There comes a time when a parent has to let their baby go to child care because they have to go back to work. This is an emotional period for both parents and the baby, but eventually, everyone adjusts well to their new routine and way of life. If your child has special dietary needs, it's important that you are clear with the child care centre from the start to avoid any misunderstandings or serious reactions later. Here are some important dietary details to consider.
Does Your Baby Have Any Allergies?
If your child has displayed signs or is allergic to any particular food, it is the most important thing to let the centre know beforehand so they can ensure that this food item is kept well away. If your child has a severe allergy, then it may be a better idea for you to provide the meals for your baby from home. Also, you will want to meet all the educators at the centre to discuss how to minimise the chance of any risk and any treatments necessary to protect your child in case of an emergency.
Has Your Baby Not Been Tested Yet For Particular Foods?
In some instances, if your baby is still quite young, you may not have tried certain foods out on him or her. In this instance, you will want to let the educators at the child care centre know this so they don't feed it to your child without your knowledge. Let the centre know what your child can and cannot eat specifically and do this in writing so the centre can record it against your child's records – and make it available for all the centre staff.
Are There Any Specific Foods You Don't Want Your Baby To Eat?
Depending on your lifestyle or cultural background, there are certain foods you may want your baby to stay away from. For example, if you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, then you may want your child to stay away from meat and dairy products. If you have a cultural requirement, there may be certain meats you want your baby to stay away from. Let the centre know of your requirements well in advance so they can cater to your specific needs.
Some child care centres provide in-depth information about everything they feed children throughout the day, which should give you peace of mind. If not, ask the centre if they can provide this to you separately.
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