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New daycare - adjustment period?

duvaltobeduvaltobe
in Babies: 6 - 9 Months
My 2 girls have both been watched by my aunt for the past 3 years.  Unfortunatley that arrangement had to end and they have both started at a new daycare.  My 7 month old seems to be having a hard time adjusting.  Our daycare provider, whom we are very happy with, has said that she has been very fussy and needs to be held all of the time.  She is not like this at home...she's a generally happy baby and is content to play on the floor, in her playpen, in her exercauser, etc.  I'm feeling so bad for my baby as well as for our provider who has other children to tend to as well.  Our 3 year old has adjusted just fine and gets excited to go each morning.  Is it normal for an infant to go through this?  Will she adjust eventually? 
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Re: New daycare - adjustment period?

  • LJR 84LJR 84 member

    I'm curious to hear the responses. DD has recently been moved up to the next room at day care. (typically 6 months - one year) She seems to be having a similar problem- she's fussy and always wants to be held. She's also not like this at home, either. It really upsets me when I pick her up and most days they say she was upset most of the day.

    Sorry I wasn't much help- just wanted to say I can relate! Hopefully it passes soon.

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  • sugarland726sugarland726 member

    We haven't gone through this, but I'll add my 2 cents. Stranger anxiety/separation anxiety can start around 7 months. I would assume that is the issue. We are contemplating switching daycares altogether and that is one of our concerns. DD is fine with her current providers, but she has been there since 10 weeks old. However she cried when she saw my parents this weekend because she only sees them about once a month.

    I think your DD will eventually be fine, though I don't know how long it can last.

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  • aehwchaehwch
    So, I don't have any advice on starting daycare at 7 months but I can share my experience.  My DD started daycare at 15 weeks for 2 days a week.  She is now 7.5 months and I would say she finally adjusted about 2 weeks ago.  Before, she would spend the majority of her day crying/fussing/wanting to be held (and refusing to eat).  It broke my heart b/c she was the happiest baby for me at home and never needed to be held all day.  I was convinced that it was the daycare but we even tried her out for a few weeks with a friend who has a child (in addition to her daycare days) and she didn't do better.  I think some babies just take a long time to adjust and attach to a new provider.  If she is full-time, I would give it a good 1-2 months to let her adjust. Sep anxiety also starts after 6 months, so that could be adding to it.  Another suggestion, is to spend some time in the daycare and give the teacher tips (like how to rock her, her hunger signs, what makes her laugh, etc.).  Good luck. 
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  • JillAlyJillAly member

    Absolutely it takes time.  It's all new stimuli to the 7 month old and nothing is familiar.  Even if they are familiar with the teachers, etc. 7 months is a tough age with separation anxiety regardless of starting a new daycare.  

    My daughter started daycare at 4 months with no problems.  However, now at 7 1/2 months, she cries when I leave.  She smiles at the teachers and likes them but she still cries when I leave.  There is no one like mommy - even if your LO is used to a certain routine.

    It wouldn't really matter if you waited longer to change the routine- separation anxiety sticks around a long time.  My son started daycare at 15 months and he cried for weeks.  It took him about a week to start eating/drinking normally again and then the rest of the time was just crying when I left.  Now he runs TO daycare because he loves it so much so eventually it does get better!

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  • wandafeetwandafeet
    Take heart! It'll get better and they'll adjust. DD started a new daycare at 7 months and my coworker's baby started daycare at 8 months. Both were fussy and needed to be held all the time. Within a couple of weeks both were happy and having a great time at daycare.
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