What are your expectations? DC

Starbear06

I know you can't expect one on one care at DC. The ratio is 1:4 teacher to babies where I send DS. For those that send or sent their children as infants, what are/were your expectations? I know the caretaker will take good care of him but I can't help but think about how he won't get tended to right away if he cries etc. I know I have to adjust my expectations because no one will take care of your baby the way that you would. But I still can't help but feel sad and guilty about it. Is this a normal feeling or a sign that I new to look for a new daycare? It would be great to hear what others expect from a daycare facility.
FWIW, DS is only 4 months so there's not much he can do without being assisted. And the older mobile babies in the classroom seem happy and content playing with toys, each other, an the teachers.

nikki2246

DD started at 4 months as well. I have had a wonderful experience and have to say that even with the 1:4 ratio I know DD gets exceptional care. Yes as they get older they have to adjust to certain things. DD hates holding her own bottle but do to the fact that sometime her main caregiver is busy she gets set up in a swing to have her bottle. But I knew that when she was small and needed to be held and taken care of she was. Feeling sad and guilty would be normal no matter what DS's age is...But I will tell you that DD has exceled in many areas and I think that the DC has helped alot with that. 

 

1026pumpkin

Our center had a 1:4 ratio, and I think for the most part it worked out fine.  Pick-ups/drop-offs were always chaotic, because a lot of babies were due for feedings, parents had questions, and the teacher really had to multi-task.  Every time I stopped by in the middle of the day, things were much calmer, so don't let pu/do scare you!

The teachers are pretty good at multi-tasking- like sitting two kids due for a feeding next to each other and feeding both at the same time.  Obviously there are times during the day when more than one baby needs something, and another baby may have to wait a few minutes, but the teachers always talked them though it and would talk to them while finishing up with the child they were currently working with.

Also keep in mind that younger babies sleep a ton, and they're all on different schedules, so they're not all going to be awake and clamoring for attention at the same time.

I know it's hard and nobody is going to do things the way you would, but try to see the silver lining- your DS is getting used to other adults and new songs, games, ways of doing things.  He's getting the opportunity to interact with other children and see how bigger kids are doing things. 

katieh1017

L started in a center when she was 4 months and the ratio is 1:4. I really love her DC and I feel comfortable leaving her there. I know she doesn't get one on one time all the time but she gets it when it's needed. Can they tend to 8 crying babies? No, but she will be ok. They know what they are doing and how to prioritize the needs. Of course I expect her to be fed, clean and in one piece when I pick her up and she gets way more than that. I love that they do art, painting, story time, music, playtime, walks outside and she gets to be around other babies too. They adore L there and I know she loves them too.

I honestly do not feel guilty about leaving her there. Maybe I am in the minority but I just feel good that good about the center.

aeh72

I guess in it's more base form, I expect them to keep DS physically safe and to make sure he feels safe with them - i.e., that they are nuturing to him and he knows someone is there for him. I don't necessarily expect them to rush right over to him if he is crying if they are helping another child, but I do expect them to check on him when he is upset and to find a way to help calm him.  I also expect them to help stimulate his development with toys and activities that are appropriate for his age, and I (obviously) expect them to keep him well nourished during the day with the formula and food I ask to them to give him (which they do). 

While I have no idea exactly what they do during the day with him and how much time they spend with him versus the other children, I do believe they provide very good care to him. He has a huge smile for everyone when he arrives every morning and I can only think of one time in almost 4 months that he was crying when I picked him up. The owner spends time with each parent everyday at pickup filling us in on what happened during the day (and her descriptions of his activity level and personality are consistent of what we see of him at home) so I know she's paying attention to him.  So, I guess I'm getting what I would expect out of a DC facility and I feel very fortunate to have found them and for DS to have them in his life.

jlaOK

I had the same fears when we moved DS to a center.  I actually spent an hour or so observing the teachers and how the dealt with the babies.  I picked a time when they did feedings and diaper changes and stayed so see how they put the babies to sleep.  I know the teachers were probably on best behavior becasue I was there, but it really eased my fears to see them interact with all the kids. 

Remember that to us one adult with 4 babies seems completely overwhelming, but to an experienced teacher it is normal and they know how to deal with everything.

mrs.larry

DS2 is going to the same dc that DS1 went to and I'm still quite happy with it. Like PP said, don't let the pick up and drop off times cloud your opinion, because of course all the babies are awake and needy at that very moment.

