how do you get days out with 10 month old sticking to routine

[weekendgirl66]

I have a 10.5 month old child who's partents appear to like it to stick to routine ( they went away for a week Mom stayed in Villa in the afternoon so little one could stick to afternoon nap 2 hours), I havent asked the question yet as they have only been with me a short time, so how do you do it when they have home cooked for at 12 which needs heating??
Should i just ask Mom if its ok if when on days out we have finger food??? what / how do you do it please??

Are you a nanny or a childminder?
I'm answering from a nanny's perspective...
Does the child sleep in a buggy? When I have had two or more children, with the youngest being similar age, we have gone out for days out mainly for the benefit of older children. In these cases, I've taken sandwiches etc and made sure they have a good meal in the evening. They would also have their afternoon nap in their buggy, but some babies won't sleep anywhere other than their cot.
But to be honest, if I just had a baby of that age with no siblings, I wouldn't be going out for a whole day. I'd probably go out for a morning, come home for lunch and nap, and then maybe go out for an hour in the afternoon.

Blimey - it even matters whether the food is hot or cold according to the routine?!

My parents CM for my sister's DC when they were small - she provided them with a typed sheet of "the routine". They smiled and nodded and then ignored it completely.

For my own Dc I did have them in a fairly rigid routine, which suits my personality, but it just meant that on day's out they would be in the pushchair/car at nap time and meals at certain times, a meal being a meal, rather than a specific kind of meal.

I'm not sure if I have understood your post correctly, but can you just not come back home in time for lunch and then go back out again after nap?

My routine, 9.30-11.45 out at park, farm, children's centre, soft play. I also take a big snack with me.

12.15 lunch

12.45 nap

2.15 I wake them up (if not already awake) we have snack

2.50/3ish out again, park, meeting up with friends, school run (3 days a. Week)

4.50 back home- start evening meal ready for 5.15

6pm home time.

Not sure if that answers your question or not? What I would say is that your day has to fit around the child, especially at 10.5months. The children I look after are three, so they don't need as much sleep and specific eating times. If your family do things a certain way, you should follow that routine, especially at first whilst you are just starting out. When you get to know the child a little better you may find your own pattern of doing things.

But if you are a childminder and looking after several children, the parents have to appreciate that there has to be some compromise. What happens if one of your other children takes their nap mid-morning and those parents want it to happen in your house in a cot? You could end up never leaving the house! What about collecting after-schoolers? Are you meant to turn down business that doesn't fit in with one child's routine?

Nothing wrong with routine but if parents are determined that the routine must be obeyed at all times, then they need a nanny in their own home, not a childminder.

Of course Unexpected makes a great point, my fault I sort of assumed OP was a nanny!

Having said that a 2hr nap after lunch for a 10.5month yr old seems perfectly reasonable!

Don't think you have to go on days trips every day!!

Re the lunch - most cafes are happy to warm up food for you if you take it with you. Do they provide the food? If so then maybe warn them of the days you are going to be out for lunch (if you can) so they can provide something that is easily warmed and/or doesn't need warming.

i am assuming op is a cm as says they have only been with me a short time rather then i have been looking after them a short time

im all for routines and napping esp a baby, but also think babies can learn to sleep in a buggy/travel cot /car occasionally

if a cm then baby needs to slot into your routine with other children

if a nanny then need to follow employers views

not sure why you cant heat up food at friends/cafe unless you mean you are out all day at a park/zoo etc

i have given food cold to babies, who ate it happily, tho not sure i would lol

I'm a childminder and during term time a stick to a pretty rigid routine of going out in the morning and then back home for lunch and a nap. During the school holidays when I have older children we tend to go out for the whole day. Babies just have to adjust their routine and they do soon get used to it. Most are happy to have a nap either in the buggy or in the car on the way back. Baby food that requires heating is always a bit of an issue, especially during the summer as we spend a lot of time at the park where it can't always be heated. If there is a cafe I ask them to heat it, otherwise I just serve it at room temperature or offer finger foods. I do make it very clear to prospective parents that we go out a lot and I guess the ones who are not happy with that just don't choose me.

Thank you all, I am a childminder and i did mean if we went out for the day ( LO only with me from 9am - 3pm ) so going out and coming back would be a bit of a isue as others are collected at 5pm in school holidays term times are fine. Anyway Mom tells me that they wont need cover next week after all so problem solved

My 8 month charge is in a pretty strict routine but we go out for the day occasionally, I heat his food and put it in a thermos and he sleeps in his pram, at home he will sleep for 2 hours but in the pram he has 60-90 minutes. He still has a short nap before tea so I just give him a little longer then otherwise bath time and especially pyjama time is pretty fraught.