It's amazing the mail that piles up when you can't connect to your internet
service provider...

Keep in mind that the following comments are coming from a mom who has
worked full-time since her first child was six weeks old (I'm expecting
number 3 in 6 weeks).  And oh, if I only knew what I know now when I first
took my daughter to day care over 5 years ago.  I've had to find a new
provider on several occasions when they didn't meet my standards. This
topic hits a sour note with me.

I have several concerns with the practices of this daycare.

1.  Inflexibility in the child not being provided what is the best thing
for his health-EBM.  IMNSHO, it's none of their business, particularly if
he has a cow's milk allergy.
2.  Inflexibility in not wanting to learn how to handle expressed
breastmilk.  If one doesn't know, one should ask!  It sounds as if they
have resources in the infant room in the day care.
3.  Inflexibilty in not allowing bottles into the toddler room.  For
example, both of my children still used bottles of EBM on occasion at this
age, particularly at naptime, while in the arms of their childcare
provider.  I have serious concerns with the lack of individual care that
the day care setting is requiring.  Are they taking the pacifiers away from
them too (Heaven forbid if they knew my kids had them at naptime and
nightime until they were two!)?   Are they actually recommending not only
moving the child into a different setting, but also want the bottle taken
away from him, perhaps if he's not developmentally ready for it?  This is
something that needs to be done gradually on the child's schedule, not the
daycare's schedule.

Some suggestions might be discussing her concerns with the director of the
day care at a time when she's not rushing to work or rushing home after a
long day at work. She could also have her physician write a letter to the
director of the daycare explaning why this child needs EBM.  She could also
provide them with some education on handling and storing EBM in the day
care setting (perhaps using Jeanette's "hamburger" suggestions), though I
don't see why the day care providers in the infant room couldn't train
those in the toddler room.  This "that's the way we've always done it"
attitude needs to be more accomodating to the children they entrusted in
their care and the parents who bring their business to them.

Most day care providers are open to suggestions from parents as this is a
business and you want your customers and the children entrusted in your
care to be happy and healthy.  Why would they want to care for a sick,
fussy baby on cow's milk when he can be happy and healthy with EBM? Who's
to say he's not allergic to soy milk also?  EBM in a sippy cup sounds like
a great idea.

Last resort-find another day care provider who has the needs of the family
in mind.  From my experience, this is not an easy decision but you also
have to have peace of mind that your child is well cared for when you are
working, if you have to work away from the home.

Let us know how things go.  Off my soapbox now.

Maurenne Griese, RNC, BSN, CCE, CBE
Birth and Breastfeeding Resources  http://www.childbirth.org/bbfr
Manhattan, KS  USA
[log in to unmask]