Naps at Daycare - Momma Anxiety

kenz453

As a first time mom who is sending her babe to daycare next week I'm getting anxious! Currently my little one will only nap if a blanket is over his eyes (I'm always holding him during this and take the blanket off once he's asleep).  He also likes to hold onto something with his hands while he sleeps.  I'm worried that he'll never be able to fall asleep at daycare since they can't have anything in their crib with them and I'm sure they won't have time to cater to my boy all day like I do.  Those of you who have little ones in day care - do you know how they handle naps?  I'm worried he's going to cry all day and not get any sleep.  He'll be almost 3 months old - will he just have to figure it out? Help!

btm013

No advice on this but perhaps call
The daycare and ask? If anything they may be able to break him of this habit. Sounds a bit dangerous with the blanket thing...

krystleshel

My daycare is helping me transition mine to a crib. The first week was hell bc she was cranky from not good naps, but they don't just let them cry. They'll love on him & keep him content for the most part. I just told myself these women have worked with countess babies & know a few tricks to try.

Sammy K

We went through this with DS. The first week will be tough, I'm not going to lie, but it's not like they'll just dump him in a crib and let him cry. They deal with babies every day and know how to soothe them. They will find something that works for your LO, it just might be totally different than what you do at home and that's ok. Good luck! I'm not looking forward to this either. My LO only naps on me or in the swing.

kenz453

Thanks! I think I just needed reassurance that they won't let him cry all day and will work with him! Good luck to you as well!

HoosOnFirst

I'm anxious too. Our provider said she does morning and afternoon naps with the kids. I keep thinking, good luck with that afternoon one lady! But people say daycares somehow have a magic touch. Probably because they have so much experience.

Conversely, I'm worried she won't get to play enough - our pediatrician says to keep her off her back as much as possible and so I am concerned they will just let her sleep. It's one provider and six kids (which to me sounds like so much! But this IS her job, I keep telling myself...)

I think I just made myself MORE anxious. Crap.

bee19831

They will train him how to fall asleep and self soothe would not worry

addingon

I keep worrying about all the little things. How will they know she likes to sit a certain way? Be held certain ways at certain times? She's a slow eater and sometimes takes lots of "distraction breaks" - what if they think she's done eating? Etc, etc. Then I tell myself what all you are saying and I know is true. They do this all day, everyday and probably have more baby tricks than most of us. We picked the best daycare in the area and it will all work out! Deep breaths.

kenz453

@swaugh14 - I hear you! I'm sure they are wonderful and will figure it out quicker than we can imagine with all their experience. You are right - it will all work out!

kenz453

@hoodoll82 - I'm worried about that too. I believe my center's ratio of babies to adults is 3 or 4 to 1, but I still worry that he won't get talked to/snuggled enough. I'm sure it will all be fine but as a first time mom it's hard! My grandma watched me so I'm totally unfamiliar with what a day at a daycare center looks. I need to just call them and I'm sure I'll feel better! Hope all goes well for you and your little one!

HoosOnFirst

Yeah for in home daycares in MA it's 6:1, with no more than two infants under 15 months. On MWF she has 3 infants so she has an assistant, which I'm secretly glad for, in that the ratio will be better!

krystleshel

Ladies - don't hesitate to ask questions either! I get a daily report with oz ate, diapers (wet, BM...), & naps, but I ask how the nap went, how she did with her bottles/spit up, all kinds of things. Keeps me aware & connected to her teachers!

bartonolivia

I work in a nursery at a daycare! A lot of babies have trouble getting used to daycare but it usually only takes a week or two for them to get better. If your baby is going to daycare make sure that you do not let them sleep in chairs and swings. In daycare they are not allowed to sleep in those, cribs only. Once we realize the babies are getting tired we will put them in their cribs. Sometimes they fall asleep on the floor or in the swings and chairs but we have to move them. A lot of them do not fall asleep in the cribs easily so we try and rock them and lay them down. The first couple weeks they may not sleep very much but they just have to get used to the routine and environment. We always love on the babies and cuddle them. We obviously cannot tend to them 24/7 like parents at home but we try our best to keep them happy. We take the time to learn about each baby and learn their cries. I love working with them and it takes a special someone to be able to handle that many babies at one time so trust them. It'll all be okay in the end even though its hard at first  

bartonolivia

Oh and teachers love talking to the parents and telling them how their day went. I ALWAYS just tell parents without them asking. We also have an app that we can communicate with them throughout the day. We  track their feedings, how much they ate, change of diapers, naps and we can message them if we have questions. We can even send them pictures. 

kenz453

@bartonolivia - thanks for the information. It is so nice to have the reassurance from someone who works in a nursery! Thanks for helping to ease my mind - I appreciate it! 

adia1092

My daughter has napped the past few days better at daycare because she's so exhausted with the kids.  She seems to be having fun while I stress out about her being away from me.

MaglioMomma

bartonolivia said:

We also have an app that we can communicate with them throughout the day. We  track their feedings, how much they ate, change of diapers, naps and we can message them if we have questions. We can even send them pictures. 

What app is this? I am a former toddler and preschool teacher, and now will be staying home with my kiddos. I'm taking in two infants part time for supplemented income, and love the sound of that app!

@kenz453 your baby will be well taken care of! Ratios are mandated for that exact reason- if your child is needing a bit of extra love, there is someone their to help! If we had kiddos that fought their naps, we wouldn't hesitate to go out for a stroller ride, or snuggle the baby in the ergo. Infant teachers use so many different strategies, they'll figure out just the right thing to soothe him!

amandrew0531

I have theses same thoughts and concerns. She hardly sleeps in her crib during the day and always wants me to hold her. I worry how well she transition to sleeping in a. crib at daycare? Some mornings I just hold her and cry thinking about "who will know you love your play mat after your morning bottle? Or how you have to sit up while you eat" but it is nice to hear from some of you who work with the babies at daycare. I'm sure that y'all are used to working on the transition for babies to be in daycare. One lady told me it's harder for the mommy than it is for e baby. I just keep telling myself that. Plus, I was in daycare my first year of life and I don't remember a thing lol. But it's hard to be away from our babies.

bartonolivia

@magliomomma it's called daily connect! I absolutely love using it. The daycare workers use it on the laptop at work And the parents get the notifications through the app! And @kenz453 you're welcome. People who work in a daycare truly love the children and they have to because sometimes it's a hard job. Only the ones who truly love it stay.