Preemie Starting Daycare Monday-Questions

emu0013 · October 2012

I am mainly a lurker, but have posted on occasion. My little peanut will be starting daycare on Monday; I am totally freaking out. A little background, she was born at 35w4d; I had PTL at 29 weeks and had the steroid shots; when we went in for our weekly dopplar study I had no amneomic fluid and we had already knowns she was growth restricted (the perintologist thought due to my controlled high blood pressure before pregnancy).

Anyways she only spend about 3 hours in the NICU for observation and was able to stay in our room with us, and go home when we did. We went home she was 4lb3oz. I EP and she eats very slowly and sometimes 2 ounces at a time, sometimes 2.5 and sometimes 1. I feed her on demand of course. I am really scared that she is going to starve at daycare. DH and I have eat with them again yesterday to discuss her eating. She was 7lb11oz at her 2 month appointment 2 weeks ago. The other kids in the infant room seemed so much bigger than her too.

Has anyone sent their preemie to daycare this soon? Also, anyone have a slow eater, how did they do?

Lastly, any advice on how many bottles to send and how many ounces per bottle. I am in Mi and they can reoffer the bottle but after 1 hour must throw it away. I don't want them to toss a lot BM. I am thinking maybe 2 ounce bottles and some half ounce? Really not sure at all. TIA..

mrsemily08 · October 2012

I'd ask if they can put the bottles in the fridge for you. Our girls were 35w and started DC at 5.5 mo (we were lucky that my MIL was able to fly out and watch them for a bit). At the time, they were drinking 4-6 oz at a time, so we sent 6 oz bottles and they left the scraps in the fridge for us but moved onto a new bottle for the next feed as per state regs. If this isn't an option I think I'd send 2 oz bottles.

She'll grow so fast. Don't worry too much - as long as they're experienced providers, they'll be used to having a peanut alongside the older infants. My girls were older, but only 11.5 and 12.5 lbs when they started, and they were the smallest kids in the room (though not the youngest).

They were never great eaters, but our teachers were good about working with them to finish a bottle, and recorded everything so we knew what they were eating. Just express your concerns, and tell them about her habits.

PhillyGal34 · October 2012

No first hand experience yet but you may want to send some frozen BM too just in case she does use all her bottles.

Good luck!

amwoodard08 · October 2012

DS was born at 35 weeks and 4 days as well, weighing in at 5 lbs 11 ounces, he had to spend a week in the hospital due to a staph infection from my prolonged ruptured membranes. He only ate about an ounce every 3-4 hours when he was first born, and by the time he was your daughter's age he was eating up to 4 ounces every 3-4 hours. I would suggest sending a little bit extra the first couple days and ask how much she ends up needing or eating and go from there. By the time DS was 3 months old he was at the same level, size, and eating habits as normal full term babies his age. I think yours will do fine

Daycare is hard, I had a private sitter that watches only 5 kids and was a family friend. Thank goodness cause I drove her nuts calling 3 times a day when I went to work. lol

PhDMomma · October 2012

My LO was born at 33wk5d, and he first went to daycare at about 3 months actual. He was pretty tiny compared to the other kids (we use an inhome so there are only 5 kids). We sent as many bottles as he would in general eat at home during the time that he would be there plus an extra. We started daycare in January and as of now have not had any big issues. Sometimes he'll drain the bottle and other times he's not so into it. But she offers them to him based on when he will typically want a bottle. But he won't starve himself, and if he's snubbed a bottle at daycare he will typically make up for it when he gets home.

When he started daycare we just sent him in sleep n' play outfits (the fleece things with feet), and made sure to pack more than enough diapers, wipes, and several extra outfits (he had a bit of a spit up issue).

I hope this helps, and I know that it all feels nerve racking right now, but it will be okay.

Kadyra · October 2012

Ds1 was born at 36w1d and started daycare at 7 weeks. I hated doing that, but we had no choice. Anyway, I sent them a bunch of frozen breast milk. They'd thaw it in the fridge and offer 1oz at a time in the beginning until he was full. It was an awesome daycare except he caught rsv there.

emu0013 · October 2012

Thanks for all of your kind words. Unfortunately I have to send pre made bottles, I believe they said that's what state licensing requires in mi.

Want a personalized experience?

Preemie Starting Daycare Monday-Questions

Re: Preemie Starting Daycare Monday-Questions

Choose Another Board

Search Boards