Daycare Questions

summershanty

We are starting LO who is almost 17 months in daycare part-time next week (two half days a week), and I have two quesitons.  One, what are the best labels for clothes, etc?  Second (and more importantly), what's the best way for him to adjust to this?  He's use to being home with me, and I'm worried he's going to completely freak out and just cry and scream the whole time.  Should I see if I can stay for a little bit, or is it better to just to drop him off and leave?  He really doens't have any comfort items that he's attached to, and sometimes when he gets upset it's even hard for me to get him to calm down.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated it.  I wish we had started him part-time when he was younger.  I feel like it might have been easier for him to adjust to.

khill86

When DS started daycare at a year, DH and I brought him and stayed there while he explored and met the care provider. A few days later I dropped him off for 2 hours at a time that was good for him (right after breakfast). Then I dropped him off the next week for the morning, at a time I was available if I had to go get him if the wheels fell off and he couldn't handle it. He was totally fine. He loves daycare!

allardr

no experience, but you said next week is when he'll start. Maybe see if this week you could bring him over and you two explore, play with the kids, etc together. That way he's been there with you. Honestly there is no way to avoid adjustment period all together but maybe that'll help. On the actual day I vote just do a normal drop off & goodbye. If you start to stay LO may expect that. There will be crying but it'll only last maybe ten minutes I'm sure. You could always call 10-15min after drop off that day too to see if LO  has calmed down if you want to calm your worries.

summershanty

Thanks everyone.  I am going to take him over on Friday so we can meet the caregivers and he can see the place and play a little before Tuesday.   I know they have some of his favorite toys there, so I'm hoping that will make it a little easier.

ilanat

One thing I did during the transition was I sent food that he liked and was used to, until he got used to their food, for breakfast, lunch and snacks. 

aeh72

Everyone gave good advice so far about the transition so I'll just give suggestions for labels:

Mabels Lables or Namebubbles.  Both are great and survive many, many, many washings.

amandanarog

Just drop him off. The kids whose parents linger have a harder time adjusting once the parent finally leaves. I've worked as an Inhome daycare assistant for several years, and especially at this age, they will adjust more quickly without you there. At most I would say to show him a cool toy and get him playing, but then you need to leave.

crh1221

As a teacher at a daycare, the best thing you can do is have a goodbye routine and STICK to it! It's hard, my daughter still has trouble from time to time saying goodbye. Make it a: hang your coat up, put your bag away, wash hands, say hello to your teachers and friends, "I love you so much, I will be back," hug and kiss, then leave. If you have to, hand your child off to a teacher. The children in my class with lingering parents have the hardest time letting go in the long run. The quicker you are out the door, the quicker they can be distracted by something else (teachers usually have the art of distraction perfected!) and enjoy their day.

emberlee3

DD started at 11 months.  I brought her to the classroom to play for about an hour a day or two before she started.  She was in a hard-core separation anxiety phase then.  The first two weeks were tough.  Her teacher held most of the day while she cried, she didn't eat, she barely slept.  I asked the teacher to sing her favorite songs, which helped.  After a couple of weeks, she settled in and she's loved "school" ever since!

I don't use labels for her clothing.  I write her name on the tags.

smileybabyboy

We started by dropping DS at daycare for a few hours each time and it seemed to help.  

We use a permanent marker and write his name on the tags.  If there is no tag we right his name on a piece of masking tape and stick it on.  lol  

Socks are easily lost at daycare so I use puffy paint and put his name or initials on the bottom which also helps make them skid proof.