How to Talk with My Daycare Provider

I would say something to her like "I've been thinking about it and it would really mean a lot to me if you wouldn't let little Tommy feed himself on the floor." He needs to be held when he's eating. Was she near them? I think it's something you can do without sounding confrontational.
Good Luck!!!!

M.,

My husband and I have had several issues that we've needed to talk to our daycare provider about as well... it isn't easy, but it is necessary. You could just tell her that you've noticed that a couple of times she's propped him with the bottle. You didn't feel comfortable saying anything before, but it's really been bothering you, and that you would like for her to hold him. If she tries to argue with you, explain your reasons why. If she responds well to your concerns, you can relax in knowing that you've made a good choice with your daycare. Good luck!

Licensed Daycare providers are NOT allowed to prop bottles for babies. They MUST be held during a feeding.....

A seven month old is probably old enough to start holding his own bottle, but if you are concerned that your son is not getting enough nurturing you may want to think about other options. I don't think it is a good idea to prop a bottle at any age when the child is laying flat. It just doesn't seem safe to me. Sitting up a little in a seat is a little better. Just remember though that no one can love and nurture your child the way you can. If your neighbor has several children she is caring for, it may not be practical to expect her to hold your child for every feeding. Of course, he should NEVER be out of her reach or sight while he is eating.

I use to work in a homedaycare, I wasn't the owner just worked there. I don't think we were allowed to prop bottles. I remember holding the babies and feeding them while sitting on the couch it was a relaxful time for me so I clearly remember that. I really don't think we were legally allowed to prop a bottle. Now if it's not propped and your child is holding the bottle on his own with no propping laying down or sitting up I don't think she would be in trouble for doing that. I still think she should have been holding them and not ignoring them laying on the floor by themselves.

Hi, I agree that it needs to be clarified if the bottles were propped for the babies (by some object supporting the bottle so your baby could eat) or if the babies were holding the bottle themselves, in which case it isn't a violation. I would also have the same reaction at first, why is she on the computer while 2 babies are eating? However, there could also be many reasons for the situation...did she just answer the phone and set one of the babies down or was it obvious to you she'd been on the phone/computer for quite some time. You should say something so you can discuss the situation with your provider. If she is a good provider she'd appreciate you voicing your concern so she can explain the situation or you both find a compramise that you both agree on -- if you want her to hold your baby everytime to eat and she has to handle feeding other babies at the same time. Good Luck.

Medically speaking, this is dangerous! I'd bring her a copy of a page out of a baby care book addressing the issue, and say you'd hope that she'd follow this advice for not only your baby's sake, but for all of the children in the daycare.

I think if she values her license, she'll listen. If not, get rid of her now!

I would say something...especially now that it's been a few days.

I would mention something like, "I happened to run across an article in a health magazine the other day and it stated how important it was for baby's to be held while being bottle fed, vs. being propped up, and it's given me a different perspective. I know you're experienced with feeding baby's, but after reading that article, I'd really prefer you to hold my baby while feeding him. I'm assuming you don't always feed the baby by proping him up right?..I just want you to know that that would make me uncomfortable and I just want to verify." She'll most likely agree with you and comply.

There really are health concerns to not holding the baby. For one, there is a choking hazzard because baby bottles placed in the mouth can fall down too deep, while emiting liquid and if the baby is too young, it could drown for lack of muscles to remove the bottle. There is also the air in the bottles, of which don't get expelled properly so that the baby gets more gassy and spits up more of the liquid, again, causing a choking hazzard if the bottle is in the mouth not being monitored by a person holding the infant. There is also a lack of bonding in which an infant needs no matter WHO is doing the feeding.

http://www.nncc.org/Nutrition/guide.bottlefed.html

http://www.babycenter.com/408_when-can-my-baby-hold-his-o...

Hope this helps.

there are probably better resources out there but these are 2 that I could find very quickly.

M., I am a licensed daycare provider and we are not allowed to prop bottles. We are required to hold the babies while giving them their bottles. Even when they can hold the bottle on their own, we are supposed to be holding the baby. This is a matter of safety, for your baby and the other infant there, so it does need to be dealt with. I am not one to like confrontation either, but it is not safe for this to continue. I know if I have a daycare parent who has a problem with something, I want them to come to me and let me know. I hope that all of my families feel comfortable enough to do that. Anyways, I would just tell her it made you uncomfortable seeing your baby laying flat on the floor with a propped bottle and that you would prefer she held him during feedings. Period. Honestly, I can see a rare occasion where you may need to prop a bottle, but if she was sitting on the computer and the phone, it makes me wonder what other parts of her job is she not doing correctly/safely? I would even consider contacting licensing about this issue.
S.
mom of 3 and daycare provider

If she's licensed I would check with the licensing center for your county. See if she's breaking any rules first. Maybe at a certain age they don't have to be held by the provider while taking the bottle. Sometimes they get so busy and maybe she doesn't do it all the time. I'd be upset and feel the same way.

Our previous daycare lady spanked our child and told us about it and we blew it off. I knew it was against the rules, but didn't want to say anything out of fear of her taking it out on my child. We ended up leaving and I gave her a negative review. Since it had to do with spanking the county had to do an investigation which I was not a part of and have not heard what happened in the end. The county did say that I should have said something to the provider first. I just couldn't.

I personally would blow it off but I'd look for someone else. She knows the rules. Our daycare lady requests that any concerns be brought up to her first. She's easy to talk to, but I still feel uncomfortable. I always note something on their evaluations if there is a danger to kids.

I would say something. When my oldest was in daycare I walked in to see him in a bouncy seat with his bottle propped up by blankets. I was very irritated. It was a center and she was alone but not doing much when I came in so she really had no excuse to not be holding a baby during a feeding.

You should make sure that your provider is not caring for more than the allowed number of infants. There is a limit that depends on what type of license she holds. It is written on the license which should be displayed somewhere that you can see it when you come into her house. The reason that the limit is there is so the provider can hold the babies and care for them properly. If your child is not being cared for in the way that you instruct, stop taking you child there. You can handle this politely and if there is any awkwardness it will be on her part because she wasn't doing her best job.

Were they holding their own bottles, or were they propped up?? .