Anonymous
05/04/2013 11:23
Subject: One of my charges eats chocolate for breakfast every morning
You don't really know if this is true, OP. Children are not necessarily accurate reporters. So, keeping this in mind, it's best to mind your own business. If you must address what isn't your business, confine your feedback to the pickiness you observe on your shift alone.
Anonymous
05/04/2013 06:19
Subject: Re:One of my charges eats chocolate for breakfast every morning
Uh...this is our family....and you are posting on a forum about us????
Anonymous
05/04/2013 03:42
Subject: One of my charges eats chocolate for breakfast every morning
I agree with the above poster - we need more nanny advocates - something that has disappeared in this profession. Just mention - "I've noticed (her name) seems to be only be eating chocolate bars for breakfast, we should give her some museli".
Anonymous
05/03/2013 15:55
Subject: One of my charges eats chocolate for breakfast every morning
I would say something most definitely because her health and well being is at stake. Perhaps you can show your Mb and Db some nutrition requirements that you "found" while looking up new recipes for their picky eater. Just voice your concern. I'm a nanny that has more of a partnership with the parents rather than what the parents say is the rule and that's it. What good is it to hire an experienced nanny if you aren't going to listen to their input? I'm sure they're not that dumb to realize that having a candy bar in the morning is good for their child and having you say it out loud might be what they need to hear. Please be an advocate for this little girl. She needs it.
Anonymous
05/03/2013 03:09
Subject: One of my charges eats chocolate for breakfast every morning
OP:
This one is a tough call.
While I think that it is horrible the way this child eats, at the end of the day you are the nanny, not the parent.
The parent's job is to create the rules.
The nanny's job is to enforce these rules.
Sure, you CAN drop subtle hints.
I warn you however...Most parents do not appreciate parenting advice unless they solicit it.
If you do not want to put your job in jeopardy, I would just suck it up.
I once had a family who let their child eat stick butter for snack time.
As a mother myself, I NEVER would have allowed this in my home.
But I understood as a nanny, it is not my place to dictate how others raise their children.
It is difficult at best to bite my tongue, but I believe it goes w/the territory.
This one is a tough call.
While I think that it is horrible the way this child eats, at the end of the day you are the nanny, not the parent.
The parent's job is to create the rules.
The nanny's job is to enforce these rules.
Sure, you CAN drop subtle hints.
I warn you however...Most parents do not appreciate parenting advice unless they solicit it.
If you do not want to put your job in jeopardy, I would just suck it up.
I once had a family who let their child eat stick butter for snack time.
As a mother myself, I NEVER would have allowed this in my home.
But I understood as a nanny, it is not my place to dictate how others raise their children.
It is difficult at best to bite my tongue, but I believe it goes w/the territory.
Anonymous
05/02/2013 23:28
Subject: One of my charges eats chocolate for breakfast every morning
I wouldn't say anything. Like someone else mentioned, it's not your kid. If it's not happening on your time I would keep my mouth shut. If the parents are buying economy sized boxes of Hershey bars they clearly know their kid is inhaling them.
Anonymous
05/02/2013 21:44
Subject: Re:One of my charges eats chocolate for breakfast every morning
OP here - thanks everyone for the input.
My other charge mentioned it in passing. She said, "this morning while [younger charge] was eating her Hershey bar..." and after she finished her story I asked her to clarify. I asked, "Does [younger charge] usually eat a Hershey bar in the mornings?" And older charge said, "yes, every morning. That's the only thing she eats, because she's so picky." Later she showed me a big "family pack" of full-size Hershey bars that was hidden behind some big boxes in the cupboard. I didn't ask her to show them to me; she showed me because we were in the cupboard for something else.
My other charge mentioned it in passing. She said, "this morning while [younger charge] was eating her Hershey bar..." and after she finished her story I asked her to clarify. I asked, "Does [younger charge] usually eat a Hershey bar in the mornings?" And older charge said, "yes, every morning. That's the only thing she eats, because she's so picky." Later she showed me a big "family pack" of full-size Hershey bars that was hidden behind some big boxes in the cupboard. I didn't ask her to show them to me; she showed me because we were in the cupboard for something else.
