To expect my nanny NOT to feed my two year old a McDonalds Happy Meal?

[coolbeans]

I know it's not the end of the world and he is nearly three but I don't think it's unreasonable to expect her to ASK me, at least, before takes him out and stuffs him full of chicken nuggets and chips for lunch.

I'm not against McD's as such, but he's still really little and there's no need to take him there yet - it's not a bloody treat - as she seems to think.

I think that's what has annoyed me most. It's just food, I don't want him associating it with being a "treat" outing.

If you dont like maccyD's then tell her. She probably didnt realise that you wouldnt like her taking your LO there. ITs not the end of the world and tbh as the other posters have said its the outing that is the experience rather than the food.
Dont stress on it its hardly the end of the world

If she didn't know you don't approve then yabvu. Just ask her politely to not take him again. She will think you are a neurotic mumzilla but that is par for the course when employing a nanny. .

OP, unless you specified clearly your expectations or your nanny is a mind reader, YABU.

When my DH and I go out in the evening (three times a year) to eat in a restaurant, we view it as a treat. Before children, we use to ocassionally visit a local cafe in to have brunch. We viewed that as a treat too.

My 4yo DTS like Wimpy btw. They see it as a treat as we took them twice this year. It was something different and they enjoyed their food.

YANBU. Really, as a MB, one should not have to specify that fast food is not suitable for a 2 year old and that very special permission should be sought if a charge is going to be offered it.

She's not a mind reader. lots of (perfectly sane) people do have 'treat' food. I treat my DS to a MCD's once a month after swimming, and he also has chocolate for a 'treat'. I don't think it's an unhealthy attitude to have, to be honest.

Tell her you don't want him having a McD's again if it bothers you, and then you can get pissed off if she ignores you.

I sorry but not even a small child could get stuffed on a happy meal, the portion size would not feed a smurf. I think we all know that it's socially correct to be about Mac's but I bet most of us have rammed a Big mac down our necks more than once on the sly.

Well, I don't think a McD's is a treat, toy or no toy - I just don't, irrespective of the vast amounts McD's spend on marketing to cement that perception.

And, because my ds is still little and until peer pressure does kick in, I expect to have some control over his diet, and that includes not filling him full of processed food - as a ?treat?. And I should have made that clear to his nanny, (though I must admit I thought it was self evident, but hey ho,) and I will now.

Exactly, I thought it was self-evident too... that it isn't...

Coolbeans, I'm with you. I wouldn't give McDs to a 2 year old and I think that's too young to reognise it as a "treat". I'd also expect a nanny to check with you before giving him that kind of food.
How did he react to it, out of interest? Did he enjoy it?

Coolbeans

She took him once so hardly filling him with processed food

Maybe your nanny saw you chowing down on processed stuff like wine and thought you would not mind.

Anyway, lesson is that you must never assume anything and be explicit in your wants and desires.

Maccy D's is a treat for sure It was always a treat for us as kids as well.
The only time it doesn't become a treat is when you have it everyday or every week but saying that I had it 3 times last week by myself for lunch [Fblush]

Also I love Macdonalds but YANBU to ask her not to take him there.

Do you think that you have to be prepared to specify every single little thing to a nanny?

That sounds like very hard work to me... I'd rather any childcarer and I has similar cultural values so that we didn't have to labour through details and I didn't have to micro-manage.

Doncha know that its 100% breast of chicken in a nugget, Also 100% Raw Potato

I'm actually shocked that a person in a professional childcaring capacity would think it suitable food for a 2yo, let alone a treat. But then I've probably been away from the UK for too long.

For God's sake womwn, get a grip. It is a happy meal once. Wait until you are finding a joint in his drawer. You must have nothing to worry about.

Unless your nanny is a mind reader then YABVU.

Brangelina - yes, I've probably been away from the UK too long too.

What does that say? That there is no common culture of what constitutes good nutrition in the UK...

I snorted with laughter at 'I thought it was self evident too... that it isn't'... I could imagine the upturned nose of disapproval, the audible, but terribly refained sniff.

Well, YANBU to nicely tell your nanny you don't want it to happen again (your child, he gets fed what YOU say... ) but YABVU to show displeasure and make the nanny feel awkward as if she's done something wrong - because she hasn't - it's not 'self evident' like feeding him alcopops would be, and you hadn't clearly laid down your diktats.

Also, if it isn't a treat now, it certainly will be the moment you forbid it, but that surely IS self-evident.

Re jelly babies, at our pre-school Parent-Teacher meeting at the beginning of the year the class teacher specifically mentioned that she used Smarties for occasional bribery and reward as she considered this was a better way of keeping the peace in a classroom of 30 4-year olds that constant punishment.

No parents objected - in fact, she came across as full of common sense.

So I know that the children get occasional sweets at school, and why, and I am fine with that.

DD's English teacher gave all the children a Love Heart the other day for their Mummies.