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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To change nursery because of menu options

304 replies

Confusedwithcake1 · 23/02/2017 17:11

So I'm returning to work soon and my LO will attend the local nursery for 2 days a week when 11months old. When I chose the nursery I was happy with the care, location etc and at the time I was happy with the menu options.

Fast forward now and I've looked at the menu options and now I think I want to look for a new nursery. Specifically because they serve cake as a pudding (wasn't on previous sample menu)

Don't get me wrong I love cake and know that LO will eat cake at parties but I was just hoping that a nursery setting would provide something less junkie.

My DH thinks it's fine as it's only 2 days a week but I'm not so sure as it seems unnecessary for a 11month old.. so aibu to try and find a new nursery based on one sample menu that lists cake as a pudding?

OP posts:
pollymere · 24/02/2017 19:38

Toddlers frequently need empty calories and cake is a great way to get fruit and dairy in them too. I used to run a 0-3 group and we offered fruit and some form of carb instead of just a biscuit. This wasn't the norm though! Most schools offer fruits and yoghurts whilst the kids reach for the sponge pudding and custard. You could possibly delay the inevitable but tbh cake as an occasional pudding teaches more about eating sensibly than restricting diet.

Blossomdeary · 24/02/2017 19:41

You must be a very contented lady if this is the worst thing you can find to worry about!!

Daisies123 · 24/02/2017 19:43

DD's nursery offers cake as a pudding approx twice a week, they have two cooked meals a day. I don't think two puddings out of ten is bad. Variety is important and it tends to be fruit based cake e.g. Banana cake or blueberry muffin made fresh on the premises with actual fruit.

Them being happy and safe at nursery is far more important.

DrinkFeckArseGirls · 24/02/2017 19:44

You can ask to gove your DC only fruit amd yoghurt.

NavyandWhite · 24/02/2017 19:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Kmbh · 24/02/2017 19:51

I can understand your worry.But a bit of cake should not overrule quality of care and convenience.It is hard going back to work and not controlling everything about your little one.
Some treats may help them like the place more and pine less for you??
Go to work, try and enjoy your child free time and feed them good stuff when they are with you.
As a mum of 3 teens, by the time they are 4 or 5 you will have bigger things to worry about.

Primaryteach87 · 24/02/2017 20:02

For what it's worth I agree with you but I would ask for fruit to be given instead rather than not sending to nursery.

Cutesbabasmummy · 24/02/2017 20:43

My 2 year old does 2 days a week at nursery and they have cakes/buscuits/crumble for pudding. It's made clear that if you don't want your child to have that they can have fruit instead. They always have a fruit snack in the morning. I think everything in moderation. I wouldn't change nurseries x

123yourusername · 24/02/2017 21:18

I think YABU.

I chose my nursery based on reviews, facilities etc and stayed due to the fact my child is happy there. A piece of cake wouldn't change my opinion of a nursery.

Estilou · 24/02/2017 21:24

All nursery settings offer a pudding as far as I am aware. It may be a 'healthy' cake like banana with no/little suger. They are catering for all children up to almost 5 years old so they are not going to ban puddings for everyone. Some days you are glad that they have just eaten something even if it was just pudding! Don't change the nursery.

skincarejunkie · 24/02/2017 21:34

Oh bless you. I remember how huge things like cake felt when my babies were babies! This too will pass. It's really not a big deal.

Strongmummy · 24/02/2017 21:52

If you are leaving your child in the care of someone else you pick and choose what you worry about. Personally I wouldn't worry about cake. I'd be more concerned about the care shown by staff and health and safety issues. However to each their own

masterchef98 · 24/02/2017 21:55

I put a lot of stock in sample menus, for nursery and now my oldest is 8 for school too. The educational mission is nice sounding waffle, as someone who takes food seriously (Not necessarily so healthily) a sample menu is an easy way to see how their values line up with mine. I don't think sponge cake should be on a menu for 11 month olds, Are you sure that it is, maybe it's just for the pre-schoolers? I also don't think food should be denied but I just held off offering anything like that as long as I could with mine - that worked far better with number 1 (first taste of chic when he nicked some 85% cocoa stuff out of cupboard at 18 months) than number 2 (binge eating shit after Easter egg hunt at similar age). I know op is not saying this but I have also seen the kids who are only allowed lentils and rice cakes and 20 mins of tv at home at a party missing all the games to binge eat Haribo and watch cartoon network. To the op, do you have an alternative? You will have to weigh up pros and cons. It's not ideal but not a deal breaker.

