Hungry after daycare? Normal??

[Mamabear12]

My 16 month old daughter seems to be starving after her daycare. She is there a full day and is served tea (vegetarian meal at 4pm). I pick her up around 5:45pm. I researched online and see that it seems normal..but I wanted to check with others.

I understand 4pm is an early meal, and im told she usually eats well...so I wonder why she wants a FULL meal when I pick her up. For example, I bring snacks for the stroller bc it is 20 mins walk home...but now have started bring her meal pouches to eat while we walk home...savoury pouch, fruit pouch and when she is finished, she cries sometimes, so ive added yogurt, or baby biscuit etc.

I really like the nursury...but im wondering...r most kids hungry after a full day?

My daughter has a big appetite (just like her mama). I am sure she also has a fast metabolism (like her mama)....so maybe that is it? I pretty much can eat what I want (and sometimes more then my husband) and stay size 8/10 when not pregnant (and 5'8).

I do feed her a lot at home. My husband said she is constantly eating. She looks to me the perfect size...not chubby at all...not that it really matters at 16 months...since all babies have nice little rolls :)

I just want to make sure, im not over feeding etc.

[Rockchick1984]

When you say pouches do you mean like Ella's Kitchen type things? By 16 months things like that wouldn't have made a dent in my DS's hunger, can you not feed her a proper meal? Even something like beans on toast followed by some fruit (not a fruit pouch!) will be more filling, she needs real food not purée!

[ReetPetit]

the nursery will feed standard size portions - if they say she eats well, i would assume she does - i would assume she is eating the same/better than the others her age.

she could be comfort eating after a long day at nursery or she could just be eating for the sake of eating because she knows you always bring something!!

I agree that she should no way be eating fruit/baby pouches etc. i would get her to wait until she is home or if there is no way you can give her a meal when you get home, give her a sandwich/banana or something more suited to her age on the way home...

can you ask the nursery about portion sizes? it could be that you are feeding her excessively at home and they are feeding her normal size portions at nursery. just ask them what a normal portion is and how they find her appetite in relation to the others of her age.

[Mamabear12]

Okay, maybe it is the pouches? I give her Ella pouches sometimes. Feed her some other foods is trickey as she has strong gag reflex. But she is able to at rice now, toast and a few other things. I will try to give her more grown up foods. I suspect she eats well at school, but maybe just wants more bc the meal is at 4 and on weekends I feed her dinner at 5:30pm. The daycare said she has a really good appetite. I will ask if they can show me portion sizes as well. Thanks for the advice!

[gallicgirl]

At 16 months I wouldn't expect her to be eating any purees!

It might be her age. My DD used to eat lots when she got home from nursery but now isn't bothered. Checking portion sizes is an idea but I would imagine the nursery follow health authority guidelines for nutrition.

[ReetPetit]

Sorry to say this op but it sounds like your issue rather than nursery. No nursery i have ever worked in would be feeding a child this age purees. And surely if she had a strong gag reflex or medical condition the nursery would have picked up on it as they do not tend to spoon feed children this age and i assume she is eating a normal meal the same as the others. Be careful asking to see portion sizes as you don't want to come across neurotic, you could just enquire as to her eating compared to the others. Sorry to say it sounds like your toddler is trying it on with you and you are pandering to it. If she has a medical condition that is a different issue and you need to seek medical advice....

[Sheshelob]

I'm not sure a 16 month old can try it on, Reet.

Sounds like she is still hungry, or thirsty, so maybe try something that takes some eating (raisins or a big, no salt rice cake) on the way home and then give her a small portion of what you are eating for supper?

[ReetPetit]

Of course they can!!

[Mamabear12]

Yea, I agree with Sheselob! My daughter is hungry for sure. She gobbles up whatever food I give her after nursurey and cries VERY hard if I dont give her food. On the weekends we do not have this issue. It is just when I pick her up from nursurey. I am not blaming the daycare bc im very happy w them and my daughter loves going there. I assume it is the different feeding schedule they use bc last meal at 4 is too early. My concern was, she seems starving when I get her. If she ate at 4 well...she should be fine when I pick her up an hour and half later! But she acts like she is starved (well she does this any time she is hungry lol).

[peachypips]

My two used to always be starving after childcare. And thirsty.
I know they ate massive meals there but no snacks, and they ran around like loonies.
It's perfectly normal- when mine get home from preschool/school now they eat loads too- normally a piece of toast and an apple. As long as its not crap it's ok I think.

[forevergreek]

I would try and hold out until home tbh and just feed a small part of your meal together. If she's eying at 4pm she shouldn't be starving at 5.30pm. Can you just give her a drink on beaker on way home and then all eat at 6/6.30pm?
I'm sure the 4pm meal isn't a main meal more a large snack.

