Daycare room change, again.

jmiskimins

I am a first time mom so I have no idea if what my daycare is doing is normal. When we started we were told that the infant room went through age one, and then the toddler room was up to age two. When my daughter was about six months old we were notified that because of their enrollment numbers and new babies starting they would be realigning the rooms to 0-8 months infant, and 8-18 months for toddler. I was reluctant, but there weren't really any older kids in the toddler room when it was her turn to move over in August. It was kids she had already been with and were within a couple months of her age. She has not been napping well since the move, sleeping about 30-40 minutes most days. Just recently she has taken some longer naps and seems to finally be adjusting. Then I received notice today that they would start moving the kids in her room to the next one at 15 months, again to accommodate enrollment. I don't know what the upper age range is for this room. This is 3-4 months away, so not exactly an immediate problem but it really rubs me the wrong way. Is it normal for daycares to do this, so would it probably be the same situation elsewhere? I see the positives that being with older kids will continue her development and she will continue to be with the kids she knows. I really hate that it feels like so much change so fast. She had a tough time with the last change, and I really hate the thought of doing it again. Overall I have been happy with our daycare. We feel like she receives very good care and we have liked all of her teachers. I know it's a business and they need to continue to grow,  I just can't help but think this seems like so much change for such young children. And there will be at least 12 kids in the next group instead of 8; I understand the ratio will remain 4:1 at that age level but it still seems like an awfully big group of kiddos under age 2. Am I overreacting? Maybe I am letting my own anxiety take over here, and that's not good either. 

Leap08

I don't know about most daycare centers, but this sounds very similar to how our daycare operates. Our daycare does infants 6wks-10ish months (kind of depends on mobility and enrollment numbers), tots 10ish months - about 18 months, toddlers 18 months - 2yrs. In the infant room babies nap on demand. There is no set nap time and not really a true structure to the day. In the tots room they have a set nap period and meal times are structured. In the toddler room the whole day is very structured. I actually love that they do this. I like that mobile babies are separated from the really little babies, and I like that the days become more structured as the babies get older.

brewcitybride

Change is good for kids. Our daycare changes the kids rooms fairly often, too. My son is 1 in two weeks, and he's already making his third switch of rooms. I love all the teachers, and have been through this before with DD, so I know that it's beneficial to the child. Yes, I think you are overreacting:) Your child will learn a lot from these switches along the way! For us, the switches slowed down around age 2...there is a 2 year old room, 3 year old room, and 4k room.

fryrat

it's normal to adjust the categories of the rooms. My DC actually goes more by abilities than age. For example there's a 1 year old still in the cuddler room, because she doesn't feed herself too well. The toddler teacher can not sit for 20 minutes in front of a high chair like the cuddler teacher can, because the toddlers are all over the place. Also, they combine the rooms at the beginning and end of the day. If there's only 1 of the bigger kids, and maybe 2 younger ones, they combine. Totally fine and normal, and I love both of the teachers.

jlaOK

Our daycare has 2 rooms for every year age group until the 3-year-old room. I love that they switch rooms at every half year instead of full year. This enables them to gear the "lessons" to more specific age groups and I feel like DS has benefited from this. Since the kids generally move together the transitions have been fairly easy.

I think that change is harder on the parents than on the kids. Kids adjust easily and I'm sure she will do well. If you are concerned, you may talk to the teacher and/or director about a slow transition where she spends a few hours each day in the new room so she can get used to it.

EMOmamma

Our rooms are more based on mobility, napping, and eating.  So there's infants (6w-8/9m-ish) where they eat and nap on demand - older babies get purees.  Then the Movers and Shakers are about 9m-15m - they eat "meals" with hands, can crawl and walk, and take 2 scheduled naps.  Then they go to toddler 1 (15m-2y-ish) where they take 1 afternoon nap, no bottles, more structured play outside time ect.  Then there's toddler 2 which goes up until they are potty training and ready for 3y/beginning preschool .

My son will be 2 next month and goes back and forth between toddler 1&2 daily depending on ratios.  He likes the different rooms, toys, activities, and kids.   

Tink112011

I think you are overreacting a little.  As you mentioned, daycare is a business.  Even though the arrangements may not always be ideal, it prevents them from having to increase your tuition.

Our daycare has the Infant 1 room (6 weeks to about 8 months) the mobile Infant 2 room (8 months to 1 year), and then the Toddler rooms (12-24 months).  So it seems like a lot of change for my DS, who spent 4 months in the first room, 4 months in the second room, and will shortly move to the Toddler room.  I know he is going to have a hard time with the transition because he gets very attached to the teachers, but he'll adjust. I think he'll start napping better once he's in a room where all the kiddos are on the same schedule.

 GL.  I know its tough.