Nanny giving toddler unapproved food

[Anonymous]

Last night while I was cleaning up I found a few Cheerios in my 1-year-old's high chair. No big deal, right? Except we don't have Cheerios in our house and I don't give them to my son. I have food sensitivities and we're careful with what he eats. I have plenty of options for snacks and meals for him that require little to no work on our nanny's part. When I asked her about it this morning, she said she must have accidentally dropped them. I told her that I had found them in his chai not on the floor. She had no comment. She apologized but its more than that to me. Her contract states that our son is to get only food that we provide or is approved by us. If she wants to give him a different snack or has other suggestions, fine. But ASK! Any other parents have similar experiences? How did you handle them?

[Anonymous]

Has he been exposed the ingredients in Cheerios with no reaction before? If so, she probably figured since he is not allergic it would be fine.

[Anonymous]

That would really bother me OP. who cares if people think you're being oversensitive? You clearly told the nanny no other food, and she not only disobeyed you but then lied about it. How does she know whether he really can't tolerate some kind of food? Messing around with food rules is not acceptable. Lying about it is even worse.

[Anonymous]

I agree, I am a nanny and I would never go against parent wishes on food choices. I have always sat dawn and chatted with parents if I had new idea for introducing more food choices, etc. I know some families have to be really careful with food sensitivities, so I would never introduce a food without talking to parents first. Honestly, lying is what would bother me more. ESPECIALLY about food. I only work with families who believe in all organic/natural/clean foods for little ones (personal choice of mine) and if I ever found out someone else wars giving other foods to one of the kiddos without parents or my knowledge, I would be livid and that person would not be allowed around the kids. I am pretty passionate on this issue though..

[Anonymous]

Cheerios keep kids occupied for a long time. Put in a nanny cam and see what she's doing during her cheerio break.

From a nanny.

[Anonymous]

Why don't you look for a nanny who is more inline with your wishes. Clearly it isn't the one you picked.

[Anonymous]

If it's in your contract that she only feed him approved foods, then you definitely need to find a new nanny.

[Anonymous]

Find a fucking real problem, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Find a fucking real problem, OP.

Shut up, you loser!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cheerios keep kids occupied for a long time. Put in a nanny cam and see what she's doing during her cheerio break.

From a nanny.

Seriously, you are that jaded/paranoid that you think the nanny is giving her charge cheerios to distract them so that she can be devious?? Find a new profession, you are clearly burnt out.

[Anonymous]

^ Ummm why else is she bringing Cheerios to work????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ Ummm why else is she bringing Cheerios to work????

Maybe she is eating Cheerios herself and sharing them.

[Anonymous]

I would be concerned about the lying and the fact she did something you explicitly asked her not to do. It doesn't matter how minor it may seem to other people. If she lies about that what else will she lie about.

We had a nanny who seemed great despite what we thought were a few small lies. She would lie about little things like when I told her she should feel free to eat anything or make coffee if she'd like. She totally me on multiple occasions that she would never eat our food etc, despite my telling her on multiple occasions she could, but food would disappear, like my coffee creamer that my husband hates and my kids were obviously not having. We thought the little lies weren't a big deal since she was good with the kids until one day she accidentally gave DC too much Advil. When she realized her mistake (and I realize it was an unintentional mistake) she lied to try to cover it up. That was when I realized I couldn't trust her at all and we had to let her go.

So my point is be careful of the little lies because it could lead to bigger ones.

[Anonymous]

It could also be an isolated incident; didn't want to get into trouble and just evaded. No big deal once, bigger deal if it repeats.

Does she know how concerned you are about food sensitivities? Maybe she needs to be reminded.

[Anonymous]

I would start looking for a new nanny. You don't know what else she has given your son. My trust would be broken and if I can't trust you, you are not going to watch my child.