s/o changing FT daycares: how long to settle in?

CA2006 · May 2010

DS has always been a very "go with the flow" kid. Never got upset when we would take him to daycare and has been going to daycare since he was 7 months. 2 weeks ago (at 17 months), he started a new daycare (we moved about 7 weeks ago and he was going to his old daycare then with grandma for a couple weeks). The first week at his new daycare, he did really well. Loved playing, slept and ate well. They were so impressed with his easy transition. This week, he is a total nightmare. Fought me for 5 min. this morning when I tried to get him in his carseat, pouted all the way to daycare then clung to me when it was time for me to leave. He was giggling b/c I was tickling him and he was ok (not crying or anything) just didn't want me to leave. Then when we pick him up, he never wants to leave daycare.

My question is, do you think this has to do with all of the change/transition? He was fine for the first 6 weeks being shuttled to his old daycare, then with grandma, then at his new daycare. This week. it's like now that everything is settled, he wants to stir it up a bit. Phase?

frogdogny · May 2010

Yes, I think it has to do with all the recent changes. Kids that age thrive on routine. You've totally changed up things on him and it will take a while for him to adjust to all of it. When we switched my girls to a new FT daycare, DD2 was the same age (17m) and had a hard time with it. She had been at her old center since she was 3m old and practically owned the place! LOL. It was a good 2-3 weeks before she finally accepted the new place and wasn't crying all day. (yes, she cried practicaly all day for the first 2 weeks - heartbreaking). But eventually she got into her routine, found her new favorite teacher and made new "friends". You're factoring in a change in house and now removed grandma from the equation. Give him time to adjust and just do your best to get the new routine in place and stick to it. And also be reminded that alot of that type of behavior is also normal toddler behavior regardless of all those changes. Ah, the joys of toddlerhood. LOL GL!

CA2006 · May 2010

Thank you for your response frogdogny. We have done everything to keep his routine the same as it always has ben, but all of the changes were bound to catch up with him at some point, I guess. It's just strange. His sleeping has been off, too. We are getting his ears checked at the pedi (he has tubes (we think he still does, but want to make sure they didn't fall out) just to make sure there is no medical cause for the different behavior. And if that turns out ok, then we will just chalk it up to change. it's hard to watch him go through this when it just isn't like him at all. I am used to toddler behavior from him, but this is extreme. Ugh...not looking forward to the terrible 2's or 3's.

frogdogny · May 2010

DD2 has tubes as well so I am no stranger to all that added "fun". Beleive me, both my girls had (and still have!) some pretty surprising moments of hellatious behavior. DD2 started around 18 months and my 3.5 yr old has some amazingly obnoxious days. Good times! LOL. Hang in there!

trinny · May 2010

Sounds like he is adjusting to the daycare this week versus last week. Maybe he felt like change was fun for awhile and is just catching on that this is his life now? I'm sure it is tough, but he'll probably figure it out by next week!

One thing that is great about daycare is I really feel like DD is very resilient to changes-- she can adjust pretty quickly to a new environment.

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s/o changing FT daycares: how long to settle in?

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