1yos and bottles - I'm NOT happy with daycare

amynicole21 wrote: I posted yesterday about Nora's weight - she has dropped from the 99% to 40% over the last 3 months. I took her into daycare this morning and told them that it was imperative that she drink all of her milk each day. They have been trying to switch her to whole milk from a sippy now that she is in the 1 year old room. I have been sending 1/2 formula and 1/2 whole milk bottles, but either they don't give them to her and give her whole milk in a cup instead, or pour what I send into cups. She HATES drinking her milk from a cup, and because of what they are doing she is drinking much less milk this week (her first week in the 1 yo room). I explained that it is FAR more important to me that she drinks her milk/formula than that she is drinking from a cup, so I told them to continue to give her bottles for now.

One of the head daycare ladies said that while SHE didn't mind giving Nora bottles, could I please have my doctor's office fax a note saying it was medically necessary that she has them? Apparently, DCF has rules against kids over 1 year old drinking from bottles, so if they ever came in for an inspection and saw Nora with one they could get in trouble. A note would clear them of responsibility.

I'm going to call my Ped, but there isn't a medically necessary reason for her to have bottles at this point, so they might not send a letter. I think this is utter bull-puckey. She is MY child and I deserve to be able to call the shots on this matter!!

amymom replied:

Very very true. I think a note from you ought to cover them with DCF. However, I am sure the peds office will write up something anyway.

This is a free country BUT somepeople want to run a dictatorship!!!

b&bsmom replied: I am not sure where you are from but I used to work in daycare and I do not believe we had that kind of rule. We encouraged them to get off the bottle but if they needed it we would sit them at the table ( we had the kind with the chairs built in it like a high chair kind of thing. Hard to explain) and they could drink there. The problem is you don't want them walking around with them in case of another child getting ahold of it and "sharing" I understand they don't want to give a bottle if they don't have to because if the other children see it they will want it. HOWEVER you are the parent and they are to follow your instructions for the most part. I would talk with the director and expalin the sitiuation and your concern and work something out with them. They should be able to accomadate you and do what is best for your child. Good Luck and KUP

boyohboyohboy replied: I am also wondering if this is a true DCF rule, I once called DCF to ask about some proticals, maybe it wouldnt hurt to just check on that yourself. They were very nice to talk too, and maybe once the daycare knows that you are not afraid to investigate these issues with DCF yourself, they wont be as inclined to bully you.? JMO.
Good luck.

ediep replied: wow, thats nuts!!! I sure hope your doc would write the letter.

~Roo'sMama~ replied: Oh my goodness, that's so crazy! I'm sure your doctor will write a note if you explain it to him, even if it's not medically necessary. I once got my doctor to write a note for my landlord that I needed a cat to live with me for mental health.

coasterqueen replied: That is completely NUTS and one of the reasons I despise daycares. All the stuff my sister says they do at the daycare she works at, floors me! I almost would call DCFS to see if that is really an honest answer and if so DEMAND why they have that rule .

amynicole21 replied: Well, I just called the ped and they said they would write a letter for me. I still think that they are BSing me on this regulation, but at least this should get me what I want for now.

Kaitlin'smom replied: I agree check to see if it a real rule or someting they have made up. If not maybe since she droped in weight they will make up a note for you.

MamaJAM replied: I don't get why they need a letter from her ped? Why can't they just have something in writing from YOU -- the MOTHER -- saying your child drinks from bottles?! I agree - sounds like complete crap...though it sounds like they are playing a major game of CYA.

My older son refused anything but bottles until he was nearly 2...mostly because we had just been switching him over to cups when his brother was born and he kept stealing his brother's bottles (for comfort mostly, I think) -- so we just gave them both bottles. Like you said - it was way more important to me that my kids DRINK than what they were drinking from.

I hope you can get this all cleared up quickly.

3_call_me_mama replied: Sorry they are such BUTTS to you abou tthis Amy. glad your PED wrote teh note though!
I know that here it is a state reg (in daycare centers) cannot be put to be with bottles and can not WALK AROUND with bottles (too many injuries) but there is no age requirement for having them off a bottle. that is a center preference. Also you need a ped not to serve WHOLE MILK to a child UNDER age 1 here. OR a note stating that they have dietary needs other than the ones set by the state for child care centers. You can get in trouble for that. But not for allowing a 1 year old to have a bottel while they are held or seated. BS from this center IMO!

Brias3 replied: Glad you're getting the letter but I agree with another person who mentioned this- I never heard of such a rule when I worked at a daycare center back in college. What a nuisance for you! She's your child and when nutrition is at stake, this shouldn't be a rule or convenience factor for them. How ridiculous.... to you!

mummy2girls replied: That is BS! When Jenna was in the 1 year old room she was still given bottles. And they said there is no rule agasint that or cups... I find that rule really wierd! It could be diff where you are but i cant see why?

that is one big reason i gave up on daycare centres... when teachers dont go along with the parents wishes...

ilovemybaby replied: I'm glad your Ped agreed to writing the note. But I would still call DCF and ask them if this is really a rule. And then ask them why your wishes should not be enough to override the rule.