What are your 6-8 month olds doing at day care?

tig594 · October 2013

DD is 7 months next week and she was just moved from the infant room to the wobbler room at her day care. They do different activities in the wobbler room like reading books, arts and crafts, etc. Last week, they had one of the babies do foot prints on paper with blue paint. Well, the paint didn't wash off with soap and water and they got it on the kids clothes. I politely declined this activity as I have more than enough laundry to do and I don't want my LO looking like a smurf. Quite frankly, if I were that kid's parent I'd be a little irritated that they weren't asked first. What if they had pictures scheduled or something? They have stripped my LO down to her diaper, put her in a high chair and let her play in a tray of water. I'm not sure how I feel about this, especially since she's had the crud and it's kind of cold out. The day care is not cold but it's not particularly warm in there either. Also, in the wobbler room, they have the cribs in the main play area and the babies have to take their naps with the lights on in the midst of all the activity. In the infant room they have the cribs in a separate room where they can turn the lights down and play music. DD only took two 1/2 hour naps yesterday. When I picked her up she was asleep the minute she hit her car seat and pretty much slept til 5 this morning...even snoozing through her bottles.

I'm not sure she's even ready for the wobbler room even though a couple of her little baby friends that are her age have moved over. I had a scheduled c-section at 37 weeks. Does that put her a little behind? She hasn't been super motivated to sit up on her own.let alone crawl. She does like to stand up (assisted) and do squats. She also prefers to play on her tummy. Maybe being around the babies that do sit up and crawl will motivate her some? My plan is to give it a week and see how she transitions. I'm trying not to be the crazy FTM who's overly concerned about every single thing. I realize these people have way more baby experience than I do. I also know she will do these things in her own time and am not really concerned at this point.

Also, they seem to like giving her her baby food before they try giving her a bottle. There are days when she's difficult with her bottle at day care (look! squirrel!) so I've asked them to please give her a bottle before they try her baby food. I figure even is she only drinks half that's better than nothing. Am I right in this? Isn't most of her nutrition coming from her formula? Isn't baby food just practice food at this point?

I'd love to hear some input from some of you other moms. TIA!

LoCarb · October 2013

I'm saying this as nicely as possible-calm down!

The paint was probably an art activity which I always found to be precious and kept several of the Picasso's. I'm sure the paint is 100% washable and non toxic. Playing in water and feeling different objects is part of sensory learning and your LO should be doing this. Stripping her into a diaper (assuming the room was at a comfortable temperature) is practical so LO does not get her clothes wet. On days, she may be under the weather just mention it and write it on the daily sheet asking to limit these type of activities. I found being around other children who have already developed milestones such as crawling or walking can be motivational for others. However, they will reach these milestones on their own time when ready. As far as the food, yes, baby food and puffs are practice and great practice for fine motor skills. I doubt they were allowing her to starve. You were right to ask them to feed a bottle first if you are concerned. Finally, sleeping. It's a new room so it may take a while to adjust with new stimulants. It wasn't until my kids were over the age of one and into the toddler room when all of the children took naps at the same time with the lights off.

Honestly, it sounds like you chose a great school based on the infant curriculum. Enjoy it and feel confident with your choice!

eta: the paint-you are over-thinking it. If it was picture day at school, I doubt the they would choose to do a paint activity the same day. Also, if pictures were at another location the parent set up then I wouldn't have my kids wear their picture clothes to school. I would change her at the studio. Blow-outs, spit up and food happens.

82Sonia · October 2013

DD is 9 months but in her infant room, there are 6 babies from 4 months to 12 months. They do all sorts of sensory activities like you described. She comes home with paint under her fingernails sometimes. It washes off and we get the cutest darn craft projects from her. I even framed and hung her rainbow footprints in her room that we got her first week of DC (5 months old). If you're not a fan of her playing in her diaper, just send an extra set of clothes and ask them to change her if she gets wet. If you have plans after DC, tell them that you'd like to keep her as clean as possible that day.

