Re: Daycare ...diet and sickness

[Guest guest]

At the doctor's suggestion, we got the flu shot before he started Mothers Day

Out. His first year he started last January and got several ear

fluid/infections. His pediatrician told me they get a lot the first year just

being in contact with other kids, but the trade off is they are not as sick when

they actually start school since their bodies have built up an immunity. He

went/goes 2 days a week until 2, and I pack his snack and lunch. (BTW, he goes

to 2 different MDO programs - 1 at our church and 1 at a school he will most

likely attend.)

DO NOT expect them to buy a special food for your child; they buy the cheapest

food in bulk and GFCFSF is NOT in their budget. Supply and mark your own

snacks!!! Get a good relationship with the teacher and director. This does not

mean going in and issuing demands but explaining his condition.zs

He is now in his second year of daycare and has not been sick at all, other than

seasonal allergies. The only time we have problems is if we have a substitute

that is not aware of his schedule. (An e-mail at 2 am to the teacher and

director when he was up with reflux due to not being fed his snack has all but

eliminated any problems!)

If I were you, I would start with your church or a private faith-based daycare.

They are usually more expensive, but they are more willing to work with your

child. Personally, I am leary of home-based daycares just because they are on

the news constantly in the town I live in, and not in a good way! Our town also

has 2 special-needs private schools, one of which has a Pre-K program. If your

town has one, call and ask them for suggestions.

[Guest guest]

FWIW... there are some programs for young children that will be

mindful of the snacks. We had our youngest at a Montessori program

last year (when she was ages 2-3) and they fed to the lowest common

denominator of food requirements. She was the only one in the

classroom with a restricted diet so they just did snacks every day

that were okay for her.

This was not the most expensive Montessori program in town, just the

most thoughtful. It was wonderful and an amazing support system as we

tried to get her diagnosed that year. I loved that she wasn't

segregated during snack time and there was no risk of swiping foods

from another child. At that young age they just don't understand.

She is now 3.5 and she knows she can only eat food we send with her.

The school (different Montessori) is reasonably accommodating but it

isn't as much of a concern anymore.

- Kati

[Guest guest]

FWIW... there are some programs for young children that will be

mindful of the snacks. We had our youngest at a Montessori program

last year (when she was ages 2-3) and they fed to the lowest common

denominator of food requirements. She was the only one in the

classroom with a restricted diet so they just did snacks every day

that were okay for her.

This was not the most expensive Montessori program in town, just the

most thoughtful. It was wonderful and an amazing support system as we

tried to get her diagnosed that year. I loved that she wasn't

segregated during snack time and there was no risk of swiping foods

from another child. At that young age they just don't understand.

She is now 3.5 and she knows she can only eat food we send with her.

The school (different Montessori) is reasonably accommodating but it

isn't as much of a concern anymore.

- Kati