Am I wrong???

JBDamonM

Let me preface this by saying I love our daycare. They are fantastic and do a great job........BUT..... One thing making me bat shit crazy is their lax feeding schedule.

This is where they and I differ. When LO is home with me she gets her 6 ounces every 3-4 hours (exact length Btwn depends on her mood). They do 8 ounces and stretch her longer. What annoys me is that they think that her food should push the stretches longer and I disagree. (That's where I wonder if I am wrong).....

She was there a shortened day today and only got 1 bottle plus food. And as I predicted earlier in the night I think it's messing with her sleep and I am now giving her 4 ounces to tide her over. For some reason I am potentially irrationally annoyed about this. She was there from 1030-430, and was due to eat at arrival or soon thereafter. I strongly feel she should have had a second bottle, bc I'm not going to give her 8 ounces at 515, when she needs dinner and them goes down two hrs later.

What do you think? Am I overreacting?

La Olivia

You're not overreacting. Have you asked them to feed her more frequently? I have worked with kids in many capacities. When the parents ask me to do something, unless there is a damn good reason that I can't, I do it.

JBDamonM

In fairness I have not. I like to get all my ducks in a row before making requests of them - and be sure I feel I am right.

I am not sure if at 9 mos LO should be eating bigger amounts less often, but I am pretty sure it doesn't work for her. I've noticed a lot of times on her chart that she's not even finishing the bottles. I also don't believe her food should count the same as a full feed. When she gets food at home I may wait an extra hour in Btwn bottles, but that's the max. They seem to wait 2 hrs....again, maybe I'm wrong in these thoughts but this is the second or third time she's been lightly fed during the day and every time results in a bad night with lots of wake ups.

La Olivia

You have an absolute right to tell them what feeding schedule you want your baby to be on. All babies are different. Mine drinks 4 ounce bottles and great big meals of solids. They obviously couldn't be on the same feeding schedule even though they are around the same age.

Daycares are going to do what they think is best or easiest until you tell them otherwise. If they are a good center they will respect your wishes on this.

ClandestineX

For what it is worth, Connor is drinking 8oz bottles every 3-4 hours. So the schedule is:

Wake up (between 7-8)

bottle 1

solids (maybe)

nap

bottle 2

solids

nap

bottle 3

solids

bottle 4

bedtime

bottle 5  (between 8pm and 9pm) 

maybe bottle 6 throughout the night.

So, I honestly think how much food each baby is getting is dependent on the baby. If you feel like she isn't getting enough then talk to them about it. It is your child, you are paying them. 

So no, I do not think you are wrong to want them to give her some more food.

MKC12/22/2006

I would tell them to do exactly what you want: 6 oz and every 3-4 hours. You can explain the sleep situation, but you don't have to.

My friend's daycare has been feeding her 7 month old 12 oz of pumped milk at each feeding because she thinks he is hungry. They don't always know what's best.

TuckleUp

You're the parent and know what's best for your child. The daycare works for you. They should take direction from you, not the other way around. Good luck!

JSS1002

I don't think you're overreacting but it is all in the delivery - we actually had a similar thing with James a few weeks ago where I didn't feel like he was getting enough oz during the day, and I just casually mentioned to the main teacher, "Hey, can you try to feed him a little extra this week, he's been waking up in the night and I think it is because we aren't getting him to 30 oz during the day."  That took care of the problem.

I'm about to address a similar issue but in regards to naps - I feel like he's kind of loosey goosey with naps at daycare and I'd like them to be a little more structured... sometimes he gets one,sometimes he gets two... they don't have him on any sort of schedule, which makes weekends difficult, because I don't know what routine to replicate.

Good luck!

arschm02

You are the parent. You decide the feeding schedule. I can't believe they have the nerve to go against your wishes like that! I can't imagine ever doing that to one of my parents. 6oz every 3-4 hours is totally not crazy often... They are out of line. I guess it would be different if your child was actually refusing to eat that often. I would bring up your issues of her being up more at night to eat because she isn't eating as much in the day. Tell them that you don't want her to have 8 oz and go longer, that you would much rather have them do the 6 every 3-4 hours. Good luck!