thread: BLS and day care

  1. #1
    Registered User

    Aug 2008
    Adelaide
    1,488

    BLS and day care

    DD has just started family day care. I've been told that her care provider can only give her food that is pureed or mashed otherwise it's a choking hazard. I always have some Rafferty's Garden foods on hand in case I'm short on time or feeling lazy and don't mind providing this for her lunch when DD is in care. I'm just wondering what other people do when their child is in care.

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Sep 2008
    Melbourne
    3,300

    My DD was older on starting day care 12 months, but I specified no mashed up, in the beginning they weren't following this (lack of communication between management and carers) but she wouldn't eat it so now they give her the same as in the toddler room (she is in baby room 0-2 years), and didn't seem to have any issues with doing it but maybe that is because she is older. I think they like it because is easier for them, although it often means more washing for me!

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Jan 2008
    Central Coast NSW
    2,160

    BLS and day care

    I don't do bls, but my fdc mum has always been happy to go with whatever I wanted/was our normal routine. I doubt there would be childcare rules specifying purees? Maybe ask if there are other carers available who would be more comfortable with bls or offer to spend some time with the fdcarer so she can follow your system? Goodluck

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Aug 2008
    Adelaide
    1,488

    I checked out the national standards and they just state that food should be "appropriate to the developmental needs of the child". I guess its open to interpretation to what is developmentally appropriate.

    My FD carer is a friend (our husbands work together) and DD loves her. She has only started doing FDC this week and DD is her first and currently only child in care. She was happy to go with BLS but happened to have a visit from FDC yesterday and was told not to give DD anything that could put her at risk of choking. Since my friend is only just starting out I don't want her to feel she has to "buck the system". I'm happy to provide pureed/mashed food for now. I was just wondering what other people's experiences were/are.

  5. #5
    Life Subscriber

    Jul 2006
    Brisbane
    6,683

    I don't think they can refuse to give her what she eats at home. Perhaps print off some information about BLS and show them? I guess it won't hurt your DD to have purees there if all else fails, although she probably won't be interested in mush if she's used to real food.

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Apr 2009
    in the garden
    3,767

    Pie's FDC carer gave her pretty much whatever I said was Ok. I did keep in mind that she might not be as comfortable as I was with some things but I didn't alter it much - just told her she copes fine with it & she went with that
    She did comment at about 9 months that 'she eats a lot that a normal 9 month old doesn't' but she never mentioned any rules or standards.

  7. #7
    BellyBelly Member

    May 2008
    1,110

    Maybe go the in-between route - things like chopped up softer fruit or avocado or cheese or not-very-crusty bread or rice or risoni pasta or whatever that are "normal" foods that are mushier?

  8. #8
    BellyBelly Member

    Feb 2007
    3,734

    my DS goes to a child care centre... he would never eat puree or even v mushy food... still wont.. they have givcen him finger foods since 9 months and now he has the same food as the ELC kids@! the chef loves him! apparently he opften stands at the kitchen door and the chef feeds him LOL!
    given she is a friend and you dont want to make her umcomf i would provide whatver she is comfortable with that he will eat - soft foods, some purees/soups/yoghurt etc, then she wont get into trouble...

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Nov 2008
    221

    My DS goes to daycare, and i showed them how he eats lunch on a visit, they were quite suprised at how well he could feed himself at almost 8mths - they were happy to try BLS - esp as DS wouldn't eat mush/off a spoon until he was about 10mths old. We did go through a phase of him getting toast at every meal though as they thought the big kid food was too tricky. Now he eats everything with the bigger kids, including fried rice with his hands lol. They all comment how well he eats. As long as you are happy with DD getting some mush I wouldnt worry about it - and try to ask her carer what she would be comfortable with as finger food and start there - once she sees how competent BLS babies are maybe she will start to offer a wider variety