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daycare babies not eating or napping
Has anyone had problems with their little ones not eating at daycare? We just started 2 weeks ago and both of my girls are not eating much. I leave them from 8:30 - 5 and sometimes they only eat 4 ounces. I'm starting to worry because one of them looks smaller and smaller as the days go by.
They are also not napping as well. I'm sure this is just a transitional phase since I had been home with them for the 1st five months and have exclusively breastfed them. They just don't love the bottle at all.
How long did it take your babies to get used to daycare and start eating and napping well? I'm a bit worried that they will suffer developmentally without the calories and the sleep. (Although, I do nurse them in the morning and when we get home and througout the night as they are still getting up a few times).
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Re: daycare babies not eating or napping
Well, honestly, not getting them used to the bottle was ?mistake you made - not being bitchy, but you should have prepared them. ?Having them make the transition to daycare AND a new method of eating is a lot for wee ones. ?It will take time for it to become normal for them. ?But I'd bring them to the Dr just to check.
That said, are they eating to make up for it at home? Also, are they getting solids? DD's eating has become more erratic since we started solids.
As for the naps, I think its normal in an environment with a lot more stimulation for some adjustment. ?DD has a harder time getting naps in because of all the 'stuff' going on. ?It may take time.
The napping I wouldn't be too concerned about, but only eating 4 oz over 8.5 hours is a little concerning. I would probably schedule their 6 month appointment a little early just to make sure they are gaining weight appropriately, and there isn't an infection or something else going on that is keeping them from eating.
I would also talk with the DCP about offering the bottle more frequently (maybe every 2 hours) to see if they will eat a little more during the day.
My son went through some stages where he wouldn't eat very much at daycare. It usually only lasted a few days. He didn't like the bottle either and we did get him used to it ahead of time. If it lasts more than a few days, you might talk to your pedi about it. Some babies reverse cycle, which means they eat more during the night and the time that they're with you, and less during the day. Do they eat solids yet? Maybe they'd be more willing to eat some of that at daycare.
The napping is hard. DS only had a few stages where he napped okay at daycare. For most of the time, it was a struggle for us until he moved into the toddler room and switched to one nap a day.
edited to add: I see now that you think they're losing weight? Definitely get them into the doctor for a check.
I would call the pediatrician about that - especially if you think she's losing weight. Babies change how much they eat all the time, but only 4 ounces would concern me.
The napping may never really resolve itself until they get to a room with a group nap time. DD sometimes takes good naps at daycare, but usually there is just too much going on for her to settle down. She takes longer ones at home where it is quiet.
Have you talked to your daycare providers about this? They may also have suggestions due to their experience. DD didn't have any problems but she is FF. She also was given bottles by me, DH, my Mom and MIL so she was used to others feeding her. My daycare suggested if I needed to that I could feed her there in the beginning or before starting so she got used to the environment but we didn't need to do this. If she had problems the first few days, I was going to do this. She eats the same amount as she does at home most of the time.
Perhaps you need to start using the bottle more at home?
For naps, I think she naps more frequently there than at home.
I definitely have the napping issue, and it hasn't really gotten better. Some days, DS will nap OK, others he hardly sleeps at all. It hasn't seemed to bother him, though, so I try to not let it bother me.
I would be concerned about them not eating, though. I'd call you pediatrician and get them weighed. A lot of babies don't eat as much at daycare, but 4 ounces seems really low to me. They should be getting between 19 and 30 ounces a day total, and I'm not sure they can get that daily total with so few ounces at day care.
Have you talked to your DCP about why they aren't eating? I know you say they hate the bottle, but has the DCP tried making it cooler, warmer, etc.? DS needs a really warm bottle. I almost hate to ask, but is the DCP actually feeding the girls, or are they trying to have them feed themselves by propping them up in a boppy or something? DS really needed the snuggly held feeling to take a bottle at first. I'd probably practice/experiment with the bottle this weekend.
Hi,
I just wanted to let you know that we also went through the same thing with our baby. I went back to work when my baby was 6.5 months, and I think sometimes it is just a tough transition for little ones. We had *many* days where she would drink between 4-8 ounces. I asked the DCP to try a number of different things 1) offering milk every hour (I know it is a pain for them but babies need to eat!) 2) once your babies start solids, add milk to everything (cereal/veggies/fruit). My doctor also suggested trying to have DCP offer in a less distracting room, having the same person do it, etc. And for what it's worth, my baby had been taking a bottle (of pumped milk) from week 2, so it had nothing to do with "not preparing her."
Our baby also then started a series of colds/ear infections/thrush which affected her appetite. Once she got past that she did great. Our baby never lost weight, though she did do the "reverse cycle" feeding, so I think she was getting all the milk she needed at night for a while- which was hard on mama, but she was still eating.
As for the napping, for some reason, she has always napped great at daycare (way better than at home).
Good luck, I know it can be really stressful! I am sure they will ge used to it!
My DD is currently doing this. She's only been in daycare for 3 days though. The first day (Wednesday) she only ate 4.5 oz and that was only because my dc provider dripped the milk into her mouth. Yesterday after much struggle she took a 3.5 oz bottle in the afternoon, and today I got a call this morning to say she had taken a 3.5 oz bottle this morning. She does not like the bottle and unlike the pp, it's not because I failed at introducing her to the bottle at home. We tried and tried and tried. I own every time of bottle/nipple that exists. At one point I was forcing a bottle on her at every feeding out of desperation. I don't think she'll ever like the bottle but she is starting to take it now that she's realizing there is no other option. I haven't worried about the amount of milk she drinks during the day because she is making up for it and more during the night.