In home to center daycare transition

bridetobe920

DD had been at an in home DCP since she was 12 weeks old, but we switched to a center this week, as our provider retired.

So far, DD has cried every morning at drop off (and sometimes beforehand, once she realizes where we are going).   We have been talking to her about it ahead of time, reminding her that she will have fun and that we will pick her up after work, etc., but she is still bawling when we leave.  In fact, she even bawls when I pick her up, which completely caught me off guard.   I would like to think that she's crying because we are "busting up her fun", but I am inclined to believe that it's because the flood of emotions over us leaving her must come back to her.

I know it will take time for her to get settled in, and I am not naive enough to think it would happen overnight.  I guess I am just feeling sad for her, stressed and anxious.

If your LO made a similar transition, do you have any words of wisdom to make this easier on her (and us!)?  How long did it take your LO to feel comfortable at the new place?  I know it will vary, but I am just looking for some positive stories.  It's been a rough, sad week...

 

 

ASmallWonder

We switched him to a center at 16 months and it seriously took like a month for him to not be upset at drop off.  We've been forced into a few changes since then and he started at a different place in July (so about the same age as your DD) and he cried the first week and then was ok. 

hoping4sticky

I'm not in this situation yet, but I am very concerned about this too. We are moving and my DD loves her inhome DCP and with the area we are going she is likely going to go to a center. She has never cried at drop-off so I can understand it being hard.

 One thing I have noticed since we just had another child is that my older one was starting to get a bit clingy at drop-off, but my DCP is always good about stopping what she is doing and acknowleding that DD is there - she gets a 'hi baby-girl, give me a hug' from DCP and she willing leaves me and doesn't get upset when I leave. Maybe try and have the DCP make a special effort to acknowledge and distract your LO?