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Transition to Daycare

colemangal85colemangal85 member
in Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months
Ever since my son was born, he was always watched at home by a nanny or my MIL but we can no longer afford a nanny and MIL can't keep up with our son now that he is getting older so Daycare time! 

This was his first week, and I thought he was going to love it because he loves new people, new places but we are having a few issues that I'm sure are normal but I wanted to know how long they could last. First, they take nap earlier than we do at home, they seem to get the kids ready for nap around 12-12:30 and at home he usually goes down for a nap at 1pm because we get up late - we are usually up between 8-9am so our son isn't napping as well. I also think it doesn't help that he is in a new room, with new people and distractions because he always napped in his crib by himself. 

Also, he cries when I drop him off - I feel awful but I know it is good for him in the long run. I give him a kiss, pass him off, tell him I will see him soon and leave as quickly as possible but I find myself crying as soon as I get to the car. He has been going to sunday school on Sunday morning and he is getting better at not crying there but even when he did it didn't bother me because I knew I would be back in an hour. 

He also has been crying as soon as he sees me when I pick him up - is that normal? He did it once in Sunday school but that has been it. He also hasn't been feeling the best - he is getting over a cold. 

Any advice is helpful. Thanks! 
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Re: Transition to Daycare

  • cedentoncedenton member
    All normal. He'll most likely adjust to the new nap time, though perhaps he'll need to go down for the night earlier/get up earlier.

    The crying at drop off AND pick up is also normal. Mine still fusses as soon as he sees me usually. And once I pick him up I can't put him down. That's not EVERY day, though, usually just after a long weekend or some other extended time away from school.
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  • traveltheworldtraveltheworld member
    All totally normal.  DS cried for about 10 days and even now, sometimes he'd cry when I go pick him up.  And he'll get used to the nap schedule.  DS still takes 2 naps at home on weekends but naps only once at DC during the week.  He is a bit more tired as a result but it isn't bad.
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  • emberlee3emberlee3 member
    It all sounds normal.  DD transitioned to daycare around 10 months, after being with a nanny.  It was rough for a couple weeks, but she was going part-time for the first month or so.  Once she started full-time, she adjusted to the schedule.  She loves it, and the structure and social interaction have been great for her. 
    DS born 8/8/09 and DD born 6/12/12.
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  • UMichGirlUMichGirl member
    All sounds normal to me. DS only goes to daycare 2 days a week but he's been doing that since September. He still cries at drop off sometimes, and more times than not will cry and cling to me when I go to get him. (All of this happens even though he has GREAT days there...) Good luck!
    Mr. & Mrs. UMich! July 2006! :-)
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    It took 44 cycles, just over 3 years, 6 failed IUI's in MI, and 1 round of IVF at CCRM to get our BFP!
    Beta #1 (9dp5dt) = 206, Beta #2 (11dp5dt) = 438
    1st u/s @ 6w5d = 11/11/11 = ONE little bean! HB 120bpm!
    ?Our Baby Boy Born June 26th, 2012?

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  • smileybabyboysmileybabyboy member
    Nap at 12 or 12:30? When do they feed them lunch??? Yeah, it's normal unfortunately =(  DS was crying for awhile and eventually he stopped and will crawl away and start playing when I'm still trying to say "bye."  I really do believe it's great for kids to be around different people and in different places.  I'm all for kids going to daycare.  I think when they cry at pick up they suddenly realize you've been gone all day and wants some comforting.
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  • cedentoncedenton member
    smileybabyboy said:
    Nap at 12 or 12:30? When do they feed them lunch??? Yeah, it's normal unfortunately =(  DS was crying for awhile and eventually he stopped and will crawl away and start playing when I'm still trying to say "bye."  I really do believe it's great for kids to be around different people and in different places.  I'm all for kids going to daycare.  I think when they cry at pick up they suddenly realize you've been gone all day and wants some comforting.
    @smileybabyboy

    Our DC does naps between 11:30 and 12. They eat lunch at 11, then clean up and go down for nap. They get up around 2...2:30 and have a snack around 3.
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  • APendolaAPendola member
    All normal.  My DD started at her dayhome when she was 12 months.  She would cry at drop-off and she would burst into tears when I came to pick her up.  It was just overwhelming for her.  She did adjust and now she smiles and runs over to me when I pick her up.  DH usually drops her off and she is happy when she gets there.

    For the nap and other routine issues...that just takes time to adjust.  I have always let DD nap on a more flexible schedule and I wasn't sure how she would do with the dayhome nap schedule...but she fell into their routine pretty quickly.  She is up early in the morning and so busy with all the activities in the am that she falls asleep no problem at noon.  On the weekends, she'll get up a bit later and nap a bit later still.
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