those with infants in daycare

jllmb79 · October 2011

We just started daycare and I was wondering what can be expected. We brought our 5 mo old daughter for 1 hr Friday and when we picked her up she had broken out in hives from crying hysterically. On Monday she went for two hours and was really grouchy the rest of the night. Today she went for 5 hours and hadn't taken any naps and was crying hysterically when we picked her up.

What was your experience when starting daycare?

AsOctoberFalls · October 2011

Our DS did fine, but he was 6 weeks when he started - too young to know the difference. He has never slept well there, but he's also a crap napper at home, so I don't blame the daycare.

He comes home exhausted and usually ready for bed around 6:00. It stinks because I really get no time with him. But I LOVE his teachers and I can tell they really love him.

NicoleWright8 · October 2011

I would also think your LO is over tired. Daycare is soooo stimulating for DS that he comes home completely exhausted some days (moreso when he was smaller). We had to go with an earlier bedtime. Your LO is still pretty young so it may just take some time to get into a new routine.

Mrs.Felicity · October 2011

We started at 4 months, and the first week was rough. We did what you're describing - a couple hours at first, then 3 hours, then a half day, etc. The first time I dropped him off I shed a little tear when I left him, but when I got there to pick him up and he had just been crying the whole time I kind of lost it.

Ugh. He adjusted within a week though, and now he is 9 months and doesn't even blink when I leave him in the morning. He's always super psyched to see me in the evenings, too...that part is a really good feeling.

azuremama · October 2011

DS had a hard time at first--lots of crying, didn't even want them to hold him, etc. After a week, it was significantly better, and after two weeks, he was doing great. He never did sleep very well there. I think it's hard for some kids to nap at daycare because there's a lot going on.

DD has done better. She's been sleeping well there since the beginning. A few days where I know she's cried a lot, but overall okay.

It sounds like your DD is tired and maybe overstimulated. She'll settle in, but it may take a few more days. It's hard!

Have you told them her tired cues or asked about what they're doing to get her to nap? DD still uses a swaddle at daycare even though she hasn't at home for months. I let them do what works there. Our daycare also uses sleep sheep (small noise machines that can attach to the sides of cribs) for white noise.

Mrs.Felicity · October 2011

azuremama:
Our daycare also uses sleep sheep (small noise machines that can attach to the sides of cribs) for white noise.

DS had a hard time sleeping at daycare for a few months and I asked if I could bring his sleep sheep in to put on the crib and they said no, it was an electrocution risk. I was like "How? Are you pouring water over him while he naps??" But they were worried about liability or something so wouldn't let me bring it. Bizarro.

OUKap · October 2011

Mrs.Felicity:
DS had a hard time sleeping at daycare for a few months and I asked if I could bring his sleep sheep in to put on the crib and they said no, it was an electrocution risk. I was like "How? Are you pouring water over him while he naps??" But they were worried about liability or something so wouldn't let me bring it. Bizarro.

LOL.

AnnecyDream · October 2011

We just started my son at 9 mos. No crying yet, but his naps are much shorter at DC than they are at home. The way I see it, if he'd rather be up and playing with the other kids and toys, no problem with me. It doesn't affect his overnight sleep. If it did, I might be more concerned.

Totalyuppie · October 2011

LO has his good/bad days at daycare. At first he wasn't sleeping much while he was there so I brought in a heartbeat bear (same as sleep sheep) for him and that has helped immensely! I know it's hard but it does get better and easier.

eSynergy · October 2011

It took a few weeks (maybe even a couple months) until DS got used to daycare. He didn't nap well in the infant room, so he'd come home really tired. We pushed bedtime up to 6:45/7pm and that helped a lot. We just realized he wasn't getting enough sleep. Now he's napping 2 hours in the toddler room (I think it's b/c they all nap at the same time), so we were able to push his bedtime to 7:30/8pm. It will get better!

kafunder · October 2011

They started at 4 months and did fine. We just visited with our DCP one day, and then dropped them off for a full day the next week. They were tired the first week or so when they got home, so we had to move their bedtime up.

Other than that, they adjusted easily. They never cried at drop-off until they started going through some separation anxiety around 9 months. Also, we were on a pretty strict schedule at home, which they contined at daycare, so I think that helped. Our DCP did things for them that we did at home, like swaddling (and later a sleep sack), using sleep sheep, etc.

starlily313 · October 2011

Our LO was mostly fine. She started at 6 months. There were some issues with nighttime waking the first week and a half, but the start of daycare coincided with a growth spurt so who knows which was to blame for that.

LO seems to have adapted very quickly and gets excited now when she sees her teacher in the morning.

leverby · October 2011

We started her cold turkey at 5 months from 8-5. There were tears in the first week for sure - according to our DCP, she would cry whenever she was expecting a familiar face but instead saw the DCP instead but that she was able to console her very quickly with patting and stuff. I think by the second week there weren't anymore tears of that kind. She never cried during drop off and was always cheerful at pickup. Also, she was a much better sleeper at daycare than she ever was at home. We also had her in a home daycare with 4 other babies-2 year olds so it wasn't too hectic or loud and they slept in a different room with white noise and stuff. Regarding the crying, as long as you think the DCP is doing what they should to help console her and build the trust, the tears should go away very soon. Maybe ask them what they do when she starts to cry like that - what techniques do they use to console her.

jllmb79 · October 2011

It just worked out that we only needed a few hours of daycare the first couple days. My husband works lots of different shifts and he will take care of her until it is time for him to go to work or if he gets out early he will pick her up early

always4278 · October 2011

My LO started daycare at about 5 1/2 months and she did ok. She doesn't sleep well at daycare and some days will only take one thirty minute nap the whole eight hours she's there! She naps well at home and now on the week ends takes really long naps as if she's trying to catch up. I know she just doesn't want to sleep because she likes to play more while she's there lol. We did move her bedtime up to 7 and she almost always naps in the car on the way home at 4 and we wake her up at five so she can be read for bed on time. She's finally usually taking one nap for an hour and she seems to be happy. She makes a sad face when we leave some days and occasionally she'll whimper/cry, but most days she's ready to play and enjoys the kids and toys. We love her teachers and overall she seems to really like daycare. I hope things get better for you!

laurakaz13 · October 2011

We started at 3 months and the first week was hard. She got used to it and started to really like her teachers. Now it's a piece of cake. She loves them and is happy and smiley everyday when I pick her up.

Some days she naps more than others. And she plays and loves to watch the bigger kids, so she's tired at night too. I love our DC. Your LO will get there. It takes time.

h2babe · October 2011

I started my daughter at an in home daycare when she was 10-weeks old, and she cried all day her first day there. I didn't realize how upset she was until I went there to pick her up. It took her several weeks to get adjusted to the daycare environment, even when she's the only baby there and she got held A LOT by our care providers (it was a husband and wife team). But she ended up sleeping better for them than for us. She slept without being rocked, and she napped for 2-3 hrs at a time at daycare after about a couple of weeks there. Good luck!

O2BaMom · October 2011

We use an in-home daycare but I have to say YIKES to your experience! None of that is acceptable to me! Can you address these issues with someone? Your child shouldn't be crying so much and should be getting naps, IMO.

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