Formula/Baby Food

[Cat Herder]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1540447/ - Infants are at high risk for iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia. This review summarizes evidence of long-term effects of iron deficiency in infancy. Follow-up studies from preschool age to adolescence report poorer cognitive, motor, and social-emotional function, as well as persisting neurophysiologic differences. Research in animal models points to mechanisms for such long-lasting effects. Potential mechanisms relate to effects of iron deficiency during brain development on neurometabolism, myelination, and neurotransmitter function.

[Cat Herder]

I serve formula until 24 months for better brain development. I serve the formula before the meals to ensure they take enough to meet their daily nutritional requirements, before table food.

Most families diets are not well balanced enough to meet their toddlers nutritional needs, especially iron, and their mental development suffers. (most of my kids eat only one meal per day at home, often fast food) I serve it in a bottle until 12 months, then a cup until 24 months. 6 ounces with snacks, 8 ounces with meals.

I have not had anyone diagnosed with autism here since I made the change. Before that I was batting 1/4 for the last 12 years. I only enroll newborns so this is a valid consideration for me. These kids literally eat the majority of their meals, birth to 5, with me.

I am not saying it prevented it, but I am not saying it did not. Doing more is always better than doing less when it comes to nutrition. *As a kid who was given lead painted toys/crib, we don't know everything yet. The 20 hour brain development training I took a while back made me rethink infant nutrition, other countries view infancy until 24 months. Honestly, what can it hurt if I am wrong?? I provide formula and write it off 100% anyway.

At 24 months, I serve 2% and protein at every meal/snack.

[Blackcat31]

Are you on the food program?
Even if you are not participating with the food program some state's licensing rules/regulations require providers to feed children according to the CACFP meal patterns anyways.

[Momboss]

Unless its for medical reasons, i wouldnt allow the formula. I made a set of rules/expectations for infants turning 1 and let the parents know around 8 months what i will be weaning them off of. I know since you dont accept infants, before enrolling you can let them know what/how you feed the kids. That you dont do bottles, that the children should know how to use a sippy cup by 12 months. Stuff like that.
i could be wrong, but i think if you follow a food program, they have to be on milk? You could always use that excuse. Honestly i would start giving him milk, and when he starts drinking it without issues, i would tell the parents you gave him milk and he just loved it so they dont have to bring formula anymore. If they give you push back, tell them since he seems to do fine here with milk, they will need a medical note with a diagnosis to why the child needs to stay on formula at daycare.

[GirlMomma]

I no longer accept infants under 12 months. While I skip most of the hassle, I now see that maybe it helped parents actually parent and helps the infants developmentally.

Right now, I have a 15 month old DCK that is still on formula and baby food. With the formula, they also send baby food pouches and those baby puffs that dissolve. This isn’t a big deal to me, I don’t buy it. However, developmentally, it’s a concern. The DCK’s I had at an early age were capable of eating cereal with milk and a spoon (with minimal mess) between 15-18 months old. The bottle was gone at 12 months and transitioning over to milk also began at 12 months - in a sippy cup.

When the DCK is here, I do feed him like I would any 15 month old - I serve him what all the other kids eat and encourage utensil use. He gets one bottle a day, he’s usually full from the meals I provide. It’s not until close to pick up time that he gets hungry. I have considered just giving him milk here, but then I would have all this extra formula and I don’t know what to tell them when they ask if he needs formula if they haven’t transition him at home.

When it’s brought up to the parents, they say they don’t follow the parenting rules book and the child will transition to whole milk when he’s ready. How does the child know he’s ready if they’re not working on it with him?