Adjusting to new day care

TJ1979 · November 2013

For those of you who have switched day care providers, how long did it take LO to adjust?
E never cried at her old DC. I just set her down and she would run off and play or run and hug her teacher. Even when she switched classrooms there was never any trouble. Her first day at her new DC was fine, but the last 2 days she has cried and cried, and refused to go to her new teacher. It's heart breaking!
How do I know whether she is just trying to adjust or if she really doesn't like the new DC? How long should I expect the crying to last? TIA!

kzawisl · November 2013

No advice (mine have been at the same place for a year), but big ((hugs)) to you and LO.

adjusting to change is tough! I hope it's just the newness of it, and she adjusts soon!

CallMeAl · November 2013

We just switched daycares and are having similar issues. The new daycare director said depending on the kid it can take 4 to 6 weeks for them to adjust. This is our third week, and I still have to peel her off of me each morning kicking and screaming.

It is so, so hard to leave a crying kid. I feel for you! Does E calm down fairly quickly after you leave? DD's teachers told me she is always fine within 2 or 3 minutes, which makes me feel better. She is always happily playing when I pick her up. I hope things settle down for you guys, soon!

TJ1979 · November 2013

Oh no @callmeal, 4-6 weeks?! They said she does calm down within minutes. It's just so hard to walk away. The longer I stay the worse it is though.

CallMeAl · November 2013

I agree that the longer I stay the worse it seems to be. I've tried having her walk in on her own instead of holding her, but she quickly figured that out and now starts screaming UP MOMMY! the second we pull in to the parking lot. Sigh.... I've been telling her "Uou like school and mommy comes to get you every day after nap. I love you." and just leaving. And then trying not to cry myself to work!

Hang in there, @TJ1979. I hope both of our kids are adjusted soon.

pb_bride · November 2013

No advice but just want to say I feel awful for you and E. Hope she adjusts quickly! Did you switch DC b/c of your move?

mdiblasi10 · November 2013

Hang in there ladies! We switched at the beginning of July when he was 11 months old. I hated leaving when he was crying. It did help that his teacher would distract him with something, like food or a toy. It took him a while to adjust to his new daycare, I would say at least two months. These days he goes to his teacher on his own, without fussing, 99% of the time. The funny thing now is that he doesn't want to leave when I come pick him up because he is having so much fun, ha!

mcgeeva · November 2013

Aye that's so hard I have no clue since we are still at the same place as well. I hope she is just nervous being in a new environment and after a week it feels like a place she loves again.