Communicating with Daycare Providers

One of our readers recently had a question about whether or not to communicate with her daycare providers about her preference for organic foods. Here is her question and OBR's advice. Feel free to share your perspective at the bottom of the page.

I think the answer depends on a few factors.

For starters, how is your child's overall health how old is he? For example, if your child is under two years old and has frequent eczema outbreaks or digestive issues, you may want to talk to the day care provider about you're addressing the issue with your child's diet and ask how you can ensure that he has organic meals and snacks during the day.

Of course your child doesn't have to have a health condition to initiate a conversation. Parents of vegetarians or children with allergies often have to work out alternatives with care givers.

The outcome may depend on the size of the daycare. If your child stays in a home or smaller center you may be able to educate and be the catalyst for change for the entire center's meal program. However, if you are in a larger pre-school or child care franchise than that outcome is unlikely due to laws and or contractual food service agreements.

If the center is unwilling to make substitutions at meal time, then it's time to assess your level of commitment to a diet free of pesticides (or antibiotics and other hormones). Are you willing to bring in special meals and snacks? Will they discount your fees if you do this? Or are you willing to pay a premium for the center to provide organic food for your child?

Regardless of the type or size of the daycare, don't be afraid to express your desire for improvement in the center's meal plan. You may be the third or fourth parent to raise the issue, which could motivate them to make small changes.

At the end of the day, what matters most is that your child is in the hands of a person or daycare provider that you trust to look after the mind, body and spirit of your child while you're at work. If they provide peace of mind on all other issues regarding the care of your child and you can't work out a solution, until a better option arises, perhaps this concession is worth making.