Childminders Club: Question about Baby Food

[looneytune]

Sorry, this may turn into a list of threads Lots of questions and everyone is asleep so making the most of it

2 of my baby mindees are on home made food which is GREAT :) Only problem is that I'm starting to feel a little restricted at times with having to come home to heat the food properly for their meals. I have one of those plug in bottle/food warmers for the car (not tried it yet) but I presume this will be no good for the proper home made food?

I know I can ask other places to heat the food up but it's more park type places, where there is no place to heat the food, that I want to go to with the other kids. Like whilst the toddlers are at nursery I would like to prepare a picnic and go straight to a park to have it but I'm having to come home so the kids have the picnic here instead.

There's probably nothing I can do about this but I thought I'd post and see if anyone has any suggestions :)

If it's just occasional trips out that you'd have a problem heating home-made food, would it not be OK just to use jars on those occasions? I know that one of your "selling features" is that you supply decent, home-cooked food, but maybe the parents would be OK if you didn't?? (Don't tell anyone but I had sandwiches for my lunch today made with sliced, white bread, and a bar of chocolate ... mmm!!)

iSNT THE FOOD FROM THE PARENTS? NOT SUPPLIED.

I suppose I could ask if I can use jars, just not sure how the parents would take it. Oh well, it's not going to be often by the looks of it as I'm beginning to think maybe we should be more home-based in the afternoons now the non-babies are at nursery.

Could the parents not make up food which did not need to be reheated, seeing that is is now summer term? Something like Pasta with Veg may be accepted by baby/toddler cold. Fruit in whatever form is also good cold. Some children will take a bottle of milk cold, while for others you may need to find a way to warm it - such as your plug-in bottle warmer.

Regarding trips out... I find that some places (cafe's for example) will warm babyfood/bottles. May need to shop around a bit to find places that will do this.

Cheers nannynick, my only concern is my lack of knowledge regarding food like this and what's safe/not safe. I presume it's the meat/fish that's the problem? Anything is safe I can easily heat in my car or by taking a flask of hot water. We do sometimes go to places with cafe but I was thinking of the times when we go to one of the several parks without.

Thanks :)

Why not try to presuade the parents to provide finger foods for lunch. Will depend on children's age of course - but 7 month plus will like soft finger foods... fruit, toast, cheese, soft veg such as cucumber.

If younger then stick with purees made from veg and pulses. Avoid meat/fish/polutry as those will need reheating correctly - so better for meals at home. If concerns over amount of protein, Pulses are good alternative to meat.

Some helpful info:
\link{http://www.bounty.com/upload/PDF/Weaning%20and%20health%20guide/wh1_05%2010%20first%20solids.pdf\First Solids - PDF}
\link{http://www.smanutrition.co.uk/feedingweaning/weaning.htm\Weaning Your Baby}
\link{http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/asksam/agesandstages/childrenandbabies/#A220121\Food Standards Agency - Ask Sam, Babies & Children}

Oh Nick, you are the king of links aren't you Thanks SOOOOO much, will have a look at those! :)

I must say my ds was eating loads of finger foods at the ages of these babies but none of them seem to be introducing much more than purees at the moment. Having said that, I weaned him at 4 months as I hadn't yet heard the WHO recommendations of 6 months.

The babies are:

7 months (just starting to wean, no proper mealtimes yet)
8 months
9 (nearly 10) months

I think I will chat to all parents about the whole food thing anyway as I think some of them should be experimenting more - this will give me the opportunity of asking about food when we go out!

Thanks Nick :)

You can also buy a thermos jar that keeps things warm safely for upto an hour? I got mine in dyers and it cost about £3!

So if I know that we need food while we are out I heat it up, stick it in the jar and take it with us!

How clever, didn't think of that!!!

Soooooooo, I could heat around 11ish before going on nursery run! Just need to find one!!! Not heard of Dyers :(

\link{http://www.robertdyas.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10051&storeId=10001&productId=70240&langId=-1\Thermos Snack Jar - Robert Dyas Online}

Is it one of those perhaps.

Said you were the king of links didn't i

Thanks to both of you for that :)

If we're going out, then I tend to heat up ds's food really well (in microwave) then cover in tin foil. It is usually hot for a good half hour or so.

If you have extra baby food jars, can't you decant the home-made food old jars which will heat up in your warmer?

I think you'd be best just giving them cold finger foods. My bottle/jar warmer used to take forever to heat and I don't know if it will get the meat to the temp that you need it to be

No restaurants or cafes should heat up homemade baby food for you. They will do bought jars just not homemade.

SANanny - thanks but it's the meat I was worried about, have to be so careful!

Jensmum - I'll have a word with each baby's parents and if they allow finger food then great, if not I think I'll stick to the thermos jar idea! :)