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Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months
Tell me about your LO's first week at daycare...
My DS is 13 months and just started this week in daycare. He was being watched by my mom but she is older and now that DS is so mobile, he's a bit too much for her to handle. He is a poor eater but my mom is patient so she works with him to get him to eat. His first week has been very tough. He cries off and on a lot. He hasn't eaten hardly anything, some watermelon (his favorite). Will not drink anything. We're only doing half days this week so at least I can feed him when I pick him up at lunch so he's not starving or thirsty the whole day. So I am not looking forward to next week when we go full-time. Please tell me your stories (including age when starting), any helpful tips? I want to know there's a light at the end of the tunnel!
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Re: Tell me about your LO's first week at daycare...
DD started at a home daycare at 9 weeks but it was just her, the woman and one other kid so it felt more like an aunt watching her than a structured daycare. At 1 year (on the nose) we started to go to a center. At first DD was really freaked out beause of all the people, all the noise, and all the different teachers vs her one caregiver. She cried alot at drop off because of the unfamiliarity, at night she was super cranky because she was exhausted from all of the activity, and she did eat a bit less during that transition. The good thing for her was that she still took bottles during the day which I think soothed her and helped her bond with the new teachers.
After the first month there she started walking, mimicing noises and words, and became much more social. She's been there for 6 months now and she asks for her teachers by name on the way to "school" and when we walk in she just trots away from me to go play. It gets better!
We started Em at 14 mo. She only goes from 8-12, 3 days a week. This is her 3rd week. So far she still gives me the gut wrenching cry when I leave her and is still crying on and off all morning. They said for the most part she does play well. She has always been a big eater so we have not had any problems there. I talked to my director today and she said that Em is doing great and it will take a while to adjust. They tell their full parents to give LO's 2-3 weeks and part time takes longer. Everyone keeps telling me, it is harder on me than it is on her. I am hoping for the same light.
DD started daycare at 10 months. That first week went much more smoothly than I had hoped. She cried a little bit when we dropped her off and cried a little bit when we picked her up. But, our daycare has a webcam so I could see that she stopped almost immediately after DH left the room. At the beginning, she just sat and watched a lot. Since then, she has become louder and more engaged.
It took her a bit to learn to nap there. She ate well from the beginning, but the fact that she wasn't napping much meant that the daycare caregivers had to figure out their own feeding schedule for her (since she wasn't following mine anymore). They've got it fine tuned now, but they were still working things out that first week.
Please know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel!! My LO started in daycare when he was 5 months, so he was on the younger side and adjusted well... I also work at the daycare center with 1 yr olds, and it is totally normal for children to have a tough time the first couple of weeks... it is a big change for them.It does really take about 2 weeks for children to adjust and get use to the routine. In my experience once children get comfortable they do start to eat and drink, I know that is always a concern for parents. Does your LO have a comfort item to take to school to help with the transition? I always suggest that to my parents. It will get easier!!