would ask the parents to supply his food and just continue to offer him things from time to time that the rest are having. Eventually they have to stop the baby food and hopefully it's sooner rather than later but for now, I think that's what I would do. No point in stressing about something that the parents aren't obviously ready for.

If you are concerned about the nutrients he is likely not getting and if you feel comfortable with it, I would email the parents a link that shows the age appropriate food kids should be eating.