Question for Daycare Providers

How much food do you feed the baby and how often? At that age, she should be eating solid foods 3 to 5 times a day (more like small snacks than meals). And she should be drinking water with the solid food.

I am sorry. I never could understand that... I would just try to talk with her about it and explain the baby needs more milk. If she doesnt' want to bring it it's her choice. However, your choice is to not watch the baby anymore - if it comes to that. Good luck.

oooooh -- sticky situation.

Are the nipples slow flowers...Meaning, is baby getting the milk too fast -- Faster than she'd get it from the breast? That might be one thing to try. Bottles can empty faster than a breast which doesn't give the tummy time to tell the brain that it is satisfied.

However, at 9 months both my boys had more than 5 oz per bottle. My oldest went straight to 8 oz at 3 months (and slimmed down while doing it...it is just that way he's built) while my youngest maybe hit 8 oz by 9 months (and despite eating less he was a chubby customer - again, just built that way (tho not anymore *sigh*).

Short answer: Tell her you will try using water between but if it doesn't work in X days, then tell her she will have to work with you and a new approach. Make sure she understand you are acting out of concern for the infant's well-being and that you cannot in good conscience continue to care for an infant you believe is being undernourished.

When our little guys were infants and on WIC they were getting dry cereal, 100% juice, and formula at this age. I googled how much formula for a nine month old and got 24-32 ounces per day. I would make sure if she is feeding the baby enough at home after she is picked up.

Tell her that you need her to bring the baby some food and then if she doesn't make sure the baby is hungry when she picks her up the next few days. Not going without, just timed where it's time for her to eat and have nothing for her. Tell the mom, "I have already fed her everything you sent, sorry".

Hi
My, that is so annoying,you are thinking of her child and she is still not listening to you.
I am not a daycare provider but my son is in daycare.
If they told me that my son needed more milk I would send in a barrel load lol each day.
You are going to have to up the ante with telling her. Say to her "your baby is hungry and I NEED you to bring this milk as I will not have her in distress from hunger".
I feel so sorry for the poor child.
Best of luck and thank you for being so thoughtful towards the baby girl.
B.

I am a former infant caregiver, and this is my 2 cents:

Does the baby eat anything else besides these 3 bottles? It really doesn't seem like 3, 5oz bottles is enough for a 9 mos old. After all most 8-9 months olds are already eating cereal and baby food in addition to the breastmilk or formula.

If she eats baby food, then I would give her 2 bottles and add more milk from the 3rd bottle to eat, then have her eat baby food at lunch time with maybe some of the milk that is left form the 2, 8oz bottles.

This must be her first baby because if it wasn't she wouldn't have to check with her doctor about something as simple as feeding her baby.

See what Babycenter.com and other helpful web sites have to say. There are plenty of articles with info from experts., this may help you talk to her about this issue and show her that you know what you are talking about!

Good luck!

My 1st son was BF and I worked full time and he never took more than 3 bottles that size. He did increase eating more regular food though. It is hard for a Mom to pump more than that really unless they can take more breaks. I would tell her the time when she is fussy and maybe just ask for an extra jar of food for that time period. Just feed her less towards the end of the day so that Mom can nurse her right away to help keep up her supply.

Wow my son is almost 5 months and eats 8ozs every four hours. I think this woman is misinformed about the care and feeding of her child. My son weighs 15 lbs now but was 8lbs 9ozs at birth. He is also very tall at 27 inches so the doctor told me that he was doing great. I would let this mom know that you can not in good conscience just feed this baby only 5 ozs when she is hungry afterwards. Water isn't good for the baby until a certain age either and that puts you in a bind. I would maybe suggest that she takes the baby to a doctor and get a note for you on what her proper feeding is, if this is a specialized case. Maybe until then you shouldn't watch her daughter. I bet the woman comes back fast with more breast milk. That or tell her that if she can't bring more breastmilk ask if you can supplement with formula. It's that or the doctors note. Leave it up to her, but I wouldn't feel comfortable unless there was a doctors note, that's just me then she can't say that you did anything wrong. Cover your assets. Good luck, mom.

