Even though I had issues with LO's daycare in the beginning I have grown to really like the place and she loves it there. Next month she is moving to the toddler room and aside from all my regular concerns, there is one thing that really bugs me. There is no fridge in the toddler room. So they told us to just pack her lunch with an icepack. I do that anyway to keep it cold in transit but an icepack is not going to cut it for the whole day. All of LO's lunch is stuff that is homemade, even her yogurt is plain yogurt mixed with fruit so it wont keep well outside the fridge. I dont understand why they dont have a fridge! The teacher told me that sometimes they have to take some of the food next door to the infant room, but that is really not ideal because thats when it gets easy to get food mixed up. The main teacher in that class says she has complained multiple times to the owner and hopes to get a fridge soon. I plan to discuss this with the director, should I wait til my LO is actually in that class to complain about this?
-
@Mrsbells: hm. I didn't even think to ask about this. Good point. Can they just keep it in the infant room fridge? Or keep it in their lunch room? What if you spent $59 and bought a mini mini fridge?
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Igloo-1.7-cu-ft-Refrigerator/19895933
-
@Mrsbells: I would discuss it before the transition so that there is a plan in place when your LO is ready to be moved up.
-
What is it that you want them to do, buy a fridge or keep your kid's food in the fridge in another room? How important is it for you to have your way, meaning, if they don't accomodate you, what would you do?
Sorry for the rambles!
Eta: I try not to go in complaining, but rather offer up a problem/solution type of thing.
-
I would also discuss it beforehand to come up with a plan.
When we are out and about, i use this: http://www.packitcool.com/ which is supposed to keep your lunch cool for up to 10 hours.
-
I would discuss it before the transition. I'm assuming they require you bring your own food? If they require you to bring your own food, they should have facilities to keep it safe to consume.
-
@kiddosc: good point! I'd discuss it beforehand.
-
Like @looch: I like to try to go in with a solution if possible. In this case I would probably just offer to buy a fridge for the room.
-
I would discuss before the switch, and I would suggest the same as @locavore_mama and offer to purchase a mini fridge for the room.
-
How long will it be between packing the lunch and eating the lunch?
I mean, kids at regular school have to deal with this every day. The lunch bag sits in the cubby until lunch time. Moms learn how to pack it to keep it cool.
For the yogurt, you can freeze it so that by lunch time it is defrosted enough to eat.
-
@T.H.O.U.: I was going to say the same thing as you! My DD is in school and they don't put anyone's food in the fridge. I put her food in a PackIt. You freeze the bag overnight. And I do what you suggested for yogurt!
-
I have the same situation going on right now. My son is moving to the toddler room at his school in 2 weeks and they also do not have a fridge. I asked the teacher if she knew why that was and she said it was a space issue, so I just left it at that. It's annoying, but I also know every mom in the school before me has had to deal with it. I asked for suggestions on a local mom board and both the PackIt and Pottery Barn lunch boxes plus ice pack) were recommended.
-
If there are other moms who feel the same way, maybe you can reach out and see if everyone wants to pitch in for a mini fridge? I agree with PPs who suggested to go in there with a solution.
-
@Freckles: i saw these at marshalls for about $15 i was thinking about getting this for LO
-
Thanks everyone I will try and respond to all your comments
@locavore_mama: Yes they said they can keep it in the infant room fridge but I worry her food will get jumbled up with someone elses or they will forget to go get it or something. I didnt think about getting a mini fridge. I wonder if they allow that
@MaisyMay: Yes I thought so too!
@looch: I want them to have a fridge in that room, since all the other kids there bring in food that needs to be kept cold.
@Freckles: yes I have that pack it freezable bag, and I use that keep her lunch cool on the way to daycare but on its own it doesnt keep all the food really cold for more than few hours, especially since the bag shuts with a velcro strap rather than a zipper. I have realized that after more than 3 hours even though the bag is cold, the food inside isnt that cold
-
@kiddosc: Yes they do require us to bring in our food, the just recently started offering one hot meal per day but I dont like the menu.
@T.H.O.U.: My daughter is 16 months old so her diet is nothing like that of a kid in "regular school" and as I mentioned everything she eats is fresh home made food that doesnt keep well. I cant freeze the yogurt because it is plain yogurt and I mix in the fruit myself in the morning. If I freeze and defrost it with the raw fruit, it separates and doesnt taste right.
@SeptMomma12: Thanks & goodluck!
@banana: @MrsH: Thanks!
-
@Mrsbells: There are plenty of "homemade" meals that keep just with an ice pack. Lots of things that can be frozen and thaw through the day.
What about freezing the yogurt and asking them to mix in the fruit when they take out her lunch?
What about getting a thermos to help keep things cool. You also could maybe look into a double lunch box to help it out.
I guess I just don't really understand why "homemade" means it needs to be kept super cold. As you may be able to tell, I also don't think they should have to provide a fridge because many schools don't have this and people get by fine.
-
I just confirmed and we have a fridge in the toddler room bc even though they want all kids to be out of bottles not all of them are ready yet. And really if you think about it where do they store milk for the kids?
I like @banana: suggestion of having other parents chip in if the center won't buy one.
-
@Mrsbells: do they have a main kitchen fridge? I would think they would have to if they are providing one meal a day? That is where we keep M's food. It is in the main fridge and the teacher who brings meals in (all the other kids eat daycare's food) brings in M's food from that fridge at meal times.
-
I would probably just ask if they can make an exception and store it in the main or infant fridge.
@Andrea: I need to buy one of those Pack its- no fridge in the next room at daycare for LO!
-
We have a medical grade ice pack that keeps food crazy cold for 48ish hours. I have no idea how to go about getting one (we got ours with IF meds), but it is amazing. Just something that might be worth tracking down if the fridge doesn't pan out. Good luck!
-
@T.H.O.U.: at least in my opinion- I think homemade/not vaccum sealed food is more susceptible to bacteria growing, etc. since a home kitchen isn't as sanitized as an industrial one. I'd be more worried about my homemade yogurt spoiling than a gogurt.
I would probably suck it up and use massive ice packs if they weren't/aren't willing to provide a fridge. Maybe see if other parents want to chip in and buy a used one off Craigslist?
-
@mediagirl: The meal they are providing is a hot lunch and I believe it is delivered to them hot. They have a fridge in the infant room but with limited space and they have to walk it over there.
@T.H.O.U.: I dont know if I'm not explaining myself right, my LO is not in school. she is a 16 month old in DAYCARE.... Also there is a big difference between prepackaged foods and home food. Its like making a smoothie at home versus buying a bottled smoothie drink from the yogurt aisle, the homemade one gets weird tasting and weird looking really fast but the store bought one will survive a lot more time outside the fridge. Also, ice packs do not keep the food cold evenly, especially not for the whole day.
@scg00387: yeah I have heard other moms talking about this because their LO's have milk, cheese etc and they arent happy without a fridge
@MerryC: Thanks I will look into that!
@autumnlove: Yes if the issue doesnt get resolved I may have to do that
@locavore_mama: I envy you right now!! I wanto switch day cares -
I just remembered we have a brand new small fridge at home we never even took out of the box. I will ask and see if they let me bring it in.
-
@Mrsbells: I hope that solves the problem!
-
@autumnlove: Thanks yes I hope so too, I will update once I speak to them about it
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
25 comments