https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:38:12 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-need-a-daycare-peptalk#post-2410687 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 21:39:34 +0000 gingerbebe 2410687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS had his first full day. Caretaker said he ate really well and even napped well. He just mostly stuck close to the caretaker all day and played with some toys by himself. So take heart! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-need-a-daycare-peptalk#post-2410682 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 21:33:20 +0000 mrsrain 2410682@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>FWIW, she will probably adjust more easily when you aren't there! That was always my experience as a child-care provider. When you leave her, be optimistic and brief-- don't draw out your goodbye or hang around. It makes it so much harder on them (and us, I think!). Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-need-a-daycare-peptalk#post-2410640 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 20:47:15 +0000 catomd00 2410640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>She will get there! I actually don't really believe in the transition thing with you being there. I think they do much better when they're on their own and in the full routine - the sooner the better. I'm sure she will get into the swing of things quickly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-need-a-daycare-peptalk#post-2410634 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 20:44:03 +0000 gilmoregirl 2410634@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@emilye519: We did a transition week when my son started daycare at 9.5 months, and the transition week was especially hard. He actually did better when he had to just be there all day. I thought the gradual transition might help him adjust, but I'm not sure that it did. In our case at least, it was really hard on me and him.</p> <p>Once he was there full time, things got better. Definitely it was still tough, but getting into the full time routine helped us all. Going back to work was hard for me and I think my son probably picked up on that. It was a gradual adjustment and it took time, but now (a year later) he is in LOVE with daycare.</p> <p>It's really hard, but it totally gets better! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-need-a-daycare-peptalk#post-2410457 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 17:33:36 +0000 emilye519 2410457@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone! I know that tons of kids start daycare and do just fine and that one day she'll love it, but its tough on me seeing her struggle right now. I'm definitely going to try the faster drop off tomorrow to see if it helps. </p> <p>We are doing something similar to erinbaderin, I'm dropping her off for 2 hours tomorrow morning and she'll stay through lunch and nap on Thursday. So fingers crossed it all goes well! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-need-a-daycare-peptalk#post-2410442 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 17:11:14 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 2410442@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>To be honest, it is a lot of transitions for your LO, BUT after a week, I think she will be well adjusted. I do recommend a faster drop off, so that your LO can bond with her teachers and start to interact with the other kids. My girls cry almost every day at drop off, but they are perfectly fine 5 min after I leave. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-need-a-daycare-peptalk#post-2410409 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 16:40:41 +0000 erinbaderin 2410409@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son started daycare at 1. We had a transition week. The first day I stayed with him and he sat in my lap for the full 2 hours that we were there. The second day we left him for 2 hours and the daycare ladies held him the whole time. It's a big change and it's hard on them and it's hard on you but she'll get used to it, probably faster than you expect. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-need-a-daycare-peptalk#post-2410398 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 16:31:20 +0000 AprilFool 2410398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The transition to daycare is tough but kids are resilient and get through it. LO struggled so badly with starting daycare but now loves it, it's just a time thing. It will be ok mama! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-need-a-daycare-peptalk#post-2410381 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 16:09:14 +0000 gingerbebe 2410381@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started an in-home daycare today. My son is 16 months old and we went for informal playdates a few times before the holidays so he could get used to the place and his new caretakers. We were with him the whole time and never left him there alone. It did not go well - he was clingy and upset every time we went, he'd went ape when either me or DH went to the bathroom, would start crying hysterically as soon as we pulled up, etc.</p> <p>Today was his first day and my husband handled drop off. We were so stressed out about it because of how he acted during the play dates. My husband, who is usually not bothered by most things regarding our son (i.e. CIO and sleeptraining did not bother him in the slightest), was actually really upset by how freaked out our son acted at his playdates and so we were both so sad and worried for him. </p> <p>Drop off went terribly and our son was HYSTERICAL according to DH. </p> <p>BUT our caretaker called my husband 2 minutes later - like before he got to the first major street to drive home - and said DS was totally fine, he stopped crying, and that he was a-okay. I'm also nervous how naps will go because while DS is on one nap, but their nap time is a little different and shorter than his regular nap. Plus its a big communal nap room while DS has only ever slept alone in a pitch black room with a white noise machine. We'll see how it goes - our caretaker says typically it takes kids a week to transition to the nap room.</p> <p>So no real advice, but just encouragement. Fingers crossed about the naps, but if it helps my son was already transitioning to 1 nap by 12 months (fighting naps, taking shorter naps, etc) and sometime in his 13th month we bit the bullet and went to one nap and he's been doing great ever since. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-need-a-daycare-peptalk#post-2410369 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 16:02:56 +0000 snowjewelz 2410369@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This age is hard too b/c they are so clingy. </p> <p>I don't think the "not interested" part is that bad... I think they're still at the age that they don't really play together. When DD (13 mo) gets picked up she's usually playing by herself. </p> <p>They will be okay!! DD has been going since Oct when she was 10 mo. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-need-a-daycare-peptalk#post-2410358 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 15:54:42 +0000 emilye519 2410358@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks! She will be one later month. Like @autumnleaves said it is a lot of transition at once mat, 1 nap, sippy cups, sitting at a table to eat and I'm just worried about how she'll handle it all. </p> <p>I think tomorrow I need to try the quick drop off to curb the clinginess and hope she'll interact more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-need-a-daycare-peptalk#post-2410342 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 15:40:18 +0000 misolee 2410342@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sending hugs for you and your daughter. Transitions are tough (on both ends) and there will be tears. </p> <p>The main thing is for the parent to do quick drop offs. The longer you stay, the clingier it gets. Quick kiss, remind them you'll come back, a hug good bye and then turn around and walk away no matter the screaming and tears that will follow. Consistency in doing that is key and I've seen some kids take several days to several months to adjust. (Preschool teacher). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-need-a-daycare-peptalk#post-2410341 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 15:40:12 +0000 autumnleaves 2410341@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How old is your LO?<br /> Mine has been in daycare since he was 12 weeks old but when he transitioned from the infant room to the toddler room, I was worried - he wasn't used to napping on a mat, 1 nap a day, drinking from sippy cups, sitting in a chair vs a high chair to eat, etc and he did really well. At first he sat by himself in the room and didn't engage with the other kids but after a few weeks or a month he definitely was more group oriented - he likes to sit with the group now and be more involved. And he transitioned that first week to the 1 nap, sippy cup, sleeping on a mat - I was impressed with how smoothly it went. He still had 2 naps on weekends for awhile. I think he really likes the routine and social interaction that daycare provides for him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-need-a-daycare-peptalk#post-2410331 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 15:34:29 +0000 emilye519 2410331@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I start back to work on Monday, and lo is starting to transition to daycare this week. I went with her for a few hours this morning and she was mostly clingy and didn't really interact/engage with the other kids/teachers too much. We left midway through the morning because she was getting so fussy. In her class they only do 1 nap and she is still on a 2 nap schedule. Tomorrow I am going to drop her off for a few hours to see how she does on her own, but still pick her up mid-morning (working up to staying through nap and eventually the whole day by Monday). </p> <p>I'm just really disappointed that she was so clingy and not interested in the other kids, she's never stayed with anyone else or been in any other kind of childcare before so it isn't really surprising, but I'm just worried about her transition. And to top it all of she still isn't really taking a bottle or sippy cup of milk so I'm worried she'll get dehydrated/be hungry! Gah. </p> <p>Any words of wisdom or advice would be most appreciated!! </p>