I do licensed home childcare and an on a USDA sponsored Food Program. With the food program we are required to offer a child, at 8 mos old (on that exact date, if not sooner..but at 8 mos we have to record it daily for reimbursement)...a breakfast and lunch of IFIC (Iron fortified infant cereal), IFIF (Iron fortified infant cereal) OR Breastmilk..along with a fruit or veggie.

So basically the USDA and pediatricians general thinking overall is that a child by the age of 8 mos needs more food. If a parent objects to this timetable (and they certainly can) they need to fill out some paperwork.

Personally, I would not be able to work with a family that is ignoring, etc, my requests for more food for their infant in this way. My BF babies...all bring me frozen milk...either as back up, or for my daily use for their babies and I always have "extra" I can access. What if you spilled some on accident? Or for frozen bags...often I have one where as it thaws in a cup of warm water...the bag shows to have a hole in it (leaking into the water).

Have another more firm discussion with the mother. At 9 mos, that child should be starting to prep for table foods, IMO. I currently have a 7 mos old BF baby in care who eats cereal at home...but is a "problem eater" so we are working thru things..and an 8 mos old formula baby...who eats a TON of cereal mixed with fruits or veggies and formula at breakfast and lunch (and currently baby yogurt to help her sore antibiotic bum area)..plus her 3-4 six-ounce bottles each day.

Try again with mom....
Good luck!

Hi there,

What is this child's feeding schedule, and what is the time length between the first bottle and lunch? You could try some solids right after the first bottle, just to tide her over until lunch, too.

I think, if it's your inclination that the child is fussy because they are hungry (and not because she's missing mama, or just really likes her bottle), I'd try to get mom some good information about diet for 9 month olds. The baby would optimally be on solids at this point, and mama should be packing enough. As a former nanny,I would be REALLY CLEAR about how much food you want the mother to bring. She may not be able to produce more milk, and might not want to pack formula, but she can provide more food. Also, be sure to keep a log of when you are feeding baby and how much, so mom has something to reflect on.

A couple years ago, when my son was about the same age, we were searching for a good pediatrician. At his 9 month appointment, after my son's weight and height were taken, I was told my son was "overweight". My jaw just about hit the floor, because he'd been primarily breastfeed and had only recently started solids. If I hadn't been working with kids for so long, I would have been crushed at this remark. (Instead, I took it as a sign that this provider wasn't as knowledgable in their field as I'd hoped.) Perhaps this mom had a similar exchange and was very affected by it, I don't know. But if that baby is hungry, she either needs to be fed sooner or fed more.

At 9 months, the baby is old enough to be eating solids. Are you giving her solids and snacks other than milk?

I used to be a nanny, so I understand :) I would just tell her that it's important. If you feel like your bugging her, you can just give the baby water, a lot of parents do that. It certainly won't hurt

I'm not a daycare provider but have 2 girls myself. My 8 m/o is still only taking 4 oz per feeding. We've tried to increase the amount per bottle but her tummy can't handle it. In fact our DR had us hold off on solids because we get more nutrients from the formula. We are just now starting solids at 8 months. My daughter takes 4 oz every 2 - 3 hours, anymore than that and she vomits it all back up. Perhaps her baby has had the same issue. Maybe suggest sending an add'l bottles and altering the feeding schedule to feed her sooner. Is this her 1st child? Maybe she just doesn't know any better or maybe she isn't producing enough milk to provide and is feeling insecure about it and is in denial. Whatever the case I would approach her again about it and tell her how much distress her baby is in between feedings. Ask if she does that at home as well. Tell her honestly that it is not good for the baby or for you for the baby to be fussing all the time. You have other children there to tend to as well.

Hi,
Maybe you could be more specific when you are speaking to the Mom. Let her know exactly when time you feed her, how long it took her to drink them bottle, how many burps (any spitting up) and then let her know what time she started fussing again. What did you do to help the child? How long does she cry (be specific, write down how long she cries). When you get her to stop how long does it last that she is happy again. Maybe seeing it in writing will help her understand when you are saying you think she is still hungry that her daughter is very unhappy for a longer period of time.
Just keep talking to her you both have the babies best interst in mind.
Best Wishes!