It's been 7 weeks since my son started daycare at a center. He's rarely had an entire happy day since he's started and he goes 3 days/week. He either fusses/cries in the morning or the afternoon, or even the entire day.
At first, he refused to accept his bottle. (He actually began refusing the bottle about 3 weeks before beginning daycare.) Currently, he will take 1-3 oz. at most before melting down. We've used sippy cups, spoon feeding, cup feeding with varying degrees of success. Every couple of days, he decides he doesn't like the current method of delivery and boycotts. He's also inconsistent with his solids, but less so.
His napping has gone from okay to worse - generally only 20 mins at a time. Of course, less naps equals crankier child. He takes 2 a day, at regular intervals when home.
At any rate, his crying/fussing is disrupting the rest of the infants. (There are up to 6 infants in his class with the ratios being 1:3.) I was just informed last week that if he doesn't improve, we will need to make other arrangements for childcare.
My husband and I have always thought that our son was mellow, at least when compared to his sister. He naps regularly at home, cries with cause (itches due to eczema), etc. I will admit that he remains leary of bottle feeding, though. I drive home/to the center to nurse him during my lunchtime.
Any ideas on how to help him adjust to daycare?
The center is great, my 3 y.o. loves it there and she's been there since she was 6 months old.
Hi L.,
I am sorry your son is having trouble adjusting. To be honest with you -it sounds like the daycare isn't doing their job and isn't able to attend to his needs. I would switch daycares to someone who has more one on one attention available or a nanny. Take care~
Molly
I agree, if you have to put your son in daycare then you have to. If you can keep him home for a bit longer, that would be best. But, you definitely should find him a new place to go. He needs someone who will take care of HIM, sounds like this center already has him labeled as "trouble" or "difficult". They don't want him there, and that's the WORST thing for him. Can you imagine being somewhere you weren't wanted all day 3 times a week. You'd cry too. I know you love it for your daughter, but doesn't sound like its what's best for your son. He's a different kid with different needs.
I am in the same boat with my 10 month old, but I don't know anyone to recommend an in-home daycare provider in the Rocklin area. I'm going to start just calling around and visiting I guess in my little time off. It just breaks my heart to see my little girl so unhappy on those days! Any tips you get on a good home daycare would be greatly appreciated!
I agree with Molly. And maybe this daycare center was fine for your older daughter because she didn't need as much attention?
If you have to work then obviously you do, but some babies really just need their mommies, and it's unfortunate when they can't have them. I remember when my oldest was a baby, and I put him in a daycare at a woman's home. He was a very self-sufficient kid at one year old, and he did great at that woman's daycare, but when he was younger I had to hold him all the time or he would cry. I remember at that daycare there was a baby girl probably 8 or 10 months old who was crying in a playpen. The woman running the daycare made some remark indicating that she was spoiled, or difficult, or something of the sort, and I just knew the poor little thing just needed to be held and attended to. I picked her up and held and rocked her for a while, and she was happy. To this day, 18 years later, I sometimes wonder how that little girl turned out.
Anyway, not sure what my point is, but a 7 month old should not be allowed to cry endlessly. It messes with their sense of security.
