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Working Moms
JennJenn613
member
Daycare: Babies in cages?
JennJenn613
member
in Working Moms
Sorry, I know that title sounds awful but that's kind of what it is. There's a daycare by me that has what amount to cages along the wall that they use for the babies to sleep in. Does anyone's daycare have these?
(This is not the exact product, because the director said that her brother, a cabinet maker, made theirs. Great... not even subject to regulation.)
I find these cages upsetting. What irks me even more is that the director of this place told me that the state (UT) requires these cages, because of the sound-dampening properties of the wood. This is BS because no other center I've been in has these, they have normal cribs or pack-n-plays. She also said the state does not allow cloth diapering... also BS.
We love our little guys!
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Re: Daycare: Babies in cages?
My old church nursery had those, but actually that room was never used. I know it looks terrible, but I don't think I'd mind so long as they were only in there while they were SLEEPING, of course with someone right in front of them watching them and taking them out to be rocked if they woke up.
I think my bigger concern would be the safety of the opening and shutting / latching of the rails.
eta: the place you are describing sounds sketchy. Walk away.
That place sounds totally creepy. And those cages look like what we keep dogs and cats in at the vet clinic I work at.. every once in a while we do put a baby in one, but just to take cute pictures. I promise we don't leave them there
Run, run away fast!
Not something I would want my child in!!!
We have those at my son's daycare and we saw them at other places we toured. They don't dropside, the front goes up like a garage door.
I have no idea about any supposed sound-dampening qualities, but I like them because (1) it's darker in there to help DS sleep, (2) there isn't as much opportunity for visual stimulation to distract DS, and (3) it opens up a ton of floor space so the babies can play - his room goes 2-12 months.
I can see how they look institutional - DH and I call them baby jails and joke that we need to teach DS how to use a spoon so he can start tunneling his way out. But he naps very well in his - better than he naps at home.
They're definitely not state required (although we're not in UT) and I also call BS on that daycare's claim that state regs prohibit CDing. All you probably need to do for that would be to provide a closeable wetbag for the dirties.
I'd probably skip that daycare because of the other issues you mentioned, but the wall cribs wouldn't be a deal-breaker for me (obviously).
BFP #2 5/27/12. EDD 2/1/13. m/c and D&C 6/21/12.
Oh, hell no. I would be concerned that it's a licensing violation for them to have non-standard, unregulated sleeping areas for babies.
I just checked the regs for my state and stacked or double cribs are not allowed.
Each program also must have at least one evacuation crib to use in case of emergency:
TTC since 11/05...ectopic pg 4/08...early m/c 6/09...BFP 10/5/09!
Nora B...June 15, 2010...8lbs, 8oz...Med-free birth!
TTC #2 since 7/11...cycle #3 of Clomid + IUI = BFP
Malcolm...September 21, 2012...8lbs, 6oz...Another med-free birth!
Our first center had them. Basically they're like cribs as bunk beds. They needed to fit the cribs into a small space, and this was the best way to get enough cribs in for each baby. This center had a separate nap room and video monitors on it. I think they're fine.
I've also never heard of a daycare center that allows cloth diapering.
Charlotte Ella 07.16.10
Emmeline Grace 03.27.13
Exactly this! Is it made out of wood? Looks like a fire hazard to me. And how do they clean the wood?
Every daycare that we looked at allowed cloth diapers.
Well, I just checked the licensing regs for UT (https://health.utah.gov/licensing/rules/R430-100Official.pdf) and found that cribs have to be spaced 2 feet apart, so there goes their first claim. Also, CDs are allowed, but they cannot rinse them and they have to be stored in a closed, leak-proof container.
Soooo...run away from that center. And possibly report them to licensing.
TTC since 11/05...ectopic pg 4/08...early m/c 6/09...BFP 10/5/09!
Nora B...June 15, 2010...8lbs, 8oz...Med-free birth!
TTC #2 since 7/11...cycle #3 of Clomid + IUI = BFP
Malcolm...September 21, 2012...8lbs, 6oz...Another med-free birth!
Huh? Aren't most cribs made out of wood? I know ours at home is and so are the ones at DS's daycare.
Wall cribs wouldn't be my first choice. I could probably get used to them if I felt they were properly monitored, good air flow, evacuation plan, allowed lots of floor space for activities, etc. I would check state regs for cloth diapers. Even if they are allowed under state law, I would think a private owned center could have an internal policy to not accept CD. Sounds like you don't get a good feeling from this place, OP. I would look elsewhere.
that was my first thought...how much time it would take to evacuate the babies if there was fire. definately not what I would want for my kids. Walk away.
My daycare cloth diapers. All I had to do was ask. They agreed before I'd even finished my prepared speech about them. Most states do not have regulations against using CDs, but a lot of centers will claim that they do. I know I visited centers that claimed they couldn't CD due to state regulations even though other centers I'd visited had agreed to it. Some of the centers I visited had the "cage cribs." I get that they are space savors and I'm sure that they are safe, but they kind of creep me out.
Cloth diapers and actual cribs are two of the reasons we chose the center my daughter is at. I would totally walk away from the daycare you visited. The lying would make them an automatic NO for me.
In my world, wood is the preferred material for babies. Cribs, toys, highchairs, whatever. Wood is washable, non-toxic and non-conductive. Plastic and other manufactured materials are far more hazardous, particularly in case of fire.
This stackable notion is new to me, but I don't really see an issue with it. Cribs look like prison cells whether stacked or not.
I get that the stackable cribs save space. But a) just say that -- don't lie, b) I read that the manufacturer who makes the stackable cribs recommends that infants not be put in them anymore when they can sit up unassisted. These weren't manufactured though obviously so I'm sure anything goes.
I also have a problem with the fact that the cribs are not visible from the main room, and the director made a point of telling me how soundproof they are. I can just picture LO getting chucked in there and left to scream.
I also get that they don't want to cloth diaper. So just say so! It's not like I can't just go home and read the state regulations, which I did, or talk to my BIL's mom who works at another daycare in the area, which I did. The consensus is that this lady is either stupid or a liar, and either way I don't want her watching my kid.
OMG, totally had a blonde moment when I wrote that. You're right. Not sure what the helll I was thinking.
We looked at a DC in NJ near where we both work and they were so excited about getting these cribs! My mom was with us (who runs a center in NY near where we live) and she freaked out! lol
Needless to say we aren't taking DS to the one in NJ and he will go to my moms center instead. I think in some states they are perfectly legal and in others they are not. I wasn't a fan, seemed like a "Pet Shop" to me
Our daycare uses them too. I never equated it to a "cage" although isn't that the intent of a crib! My kids had no issues with them and they have a fire exit in the baby room (leading outside), so not a fire hazard and yes, almost all cribs are made of wood. I think they are just space savers and the rails go up--not drop down. They could still hang crib toys on them if you desired.
I love my daycare though. They have been awesome for my kids and family (and my oldest is now school age). I wouldn't go with the center you are describing due to other reasons.
I agree, you are overthinking this.
eta: my short 5 ft self could see into them
I know I'm late on this, but I just assumed all daycare cribs were like this. It just seems like the stacked ones would go against any state's fire code. I'm just thinking about the time it would take to unlatch and open every baby's crib and get them out versus just wheeling them out. Even if they had to put a few in one crib and then wheel, it just seems like a big time difference. I would want to know what their fire drill test evacuation times were running.