DS having trouble transitioning to daycare

chikinyellow

I work part time and DS is in daycare 2 days a week - Monday and Thursday.  I would have liked them to be two consecutive days, but they did not have that available.  He has been in daycare for a month now.

I am able to go nurse him at lunch and I pick him up in the evenings.  Everytime I arrive, he is either crying or in a cradle swing.  He naps great for daycare in the cradle swing, but he is almost 4 months old - this swing seems as if it is for a newborn - he is almost too big for it.  They say he loves it and likes looking at the mobile.  My DS is somewhat advanced and likes to roll over, play with toys, move, play with his feet.  I feel bad that all he does is look at a mobile all day.

I wonder since he seems to like the swing they just stick him in it all day because on Tuesday/Friday when I am home with him, he is VERY clingy and will cry if I don't pick him up or make constant eye contact with him.  I know they don't have time to spend with each baby as the ratio is 4:1.

He also was pooping 2 times a day and now won't go at daycare, so he is having tummy trouble when I am home (already gone 3 times today while we are at home).

How long should this transition take and do you think that I am doing an injustice to him by only doing 2 days a week? 

 

ll3414

I'm sorry you are having trouble.

My only advice is to try and keep his daytime routine as constant as possible - when he eats, naps,etc.  That should help (hopefully) with the tummy trouble.

Also - in regards to the swing - maybe you should just tell them you don't want him to be in it anymore?  Even with a ratio of 4:1 - they should be able to keep him entertained in other ways.  DD was always rotating between the exercauser, tummy time, mat time, table time, etc.  This keeps them entertained and helps them work on all different skills.  Good luck!

dr.girlfriend

Aw...that's really difficult for you!  Have you been able to talk to his teachers much?  I usually spend about 10 minutes dropping DS off in the morning and another 10 minutes picking him up so that I'm able to talk to the workers about his day.  He is usually in the bouncy chair when I come to pick him up, but from talking to them I know that the rest of the day they have him doing other stuff -- outings, exersaucer time, floor time.  They are spot-on in terms of what they say he is doing (e.g. when he started rolling, which toys he likes) compared to what I see at home, so I am pretty sure they are actually doing those things.  I hope the pooping will resolve itself...you know my kid had MAJOR pooping problems when he was first born, and he tends to poop more at daycare than at home but it really varies.  He may just need to learn to relax his butt a little.  Hugs from me.

chikinyellow

Thanks ladies.  I really do feel terrible about all of this.  I am not a very confrontational person, and I don't want it to come across as if I don't think that they are not doing a good job.  When I go in and see them with other kids and they do different activities throughout the day. 

The two main care providers are not there at drop off and pick up times, so it is hard to catch one of them.  I think that I will have to leave work early.

I am not sure how in tune they are with him.  He has 2 bouncy seats at home that he loves.  I was told yesterday that he was in the bouncy seat once and was starting to like it.  He has been in a bouncy seat since he was 4 days old. 

I appreciate the advice!

dr.girlfriend

chikinyellow:

 He has 2 bouncy seats at home that he loves.  I was told yesterday that he was in the bouncy seat once and was starting to like it.  He has been in a bouncy seat since he was 4 days old. 

Yeah, it's really hard to know!   We have a bouncy seat at home that Kiran HATES with a fiery passion, and yet he's always happy as a clam in the bouncy seat at daycare.  I think some things generalize and some don't.  I know what you mean, though.  I'm also a little reluctant to take daycare to task on things I don't like because I don't want them thinking of me as that "problem parent" or even worse having their feelings toward me affect their treatment of Kiran.  But I think you need to be reassured.  I have only come in a few times to see Kiran crying and in each case it's evident he just started, but it is heartbreaking.  You can't continue to feel like he's like that all the time when you're not there, or you'll be miserable.  And if it's truly the case, then something has to change.

ocean71506

I am sorry the transition is not going well.  I would voice your concerns and let them know more of what you expect.  I hope it gets easier!