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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

Food at nan's house

7 replies

MeadowHay · 06/02/2020 11:33

Wasn't sure where to put this! My DC is 19 months old and a bit fussy, always has been, right since the start of weaning. She often asks for food when she is bored or tired, and she has a terrible sweet tooth and doesn't often know when to stop if she's eating something sweet like fruit or cake.

Her DGM looks after her one day a week and we are so grateful for this. They are very close and she loves being with her nan. DGM has always struggled with feeding her in various ways ever since she started childcare for her. We have always left her to it. She had a fairly healthy diet there and it is only one day a week and I don't think you can expect people to care for your child in exactly the same way you do, especially when they're doing you a huge, free favour.

The last month or two though, DC's eating at her DGM's has become...not great. And I think this is because DC has now realised she can play her nan a bit! Or is she too young? For example, refusing to eat lunch and then promptly eating two packets of raisins and cake instead. The other morning she had breakfast at 9am and then at 11am asked her nan for food who gave her an egg and raisins. It's not only the food itself which is sometimes an issue (I don't mind her having some raisins and even a bit of cake with her lunch if she's otherwise eaten something decent), but also the erratic eating at weird times which then means she doesn't eat dinner because she's had two yoghurts and fruit at 4pm etc.

I can't decide whether to speak to her about this now (gently!) or whether I should continue to leave it as one day a week isn't going to harm her and I am grateful for the free, excellent quality childcare.

OP posts:
Apolloanddaphne · 06/02/2020 11:37

A snack at 11 doesn't seem unusual for a child of that age. Maybe say to her nan that you are trying to put in place a routine for her food at home and it would help so much of she could to the same. Then set the times such as snack at 11, lunch at 1 and small snack at 3 or whatever suits. Let her nan give her what foods she wants at these times. That can be tackled once the routine is established.

MeadowHay · 06/02/2020 14:11

She has a routine at home that her nan is aware of and used to stick to (with flexibility of course, it's by no means military rule!). It's just recently she is all over the place with her food on the day she is at her nan's Confused

OP posts:
Fullbookcase · 06/02/2020 14:21

The snacks sound fine - egg and raisins is a really healthy snack, and you need to take things like growth spurts into account also. My 20 month old has main meals at 8,12 and 5, and also snacks at 10 and 3.
However I definitely think this age is capable of ‘playing’ nan. My DS will push his food away (lovely home cooked balanced meal), and whine, and would devour a piece of cake instead if I let him (I don’t!).
The snacks and actual food she’s giving your DS sounds fine though, it wouldn’t really concern me.
If you’re finding mealtimes become a hassle you could make a gentle suggestion/rule of no snacks after 3:30 or something.
I also think part of the fun of being a GP is that you’ve done the hard work and you get to give little treats (and it sounds like she’s not going crazy here either, not giving loads of chocolate, for example).

JiltedJohnsJulie · 07/02/2020 17:46

I think if it’s free childcare, you just have to suck it up. We had DGP look after ours and the one day my DP had them they seemed to survive on chocolate or sausages.

April45 · 08/02/2020 21:24

Just speak to her about it

GrumpyHoonMain · 27/03/2020 09:45

Honestly it’s one day a week so I would be inclined to suck it up. One day doesn’t make or break a routine if the rest of the week is good. Maybe ask her gran to give her dinner instead of snacks at 4pm and if she’s hungry when she gets home you could give her some snacks.

Namethecat · 27/03/2020 09:47

This thread is over 2 months old !

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