DD also sleeps in a well lit room when the other babies are playing. It took her a little bit to get used that after being home in a dark, quiet room but now she sleeps right through it. Give it some time.

At my center, they don't offer food right after a bottle. She gets breastmilk and then maybe an hour or two later, she gets some solids. Then about 2 hours after that, another bottle of breastmilk. If yours just moved to the wobbler room, she's probably just really distracted and doesn't want to concentrate on a bottle. Once she's used to it, she'll probably take it no problem. Again, give it some time.

traveltheworld · October 2013

I agree with everyone else. DS's DC does all those activities too. DS loves the water table and the arts & crafts. If you are concerned about her getting cold, you can mention it to the teachers to keep her shirt on and then just have them change it afterwards. As to the food issue - I thought the rule is that you should offer solids first so that they can practice.

The only thing that would bother me a tiny bit is nap time - do all the babies nap around roughly the same time? If they do, then there shouldn't be a problem that they are all in one room. Let's face it, LOs will never nap as good in DC as they do at home. DS's DC has a separate sleep room with block-out blinds, the teachers rock the (mobile) cribs, there is soft music; and as soon as one child wakes up, he/she gets immediately taken out of the room so that he/she is not disturbing the other children; yet even with all that, DS naps shorter than he normally does at home and is exhausted at the end of every day.

preggersin2011 · October 2013

Stop over thinking about things.....if LO didnt' come home with paint, marker, food on clothes/hair, and all sorts of other 'dirty' like situations I would be more worried. You chose the center because you approved. Have a little patience with the director and know that he/she thinks your child is ready. You probably are still thinking of your child as a 'baby' but in reality they can be very self sufficient and is ready for that type of play. Sounds like your child is learning and exploring their world. LO's infant room has the cribs in the same area, but along the wall, as the main play room. Do you really want your child to only sleep in a quite dark space? By 6 months my LO took two 20-40 minute naps and by 10months cut out her afternoon nap and transitioned to a 1.5hr nap after lunch. I would expect your child to sleep longer at night and take less naps if they are going to bed at a reasonable hour.

Karla CS · October 2013

Here's a great flyer that our daycare hands out about "why does my child come home messy?"

https://actiondayprimaryplus.com/about/resources/fun-flyers/Messy_Child.pdf

tig594 · October 2013

Thanks ladies. I do have a habit of over thinking things sometimes. And I guess since she is my first and only I want to make sure she is happy and healthy, etc, etc. blah blah blah.

Love the flyer. I printed it out as a reminder and think I might share it with LO's day care. Thanks for that.

As far as her sleeping habits, I've not tip-toed around while she has slept since I brought her home from the hospital. Either the TV or music is on, the dogs bark, the cat's meow, the dishes are being done, etc. I don't know how anyone could sleep in that room with all the little cuties in there making all their noises. I was very frustrated Monday as that was her first full day in her new room and she barely slept during the day. I'm sure she had fun during the day but she was too tired to play with mommy when we got home. I missed her. I do still think of her as a baby and already think she's growing too fast!

I do very well at not voicing all my concerns at day care without waiting a couple of days to see how things play out. Usually everything turns out fine. I'm glad she goes where she does, they seem to be good people although there is one teacher I don't care for and she is, of course, full time in the wobbler room.

Oh, and about the blue smurf paint...I really wouldn't mind her playing with stuff like that but whatever they used seriously did not come off. I was sitting there getting Aria ready to go while one of the other teachers (in the infant room) tried scrubbing it off the child who was blue. Soap and water didn't make a dent in that mess! It was funny, because it was someone else's kid.

preggersin2011 · October 2013

P.S.- when LO comes home in paint or marker I use rubbing alcohol (like hand sanitizer) to get the pigment off of her skin. I usually do it over the sink so I can wash her with regular soap afterwards.

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