Is it actually true that formula bottles can't be mixed at daycare because of state law? My daughter's formula has to be mixed right before she eats because of the probiotics in the formula. If they heat it, then it kills the good bacteria. I also put cereal in her bottle to help with her reflux. If I put the cereal in before it will thicken the formula too much.
EDIT...I was told by one montessori school that it's state law while another said "they had too." I understand it's for sanitation purposes but not sure if it's true that it's state law. I have written the DFPS to get clarification. Will post what they say when I find out.
Thanks, everyone. Looks like this is not state law, just preference. My daughter's current daycare is currently mixing her formula but I am thinking about moving her. It's too bad that almost every private school will not accomodate for children that have reflux. Especially when you're willing to pay the extra money to ensure they are getting good care and somewhat of an education. Thanks again for the help!
Perhaps you can get a written prescription with instructions from your pediatrician about mixing immediately before feeding.
My boys were in in-home care for the first 2 years of their lives and the provider mixed their bottles herself before the feelings. My oldest son is now in a Private Preschool and their infant classroom requires the bottles to be premixed everyday. It really depends on the school, sounds like you might need to look into an in-home facility to help with your specific needs.
Not a State law. I work in Christian childcare where we take infants at 8 weeks. Our caregivers make bottles daily. The parents have the option of preparing them at home or just bringing a supply of powder to be used. Most bring the supply.
If your daycare is stating that, I would ask them for back up. It seems unreasonable. Or...lazy...? You're paying them for a service. They should understand your daughter's condition and food preference.
when i use to be an asst dir at a center licensing told us the powder and water had to be pre measure. Like the turnabout formula containers and we could mix the formula in the water but we could not scoop and measure our own.
I'm pretty sure it is part of the State's rules for daycares (Minimum Standards). The daycare I used to work at had the same rule. If the parents didn't mix them, they had to do it when dropping off, then all bottles were refridgerated. I don't know if there's a way around it with a dr's note for your LO, but you could check.
I don't know TX state law, but I worked in daycare in CA, and we could not mix formula bottles because that would make us liable if the baby was somehow not receiving the correct nutrition. If the teachers were under or over feeding the baby beased on mixing a bottle with the wrong proportions. Working with babies in WA, however, I always mixed the bottles at work. You just have to check with licensing for your state.
For what it is worth - I live in Illinois and we used the formula provided by the daycare to feed our child (Good Start). All we had to do was send in the pre-labeled bottles that had his name and the formula amount on it and they did the rest. I wonder if it actually is different in Texas?
Jennifer,
I run a state registered in-home childcare in Dallas and I prepare the baby bottles myself with the formula provided by the parents, they actually leave the whole formula can at my house. I am not aware of this rule, but, as you know, in-home childcares, even if they are regulated by the state, are much more flexible than centers. It is a good idea to check with DFPS.
Not a state law. It might be a center policy, but the state law line is BS. My younger son had severe reflux and has a similar situation with his bottles and our center, private not in-home, fixed his bottle right before he drank them.
Their policy is that they don't take pre made bottles because of an incident where a parent was putting medication into the bottle and then the child had a medication reaction and they had no idea what whas in the bottle when they had to seek medical treatment. But, that is just one center's policy.
Jennifer
I am a homebased texas provider for 23 years and vice-pres of our local child care association.
I would suggest you go on the state dfps website. There you will find the written regulations for both centers and home daycares. If you'd like the phone number for the director of licensing send me a private email message.
I'd be happy to share any info I have!
I know there was some talk of that around here because some moms weren't putting in enough formula so the kids were only getting half strength, which obviously isn't healthy. So it was either premixed or mix then. Not sure if they actually followed through with the law, because my kids outgrew the stage, but it would make sense to me that "they have to."
