DD coming home from nursery hungry

[newmumwithquestions]

DD is 27 mo and started nursery a couple of months ago. She's repeatedly coming home asking for food.

I've spoken to the nursery and they tell me she's eating well. In general she eats everything she's given which is breakfast, snack and lunch including pudding. I pick her up straight after lunch so she should be full.

But she wants more food. Today she ate an apple on the way home then came home and ate some broccoli, a peanut butter sandwich and half an avocado. It's not working for me as it means I'm getting her down for her nap really late, straight after eating and I'm not expecting to feed her so I have to 'find' something for her to eat - the point of paying for lunch is I shouldn't have to.

She has a snack and tea (cooked meal) at home, plus milk, so it's not that I'm expecting nursery to provide all her daily calories during the morning but I do expect her to not be hungry.

She's above average height and below average weight so I don't limit her intake of (healthy) food. If she's hungry then I think she should eat.

In fairness to the nursery she does eat more than friends toddlers, so I think she does just burn it off easily.

Where do I go from here? I think nursery should be giving her more food, they think she's getting a lot and it's more than enough for the other children. I don't care what the other children eat, it's not enough for DD.

I'm reluctant to start sending her in with an additional meal as I'm paying for them to feed her, and I think once I start this I'll have to continue it, and she's getting the same number of meals at nursery as she'd get at home so I think their portion sizes are just too small for her.

Anyone else had this problem? How did you resolve it?

[newmumwithquestions]

Sorry that's so long.
The gist is 'DD eats everything she's given at nursery but is still hungry'

[Gobbolinothewitchscat]

Do they offer seconds etc?

[newmumwithquestions]

They say they do if they have them, but they don't always have them available. If offered them she eats them.

[Gobbolinothewitchscat]

They should always have enough for seconds. I think that's the issue.

[MrsDustyBusty]

What would they do if she was there for a full afternoon session? Leave her hungry for the afternoon?

[BobbieDog]

I have this problem.

Dd who is 4 goes to a nursery who charge £10 a day for meals. After a full day there she is starving!!

They took a picture of the children eating their dinner and put it on facebook last week and the portions are tiny!!!!!

[wobblywonderwoman]

Sounds like they are scrimping a bit. I would have a banana to hand when you collect her. I tend to do this. But maybe say it to them - could she have larger portions

[dontpokethebear]

Whatever you are paying them, it will be calculated for a set portion/amount.

You've admitted yourself that dd eats more than friends toddlers, so it is not the nurserys fault that your daughter is hungry.

Not helpful, but I don't think any blame should be laid on the nursery.

[newmumwithquestions]

Gobbo yes I think they should offer seconds but I know they've had a lot of absences lately so if they haven't had enough food lately it's only going to get worse!

[Zogthebiggestdragon]

My daughter (almost 3) is always hungry when I pick her up too. She gets lunch at around 11.30 and I collect at 1. Sometimes she eats a whole extra lunch, sometimes just a few bites. I think it's a combination of being hungry after all the excitement of nursery and the comfort of being home. And of course if they have lunch bang on 11.30 then it's been 2 hours anyway, quite a long time for a toddler on a hungry day. It has got better as she got more used to nursery. Whether that's because she needs comfort less or because she's managing to ram more down during meal times is anyone's guess! (She is always hungry on soup days).

Not much to be done about it, tbh. I give her some toast and take it from there.

[MrsDustyBusty]

If their margins are so tight that an extra spoon or two of potato for a toddler would eliminate their profit, they're terrible at running a business.

[MoogBoov]

Just ask the nursery if they can make sure she is given seconds.

I work in a nursery, and we would have and sultry no problem with parents asking for more. Children are constantly growing at that age, and if they need the extra food, the nursery should be able to provide it.

[newmumwithquestions]

wobbly thing is its a lot more than a banana she eats - I'm basically having to give her a second lunch

[newmumwithquestions]

I have asked for her to have more food, several times, and so they did one day last week and it was great - she didn't ask for any food when I picked up. They told me she ate at least 50% more each meal (double main meal lunch). But it's back to normal again this week.
Just wondering if it was just me as it seems to be a constant battle.

[newmumwithquestions]

bobbie maybe I'll ask to see the lunch portions and that would give me an idea of what to do. If they are tiny that could be where the problem is.

[wobblywonderwoman]

My toddlers eat a lot, but we have to send lunches. If you are paying extra and she is very hungry- I would not be happy at all. It doesn't cost much to give extra pasta or potatoes.

[jannier]

Government advice given at recent training....
Most people do give way over the recommended portion size and with a push to reduce childhood obesity some LA's are encouraging settings to reduce the amount of food given. Guidance for a toddler is a quarter of a toddler size plate whole grains - bread pasta etc. a quarter meat and protein and half fruit and veg....this includes dessert. A portion of fruit would be what fits in the child's palm so an average banana is 3 portions. Most eat way more than this so have stretched their tummies. Its also common for us to think we are hungry when we are actually thirsty, made worse by sippy non spill cups....most children do not empty them in a morning yet should have 3 cups full in that time.
If a child is hungry advice is to offer a drink in an open cup so that they have a good drink and then if still hungry after 10 minutes a portion of fruit or veg as a top up snack. Things filled with sugar including raisins actually leave a child more hungry after an hour as the sugar leave the blood stream...so puddings in the traditional form are not the best for filling up.
It would be normal for a child of this age to need a snack every 2 to 3 hours which should be after a decent amount of fluid.

so I would review not only the settings portion size but fluid intake a good setting should be working at removing all lidded cups for over 1's as children over 6 months start to loose their suck reflex and commonly only use sippy cups to wet their mouths and sip.....not to have a proper drink.

[AtleastitsnotMonday]

Could you ask nursery to give your dd milk drinks with her snack and meals.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

I'd just give her a banana and a sandwich on her way home then she can go for a nap when she gets home.

What time does she have lunch and what time do you pick her up?