Anonymous
05/02/2013 20:20
Subject: One of my charges eats chocolate for breakfast every morning
One of my charges gets very cranky if he doesn't eat enough protein. But, you can't force a child to eat anything. You offer and move on.
Don't bring it up with the parents. It's not your place. Also, it could be a protein bar or something else.
Don't bring it up with the parents. It's not your place. Also, it could be a protein bar or something else.
Anonymous
05/02/2013 19:46
Subject: One of my charges eats chocolate for breakfast every morning
Anonymous wrote:PP - Parents will always love their kids more then any caregiver could. Many caregivers sit around looking at the clock or sitting on park benches so don't pull that "typical example of nanny behaving more responsibly then parents" because you don't no OP. You don't no how responsible she is or how irresponsible her employers are.
Typical example of anonymous babysitters who come on here to make parents look bad and try to make themselves look responsible or worthy of a 'well paid' rate.
As for OP - You could maybe suggest some healthy, child-friendly, breakfast items. If you do any shopping for your nanny family then possibly pick up healthy foods.
Are you sure it's a chocolate bar ? I'm sure the mother doesn't buy bulk Hersey bars for breakfast. It's probably a chocolate cereal bar or something. How did you find out? If your charge mentioned a 'choc bar' she could of meant a breakfast bar.
obviously OP is more responsible in this area than her parents are.
Anonymous
05/02/2013 17:03
Subject: Re:One of my charges eats chocolate for breakfast every morning
If you want to change this, you need to do it slowly. You need to start by making comments on her behavior and what you've noticed happens to her after she eats a lot of sugar. You also need to turn trying new foods into a game for her - tell her most people start to like a new food after they've eaten it 20 times and you guys are going to do an experiment and if she likes any of the foods on the 10th or 13th or 19th try she gets an extra sticker on her chart or however you celebrate milestones like that. A recent study suggests that if you haven't been exposed to a flavor before you're 2, you're unlikely to like it when you taste it, and that 10-15 exposures is about average for training the brain to like something. You can't reason that ALL out with an 8yo, but you can give her the child-friendly version and incorporate that research into your efforts and any discussions you have with the parents. This is something you have to approach sideways, not directly, if you want to make a difference.
Anonymous
05/02/2013 16:48
Subject: One of my charges eats chocolate for breakfast every morning
PP - Parents will always love their kids more then any caregiver could. Many caregivers sit around looking at the clock or sitting on park benches so don't pull that "typical example of nanny behaving more responsibly then parents" because you don't no OP. You don't no how responsible she is or how irresponsible her employers are.
Typical example of anonymous babysitters who come on here to make parents look bad and try to make themselves look responsible or worthy of a 'well paid' rate.
As for OP - You could maybe suggest some healthy, child-friendly, breakfast items. If you do any shopping for your nanny family then possibly pick up healthy foods.
Are you sure it's a chocolate bar ? I'm sure the mother doesn't buy bulk Hersey bars for breakfast. It's probably a chocolate cereal bar or something. How did you find out? If your charge mentioned a 'choc bar' she could of meant a breakfast bar.
Typical example of anonymous babysitters who come on here to make parents look bad and try to make themselves look responsible or worthy of a 'well paid' rate.
As for OP - You could maybe suggest some healthy, child-friendly, breakfast items. If you do any shopping for your nanny family then possibly pick up healthy foods.
Are you sure it's a chocolate bar ? I'm sure the mother doesn't buy bulk Hersey bars for breakfast. It's probably a chocolate cereal bar or something. How did you find out? If your charge mentioned a 'choc bar' she could of meant a breakfast bar.
Anonymous
05/02/2013 15:57
Subject: One of my charges eats chocolate for breakfast every morning
Typical example of the nanny behaving more responsibly than the parents. Some parents are too busy to be parents, so they give their kids anything.
I hope you are well paid, OP.
I hope you are well paid, OP.
Anonymous
05/02/2013 15:55
Subject: One of my charges eats chocolate for breakfast every morning
It probably won't do any good.
