Carer changing habits

[Hilden]

My 2 year old has been in creche since 3 months and loves it and so do I. Yesterday they told me not to send in dinner's as no other child has dinner @ 4.30pm and B is not eating them. B's routine has been lunch @ 12 dinner @ 4. As we don't get home until 5.30pm and is bed by 7.30pm I am worried about giving her dinner so near to bedtime (and also eliminating supper in the meantime.)Should I stand my ground or maybe the creche is right and her afternoon snack is plenty?
Or should I keep her up later?

On days when I'm not working we eat about 6.30 and DS is lights out by 7.45. On work days we eat at the same time and I give DS some although he has tea at 4 at nursery and he sometimes eats it, sometimes not. He doesn't have supper - recently gave up his bedtime milk. So he manages with eating this late. He's two as well. It is a bir of a rush for me with the preparation but I am pleased that we manage a family meal every day.

I can see why she is not eating at creche if all the other children are playing still. So looks like you've got the decision made for you, I'm afraid.

Thanks Bozza you're right decision is made and I think we'll all benefit.

I'm glad you're looking at it more positively Hilden. I think sometimes it can be hard that to an extent your time with your child is affected by childcare as in this instance. I remember when DS moved up rooms at nursery they only put him down for one nap (although really he could still have done with two) and so I ended up following this routine too.

I made the switch when DS was about 18 months, after I went to get him early from nursery one day. They were giving him his dinner a bit late (5pm instead of the usual 4.30-4.45) so I witnessed the spectacle of him being fed. All the other toddlers and babies in the baby room gathered around him, ooing and aahing at every mouthful, while he presided from his low chair, savouring every mouthful!

I must admit that the different treatment set him so apart from others that I thought that it couldn't be healthy, so I stopped it, and went for an early dinner at home instead (6.15-6.30), followed by bath at 7 and bed at 7.30. I now much prefer eating together every night, but just find it all a bit of a rush.

Eating later never bothered DS one bit, and I'm sure that if all the other kids manage without their 4.30 meal, ours can too. As Bozza said too, it looks like your DD has made up your mind for you on this one - Good Luck!

I look forward to seeing your next post - a new thread titled: meal ideas in 20 mins!

I made the switch when DS was about 18 months, after I went to get him early from nursery one day. They were giving him his dinner a bit late (5pm instead of the usual 4.30-4.45) so I witnessed the spectacle of him being fed. All the other toddlers and babies in the baby room gathered around him, ooing and aahing at every mouthful, while he presided from his low chair, savouring every mouthful!

I must admit that the different treatment set him so apart from others that I thought that it couldn't be healthy, so I stopped it, and went for an early dinner at home instead (6.15-6.30), followed by bath at 7 and bed at 7.30. I now much prefer eating together every night, but just find it all a bit of a rush.

Eating later never bothered DS one bit, and I'm sure that if all the other kids manage without their 4.30 meal, ours can too. As Bozza said too, it looks like your DD has made up your mind for you on this one - Good Luck!

I look forward to seeing your next post - a new thread titled: meal ideas in 20 mins!

LOL Griffy at the last bit. It is a bit like that. Still I like eating as a family and the fact that Dh clears up/loads dishwasher while I bath DS so all done with by 7.45 pm. On days when I don't work we tend to swap.

Bozza - That's roughly what we aim at too. It sort of works, but I wish there were about another two hours in the day, in between getting home and putting DS to bed!