The women who work in the infant center where my sons go/went are fabulous at multi-tasking, and not in a bad way. They are always playing with one kid while maybe holding a smaller baby to give the littler one the love and cuddles he needs. I know for a fact that when one child is particularly fussy or needy they make a point to care for that child individually.

I think it most cases (certainly not all, but hopefully the vast majority) the people who work in infant care centers are loving and nurturing people, who don't want to cause your child distress any more than you do. No, it's not the same as being wiht mom 24/7 but like PPs have said, it can be just as beneficial. I agree that my older excelled far more quickly in social as well as motor skills than some of his peers who were at home. I reaely believe dc had something to do with it.

It's hard. But don't be too hard on yourself. You know? We all do the best we can.

Aloe0l

While they may not get 1 on 1 time, there are ways that good care providers can give attention to multiple babies at the same time.  I've seen one caretaker feed one infant while talking to another baby - she had the baby laying propped up on a boppy and she was holding the one she was feeding.  So, she was paying attention to both of them simultaneously.  I've also seen them read books to 3-4 babies this way (all laying/sitting propped on the floor together).  If one of them cried they would talk to them by name and offer them a toy or their paci, etc. 

Not perfect, but, they are all still getting attention at the same time.

aglenn

I couldn't imagine it, either, before I sent DD to day care but I spent some time observing the classroom and those teachers really were able to handle it just fine (1:4 ratio there as well).  Like others have said, they know how to handle it and things run incredibly smoothly.  I encourage you to go spend an hour or two in the middle of the day there and just get a sense of the rhythm of the day.  It really put my mind at ease, because I had the same fears when I was a FTM.

EVM1216

I spent a lot of time at the 2 DCs that DD was in when she was an infant.  I would stop in once every other week just to see what was going on.  I rarely saw a time when all 8 infants were upset and crying, even on the most hectic days. 

FWIW, by the time DD was 5 month old she could sit in a Bumbo next to another LO and they were able to make each other smile and entertain themselves by pulling each other's socks off.  I never felt like DD lacked for attention or care at any point.

CarlaAndJames

I didn't read all of the responses, but wanted to say that good daycare teachers are amazing with the way they can work a room with a 4 to 1 ratio. Go in and visit the one you are using and watch them for a few minutes. Our teachers could be holding and feeding one baby, talking to another baby on the floor, while jiggling a crib to help another baby fall asleep. They were in constant motion moving from one baby to another, I just sat back in awe watching them. Very rarely have I seen a baby sit and cry unattended at our daycare.

mben1119

DS has been at a day care center since he was 10 weeks old. At that point, my needs for them were to feed him, change him, let him try to roll around on the floor, and get him to nap. 8 months later, our needs have changed. Yes, they still feed him, change him, and get him to nap (when we're lucky!), but they are letting him interact with other babies, reading to him, helping him walk and stand...and being kind, patient, and loving. DS absolutely adores his teachers, and they adore him. You have to kind of let go a bit, and trust that they have been doing this a long time (much longer than I have!), and know what they are doing. They can tell when a baby's cries are urgent, or when they are just fussy. In terms of what they can "do", we brought in an exersaucer for DS when he was younger (yard sale-$20), so he could be stationary for them, but have some stimulus.

Lahardy96

I was worried too, but absolutely loved our infant room teacher. Because babies nap so frequently and are on different schedules, a lot of times she'd have no more than two (when they were really little) and once they start crawling, they like some time on their own to explore. Our teacher was great tending to more than one. And I would stop in at least once a week to visit and would notice if one teacher had more than one crying, other teachers would help out too. My sister (who is a preschool teacher and was in a daycare for a while) did tell me to stop in unannounced and visit when I could, as it would encourage attention, though with ou teacher I don't think it would have been an issue.

emberlee3

DS's teachers were great multi-taskers.  Plus they were very organized.  Of course, there were times when he had to wait, but never for very long.

I think it's good for babies to learn a little patience.  And older children, too.  Since having DD, DS has learned that he sometimes has to wait while I tend to his sister.  At the same time, I am also fine with letting DD fuss a little while I help DS with something.

ETA: in my state infants up to 1 year must be held while drinking a bottle, even if they can hold their own.  So they all had 1 on 1 attention during feedings.