At 16 months though she Shouldn't need and purée and should be able to eat anything pretty much ( except hard nuts maybe)

[NarkyNamechanger]

The strong gag reflex is normal, it's a reflex they are born with to protect them. It doesn't mean so is or will choke and the only to desensitise it is to introduce proper food which she has to chew and swallow.

[peachypips]

forever - that's not true of all children though. If my two ate a massive meal at 4 then they would be very hungry at half five. And my kids are very thin and eat healthily.
DS1 just had two friends for tea and they had three sausages, mashed potato, carrot and broccoli for tea. They were then asking for a snack (all three of them) an hour later.

[ReetPetit]

no way should a child eating a 'massive meal at 4pm' be 'starving' by 5.30pm!! That's just greed imho...

[pizzaqueen]

I agree with others that by 16 months she should be eating family type meals not purees. These wont fill her, she's not a baby now but a little girl and needs proper meals.

My DS is always hungry after nursery, he goes for a half day and has a snack (usually fruit) at 2pm, then a 'dinner' at 4pm but this is very much a snacky type dinner' pancakes, toast, beans, pita pizza, not a full main meal. He then cries in the car home for something to eat and eats a full hot dinner when we get home.

They are so active all day at nursery that I think it's natural they'll have a big appetite on those days. Also she could be having a growth spurt?

[forevergreek]

Do people's children really ' cry with hunger' after an hour of not eating???! If they have been fed surely however small they shouldn't be crying with hunger.

A child should be able to cope fine on 3 meals a day. Most people in the uk add snacks, but even so.. If I gave mine a banana at 3.30pm they would be fine until dinner at 6.30. I don't think Iv ever fed them more that roughly every 3 hours. They have never asked for any food or said they are hungry. Ie at lunch I just feed them, but they have never said they are hungry or asked for lunch. I'm not sure they would even notice if they missed a meal tbh. They are vv active children ( walking/ running/ cycling 3-5 hours a day)

[sheeplikessleep]

My two have always been hungry after nursery. But I know they spend pretty much all day outside and are always absolutely shattered too. They must burn more calories on those days.

Partly, it's because they eat at 4pm, partly it's because they don't always eat the nursery meals. Probably a bit because I think I give larger portions than nursery too.

I have always given something like a banana / cheese on crackers / sandwich / bit of cereal.

But then I have a fear of hungry child = early wake up time

[babySophieRose]

My 19 months old is always starving and thirsty. The nursery staff always says she has eaten well, but i guess they say that even if she had eaten few bites and throws the rest in floor. They are good otherwise and she is happy there, but i always bring her a snack for the way home.

[dribbleface]

Why would they say that if it wasn't true! We don't just make things up for fun!

[BrianButterfield]

On days when ds is in nursery until after 4.30 he has 'tea' (sandwiches or cheese and crackers) but would still happily eat a normal dinner an hour later. They're just eating machines at that age!

[mindingalongtime]

I', not surprised to hear your daughter is hungry and is probably genuinely so. I'm a governor of an excellent nursery and have seen what they have for 'tea' It is afternoon tea, not a meal, it is enough to see a child through to getting home at for some what might be 7.00pm.

Half bridge roll with spread, half a banana and some milk, or half a small jacket with a spoon of cheese and grated carrot. All nicely prepared, but will not fill up a child to see them through overnight, until breakfast at nursery the next morning for some.

One of my colleagues daughter works in a nursery and she says what the children get varies quite a lot from what is on the printed menu on the board.

I give 'tea' at 3.30, a toasted crumpet/bagel/ muffin with fruit and milk and they all go home for a meal with family.

m sorry but she should not be eating pouches in the pushchair, not a good way of eating, not very sociable and not easy to teach manners or good eating habits.

I had one parent continually feeding her child those plastic organix crisps on my doorstep and asked her not to, as the child was demanding them as so as the door opened.

I said if you have to, please wait until you are in your car as it is not fair on the other children leaving and I don't like it!

An apple would be good, healthy and not spoil her appetite for dinner with you. She may also be thirsty, they invariably are.

[Mamabear12]

Yea, we have started. Now to feed her dinner when she gets home. I bring a snack and water in case she cries in stroller. It is twenty mins walk, so can't let her cry 20 mins until she gets home. Snack helps hold her over. The nursurey said she has a really good apetite and is always first to the table as soon as she sees the food prepared (and she is youngest in the class!). We have started to give her more grown up types foods that we eat and she does well on the easy things to eat (pasta, tuna w grated carrots, onion etc). She has learned how to feed her self well w a spoon from schoo, by watching the other older kids :)