Anonymous
05/02/2013 15:54
Subject: One of my charges eats chocolate for breakfast every morning
Anonymous wrote:Nannies, do you think it's appropriate to bring up to the parents things that concern you about your charge, but that don't happen while you're with them? I'm not with my charges in the morning, only after school, but I've recently found out that the younger one (8 year old girl) eats a chocolate bar every morning for breakfast, and nothing else. The lunch she brings to school is juice, a Gogurt and some cookies. She's not overweight and she gets lots of exercise, but I'm pretty sure that her poor diet has an effect on her behavior. She is always grumpy, seems tired, is very unreasonable - she essentially behaves like a toddler who really needs a nap.
Since I'm not with her in the morning, would it be inappropriate to voice my concerns to the parents? Not in a snippy, "you need to do this with your kid because I said so" way, but in a way that communicates that I'm worried her poor nutrition is making her feel crummy, and that her unhealthy eating habits might stay into adulthood if this continues.
For what it's worth, I try to make sure that my charge eats well when she's with me, but she's incredibly picky. She will eat carrots and chicken nuggets, but that's the only non-dessert food she will eat. I encourage her to try new foods - for instance, I was eating some cut-up cantaloupe the other day and told her, "This cantaloupe is really sweet and yummy, do you want to try some?" She took a teeny nibble and then dramatically spit it out, scraping at her tongue and whimpering like I'd just funneled toxic chemicals into her mouth. She does this with every single food you ask her to try.
So before you all flame me, I promise that I'm trying my best to broaden her food horizons, but there are times when I'm not with her, like in the mornings when she has chocolate for breakfast, and my question is whether I should be quiet about it or voice my concerns to her parents.
No because at the end of the day it is not your kid and the mom will resent you for bringing it up.
Anonymous
05/02/2013 15:50
Subject: One of my charges eats chocolate for breakfast every morning
Nannies, do you think it's appropriate to bring up to the parents things that concern you about your charge, but that don't happen while you're with them? I'm not with my charges in the morning, only after school, but I've recently found out that the younger one (8 year old girl) eats a chocolate bar every morning for breakfast, and nothing else. The lunch she brings to school is juice, a Gogurt and some cookies. She's not overweight and she gets lots of exercise, but I'm pretty sure that her poor diet has an effect on her behavior. She is always grumpy, seems tired, is very unreasonable - she essentially behaves like a toddler who really needs a nap.
Since I'm not with her in the morning, would it be inappropriate to voice my concerns to the parents? Not in a snippy, "you need to do this with your kid because I said so" way, but in a way that communicates that I'm worried her poor nutrition is making her feel crummy, and that her unhealthy eating habits might stay into adulthood if this continues.
For what it's worth, I try to make sure that my charge eats well when she's with me, but she's incredibly picky. She will eat carrots and chicken nuggets, but that's the only non-dessert food she will eat. I encourage her to try new foods - for instance, I was eating some cut-up cantaloupe the other day and told her, "This cantaloupe is really sweet and yummy, do you want to try some?" She took a teeny nibble and then dramatically spit it out, scraping at her tongue and whimpering like I'd just funneled toxic chemicals into her mouth. She does this with every single food you ask her to try.
So before you all flame me, I promise that I'm trying my best to broaden her food horizons, but there are times when I'm not with her, like in the mornings when she has chocolate for breakfast, and my question is whether I should be quiet about it or voice my concerns to her parents.
Since I'm not with her in the morning, would it be inappropriate to voice my concerns to the parents? Not in a snippy, "you need to do this with your kid because I said so" way, but in a way that communicates that I'm worried her poor nutrition is making her feel crummy, and that her unhealthy eating habits might stay into adulthood if this continues.
For what it's worth, I try to make sure that my charge eats well when she's with me, but she's incredibly picky. She will eat carrots and chicken nuggets, but that's the only non-dessert food she will eat. I encourage her to try new foods - for instance, I was eating some cut-up cantaloupe the other day and told her, "This cantaloupe is really sweet and yummy, do you want to try some?" She took a teeny nibble and then dramatically spit it out, scraping at her tongue and whimpering like I'd just funneled toxic chemicals into her mouth. She does this with every single food you ask her to try.
So before you all flame me, I promise that I'm trying my best to broaden her food horizons, but there are times when I'm not with her, like in the mornings when she has chocolate for breakfast, and my question is whether I should be quiet about it or voice my concerns to her parents.