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Working Moms
alisonc87
member
Daycare issue...
alisonc87
member
in Working Moms
So, I work at the daycare my LO goes to, in the same classroom (I am the supervisor). She is 6 months old and very attached to just me. Because of that I have been making an effort to give others an opportunity to respond to her needs first, and only taking over if that doesn't work. So far one of my staff has gotten to bond with her significantly more, but the other has not.
That being said, here is the issue:
I was in the office with the door open with the staff member DD likes. We left the door open in case they needed an extra hand. In the classroom there were 3 babies (3-6 months) and 2 older toddlers (both 2.5), along with the regular staff member and a sub. 2 babies were being held and mine was on the floor playing (Which was of course fine). My LO began to fuss for a few minutes, and I said to the other girl in the office that I was going to give it a minute to give her a chance to go to the other staff. Over the course of about 7 minutes it escalated from fussing, to crying, to screaming. I peeked through the 2 way mirror to check on it and the 2 babies being held were not crying, eating, or almost asleep. The sub tried to soothes her by moving closer and giving her a toy and talking to her, but it didn't work. The regular sub sat in the rocking chair with the other baby, and never moved or gave guidance to the sub to set the other baby down and pick her up (this is a brand new sub, so I completely understand her following the full time staff's lead). I finally went out because she started sound like she was about to throw up because she was crying so hard. When I went out she just said, "oh look, mommy's going to come save you." I was so livid I didn't address it in the moment, but I took the baby in the office and stayed for a while to cool down. I know that it isn't just because it was my kid because I would have been mortified had it been someone else's baby and the mother had walked in and seen it. I don't think it would happen if it were someone else's child, and I don't want my child to get a lower quality of care from her just because I am there. How far should I take this. Part of me thinks it is the fair thing to do to talk to her first, but another part of me wants to go to my supervisor and talk to her first. Maybe I could have gone out sooner, but they were completely within child:staff ratio, and I didn't think it was far fetched to think that one of them could set down a content baby to pick up a distressed one.
That being said, here is the issue:
I was in the office with the door open with the staff member DD likes. We left the door open in case they needed an extra hand. In the classroom there were 3 babies (3-6 months) and 2 older toddlers (both 2.5), along with the regular staff member and a sub. 2 babies were being held and mine was on the floor playing (Which was of course fine). My LO began to fuss for a few minutes, and I said to the other girl in the office that I was going to give it a minute to give her a chance to go to the other staff. Over the course of about 7 minutes it escalated from fussing, to crying, to screaming. I peeked through the 2 way mirror to check on it and the 2 babies being held were not crying, eating, or almost asleep. The sub tried to soothes her by moving closer and giving her a toy and talking to her, but it didn't work. The regular sub sat in the rocking chair with the other baby, and never moved or gave guidance to the sub to set the other baby down and pick her up (this is a brand new sub, so I completely understand her following the full time staff's lead). I finally went out because she started sound like she was about to throw up because she was crying so hard. When I went out she just said, "oh look, mommy's going to come save you." I was so livid I didn't address it in the moment, but I took the baby in the office and stayed for a while to cool down. I know that it isn't just because it was my kid because I would have been mortified had it been someone else's baby and the mother had walked in and seen it. I don't think it would happen if it were someone else's child, and I don't want my child to get a lower quality of care from her just because I am there. How far should I take this. Part of me thinks it is the fair thing to do to talk to her first, but another part of me wants to go to my supervisor and talk to her first. Maybe I could have gone out sooner, but they were completely within child:staff ratio, and I didn't think it was far fetched to think that one of them could set down a content baby to pick up a distressed one.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Daycare issue...
That situation tells me that the one worker has an issue about you working there and your child being in the room.
Changing classrooms is not so much an option for the fact that we have just 1 preschool and 1 infant/toddler room. Also, I am breastfeeding so it is convenient to be in her classroom. I am able to nurse twice, and just bottle feed once, so rather than pumping at work, I pump once or twice at night to make up for it. It has been much easier on all of us in the classroom to not have to plan pumping breaks. (Although if we needed to, we would not even bat an eye about it.) Even if logistically I could be in another classroom, I would struggle with that. DD will take a bottle from others, but only if I am there. She really struggles with being a part from me, and there are some social/emotional things going on with her (Our mental health consultant and pediatrician both believe it is attributed to a high level of stress at the end of my pregnancy, and recommend a high degree of attachment parenting techniques), that make her very high need, and life is better for everyone if she can see or crawl to me.
I think I will talk with her directly first and then discuss with my supervisor what the next steps will be (should it be written up, etc.). Out of courtesy to her I think it is probably only fair to be direct with her. I only wish I had done it in the moment. Thanks for the input and help!