MarciaBlaine · 24/02/2017 21:58

There are SO many things to worry about when you have babies in childcare. Are they happy, do they get cuddles, do they have suitable activities? I recall mine catching every bug going in the first year and being frequently sent home, much to my boss's horror. A bit of cake is nothing.

I hasten to add that mine is a healthy happy teenager now. Rarely sick and can bake a cake if she fancies one, which is not that often.

DaisyChops · 24/02/2017 21:59

My children's nursery serve hot dogs as a snack!! Don't get me wrong I am not particularly healthy but I think that is hideous, far worse than cake, which they also serve.
I came to the conclusion that it was easier to turn a blind eye as my children are so happy there!

smallchanceofrain · 24/02/2017 22:01

What skincarejunkie said.

A tiny bit of cake a couple of days a week should not be a deal breaker. It won't start your LO on the slippery slope to an unhealthy lifestyle.

I chose my LO's childminder because she reminded me of my gran and she asked "Does he like buns?" Needless to say he thrived in her care, even though I have no idea what he ate other than buns and custard creams.

Whosthebestbabainalltheworld · 24/02/2017 22:11

Is this your PFB? A few more kids and cake will be the least of your criteria for the right nursery. YABU. Totally.

sniggy01 · 24/02/2017 22:31

I'm guessing this is your first child - I was like that with my first refusing to let him eat anything that wasn't fresh. When I look back it made him very fussy and picky and obsessed with getting his hands on anything sweet!! By number 4 I let her eat a little of all food groups even sugar !!! Eats anything now and in moderation.
The nursery is the thing you need to focus on - look at the staff and the quality of care. Are the children happy, are they busy and being interacted with? You may change nurseries and find that horror of horrors they offer your baby a cake !!!
Just tell them to give fruit ( which has a lot of sugar in ) or the pudding you provide.

Bunnyfuller · 25/02/2017 00:05

It's cake not crack fgs

mellowfartfulness · 25/02/2017 00:55

Small amounts of cake twice a week will make no difference to a child's health. I promise. It really is not worth the upheaval and stress of finding a different nursery. This is small stuff, don't sweat it.

NotACompleterFinis · 25/02/2017 08:40

Yes but sugar is four times more addictive than cocaine. Thinking that pudding is a meal requirement of institutional meals is a really bad tradition. The quantity if refined sugar we let our kids eat is creating a very sick society. It does do harm we just turn a blind eye. Watch 'That Sugar Film'. My DH stopped drinking OJ on the spot when he watched it.

Anyway rant over. It's very easy to be parsimonious about sugar. My DD has school meals which have a pudding - which concerns me. But pudding is a lot better than sugary snacks separate from a meal. So if you give your DD any of those fruit pouches/winders/ raisins ad a snack that's alot more damaging than pudding after a meal. If you give any of those as a pudding then quite frankly that's the same as cake possibly worse. If you're really concerned send in or ask for a fruit option instead or send a little pot of Greek yogurt with an amount of sugar in that you are happy with. 4.6g of sugar = 1 teaspoon apparently.

Sugar is a bloody minefield. I really wish I didn't know what I do but having had gestational diabetes 4 times I kind of had to look into it.

Dodadodaday · 25/02/2017 09:05

Most yoghurt has more sugar than a slice of sponge will. YABU

Daisies123 · 25/02/2017 09:30

Sugar is in an awful lot of things - I had gestational diabetes and couldn't have fruit yogurt or more than two tiny pieces of fruit a day. A two finger dark choc kit Kat was fine though.
There's probably more sugar in the yogurt/fruit than in cake offered at nursery!

TT10677 · 25/02/2017 11:32

Bit drastic. I'm surprised however, I wouldn't think a nursery would want a load of hyper kids jacked up on sugar. Maybe you should ask whether the cake is low sugar etc. Sons nursery stick to fruit, yoghurts, jelly, crackers and cheese etc for pudding, occasionally a sponge pudding dessert. You can always say don't let him eat it but then you are denying him what his friends are having.

Rugbyplayersarehot · 25/02/2017 11:51

I want cake now.

Op you know you are being unreasonable don't you.