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Babies: 0 - 3 Months
Day care: should I be concerned?
I'm not sure if I'm making more out of this than I should, but I went to get my son from day care yesterday about 30 minutes earlier than I usually pick him up and the provider had him sitting in his car seat, in front of the TV. Something about that seems off. I don't leave the car seat there so she can plop him in it all day. Plus, she had him sitting on all the straps, which can't be comfortable. And putting a 15-week-old in front of the TV? She also had an eight-month-old in front of the TV. Does that seem wrong to anyone else? She definitely wasn't expecting me to pick him up that early, so this could be her standard routine and I'd never know it unless I got there early.
I don't want to be the mother from hell, but that just doesn't seem right. I'm trying to give her the benefit of the doubt, but it's not easy. Do any of you drop in to day care unannounced? Does your provider care if you do?
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Re: Day care: should I be concerned?
I would be a little upset. I am not militant about DD not watching TV, she sees it sometimes when we have it on, but I think that purposefully putting a child that young in front of the TV is being lazy. She's not being paid to plant your baby in front of the TV. I would also worry about how often that's happening. I know DC providers can't interact with all the babies all the time, but there should be an age appropriate alternative when they can't.
Edited for spelling
I didn't see or hear what was on TV (the TV was on the wall facing the other direction from where I was standing), so I couldn't say for sure what they were watching. I tried to reassure myself that she must've been packing the kids' stuff up because they were about to head outside to play, which is where I usually pick my son up. He's only been in day care for three weeks, so I'm telling myself that I'm just sad that she's the one watching him all day, not me.
It didn't help that when I got him home I noticed his diaper had leaked and his pants and onesie were soaked through. Oh, and he had dry snot on his nose. I know she can't wipe everyone's noses every minute throughout the day, but it still upset me.
ARE you concerned? I don't understand asking people how you should feel.
If you're concerned, I'd say something. It's obviously bugging you.
Not asking how I should feel, wondering if I'm overreacting. I don't want to say something to the provider and have an awkward relationship as a result.
I agree with Lanie.
What matters is if YOU are concerned and obviously you are. Also, you have every right to drop in early. If my DD was in daycare, I would probably drop in unannounced every now and then just to see what was going on.
I would be upset. But thats one reason we use a center...we will never have this problem.
IMO there is no reason to leave a child parked in front of the tv. If she was doing something that needed to be done, he could have been playing with a toy. The only way I'd let it slide is if it was just on in the background if it was election coverage. But the fact that he was sitting in front of it, isn't ok for me. Thats not what I pay a daycare provider to do.
The leak is unacceptable. Unless you live far away and think its possible it happened in the car.
As for the snot, ehh...that doesn't bother me. The leak and being in soaked clothes is not ok at all. Leaks happen, but diaper and clothes should be changed immediately.
I only live a few blocks away from my day care provider. Usually when I pick him up, they're outside and I literally pick him up out of the stroller. I would've felt the wet clothes then, but when I picked him up yesterday he was already in his car seat so I didn't notice the wet clothes until I got him home.
Yes, obviously I am concerned. I wanted your opinions so I knew I wasn't overreacting. So, thank you to those who let me know I wasn't crazy for being concerned.
They also say you shouldn't put your child in a shopping cart. Give me more than just name dropping.
No one said you weren't concerned, you have been given advice from everyone. Maybe it wasn't the way you wanted to hear it, but it's advice you asked for.
Don't let your concern of a damaged relationship prevent you from being an advocate for your child. You are the only one who can speak for your baby, so if you've got a concern speak LOUD and speak OFTEN. You are paying her to care for your baby and to me, it doesn't sound like she's doing a good job. Good luck.
No one said you weren't concerned, you have been given advice from everyone. Maybe it wasn't the way you wanted to hear it, but it's advice you asked for.
Don't let your concern of a damaged relationship prevent you from being an advocate for your child. You are the only one who can speak for your baby, so if you've got a concern speak LOUD and speak OFTEN. You are paying her to care for your baby and to me, it doesn't sound like she's doing a good job. Good luck.
first I'd like to address the issue of center vs. in-home. it seems like a few of you think centers are far superior to in-home and that you'd 'never' have a problem with a center. I don't understand this logic at all. Perhaps you picked a great daycare center and never will have a problem. But I've seen many, many, many posts about bad experiences w/ centers. In-homes are my personal preference but i see the?downfalls in both.
as for the OP,?My DCP does have a TV in the area where she watches the children. But it has never been on when I or my DH has been there. when i asked her about it, she said she rarely turns it on but every once in a while (like a really rainy day) they will all watch a movie together. she doesn't just sit the kids in front of the TV.
you should ask your DCP about the situation and let her know your concerns. If you do not feel comfortable talking to your DCP about your concerns - then this is not the DCP for you. You should feel comfortable enough w/ her to bring up topics w/out fearing any sort of retaliation on you or your child.?
I said that I chose a center and would never have THAT problem, ie DD being sat in front of a tv. None of the centers I visited had TVs in the infant rooms, so no...this would never be a problem at a center.
Its a person's preference whether they want in-home vs center and there are pros and cons of each, but I know that there is no tv access at a center so this would never be an issue.
i wasn't?referring?to your post, per se. I was speaking in general terms but was actually thinking of the post by LovetheMarriedLife.
I thought it would be better not to call somebody out -- but next time I will be specific.?
look, don't make me challenge your center to a brawl with my in-home
?