https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 13 Apr 2026 11:35:15 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rough-daycare-transition-to-toddler-room#post-2722995 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 15:05:15 +0000 MACSUNSHINE 2722995@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@peaches1038 I am so sorry. We had a rough transition for our almost 13 month old to a toddler transition room. Similarly he would scream as soon as I walked in at night for pick-up and you could tell he had cried on and off most of the day. In the past 6-8 weeks it has gotten so much better. </p> <p>We also hadn't been prepared that he wouldn't be allowed to have breast milk in the room, only cow's milk since they were concerned about other kids grabbing cups. I was immediately up in arms about it since he has not taken to the cow's milk. I will say keeping with it as painful and heart wrenching as it was, is the best course. </p> <p>If they can be a little flexible and ensuring he gets naps and maybe a binky during nap, our son actually naps better on the cots in the toddler room than the infant room (go figure), that will make all the difference. It is just awful to see but when they start to settle in and you see the growth it will be all worth it! Transition is hard on everyone and I just have to remind myself that the teachers see this all the time and they do know what will work. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rough-daycare-transition-to-toddler-room#post-2722841 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 10:32:13 +0000 Bluebonnet 2722841@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@peaches1038: Ugh - I'm sure the lack of gradual transitioning has made things worse (especially since the teachers, room, schedule and rules are all different). It also sounds like he's not napping as well in the toddler room, and obviously a tired toddler makes everything so much harder. If possible, try to let him get extra rest at home so the change is a little bit easier. Hang in there!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rough-daycare-transition-to-toddler-room#post-2722827 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 10:14:36 +0000 peaches1038 2722827@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shabang: thank you.</p> <p>@travellingbee: me too ☹️. I'm not sure if I should force the issue with them so he can have the binky and sippy cup now to have to take it away again later or just let him struggle while we wait it out. Ugh. </p> <p>@Bluebonnet: they said yesterday that he cried off and on all morning but was better after nap. So he was ok from about 230-4 when I picked him up. And he starts crying again as soon as I get there and won't let me put him down at all. They were planning on transitioning him over a week period, but we were on vacation that week, so when we came back, he went right to the next room. It was very abrupt. He has 2 friends that moved up last week. The infant room and toddler rooms are set up very similarly, so i don't think there is too much appeal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rough-daycare-transition-to-toddler-room#post-2722825 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 10:10:11 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2722825@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No sippy cup sounds a bit rough. Do they allow straw cups or are they drinking out of regular cups? </p> <p>I wanted to commisserate with you and say that my first son had a super difficult time transitioning to every room. When we first started day care, he cried every day at drop off for a full year. He got slightly better towards the end of that year, and then we transitioned rooms and he cried for another 3 months. By that point, he was well over 2.5, and it was so frustrating to me to have the drop off while DH got the happy pick up every day. </p> <p>Eventually he gets better, but sometimes, you have a sensitive child who craves the normalcy of routine. I would say to just try to keep it up, and it will very slowly get better over time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rough-daycare-transition-to-toddler-room#post-2722814 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 09:52:21 +0000 Bluebonnet 2722814@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@peaches1038: Is LO fine shortly after you leave? Or does it sound like he's struggling all day?</p> <p>How did daycare prepare him for the transition? Does he have friends from the infant room in the toddler room? Are there special big kid things that he gets to do in the toddler room that he didn't get to do in the infant room? </p> <p>I think you are doing everything you can to make drop off easier. Some kids have a harder time with change (but its good to figure this out now, so you can better prepare for changes in the future). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rough-daycare-transition-to-toddler-room#post-2722804 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 09:47:05 +0000 travellingbee 2722804@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No binky or sippy cup?! At 16 months?? That's crazy. I'm sorry for your LO. :sad: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rough-daycare-transition-to-toddler-room#post-2722799 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 09:44:09 +0000 shabang 2722799@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No advice, just commiseration. That transition is the hardest, in my experience. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rough-daycare-transition-to-toddler-room#post-2722797 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 09:43:09 +0000 snowjewelz 2722797@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@peaches1038: I agree. Half the kids in that room had binky's! Strangely DD stopped using a binky at school but still needed one at home till we weaned around 22 months. But I def saw other kids with them in that room. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rough-daycare-transition-to-toddler-room#post-2722795 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 09:41:24 +0000 peaches1038 2722795@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: thanks! I will ask about dropping him off in his old room for at least a couple of minutes</p> <p>@yoursilverlining: thanks for the commiseration. I'm definitely going to check it that Daniel tiger episode. It's always the same teacher in the morning, so at least that will be consistent for him </p> <p>@snowjewelz: i think the no binky rule is super tough. I could see in the 2-3 room, but I'm not sure why they are pushing it at this age </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rough-daycare-transition-to-toddler-room#post-2722742 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 08:25:23 +0000 snowjewelz 2722742@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In DD's daycare, about a month before transition they start bringing them to the new room to hang out longer and longer. Maybe the abrupt transition plus no binky is too rough? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rough-daycare-transition-to-toddler-room#post-2722735 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 08:14:22 +0000 yoursilverlining 2722735@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: We did the same - drop off in the infant room for a long time too, now that I think about it. Great tip! That helped my LO a lot too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rough-daycare-transition-to-toddler-room#post-2722734 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 08:13:35 +0000 yoursilverlining 2722734@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hugs - we had a rough transition to the toddler room too (.....all of our room transitions were hard actually, even though they were all at the same school). </p> <p>It definitely took my LO longer than 2 weeks to transition - I can't remember exactly but at least 4-5 and maybe more like 6 weeks. One thing that helped was developing a routine with mainly 1 teacher at drop off so that LO built more of a relationship with that teacher, and doing the same routine each morning helped as well. </p> <p>Another thing that helped us a lot was the Daniel Tiger episode about "grownups come back". We watched it a lot and talked about school during the episode and then would talk about the episode (and how grownups always come back) during drop off. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rough-daycare-transition-to-toddler-room#post-2722733 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 08:10:20 +0000 Adira 2722733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My youngest struggled with the transition to the toddler room too. What we found to work was that we actually kept dropping him off in the infant room with his beloved teacher. He'd get a snuggle from her, and then 5 minutes later, she's just bring him over to the toddler room. With no parents around, the transition seemed to go more smoothly for them.</p> <p>He's been in the toddler room for 6 months now and we STILL have to go to the infant room for drop-off, but now we can just walk through (it's kind of a big loop) and we loop around to the back of the toddler room. It's kind of ridiculous, but seems to be working for us. And Logan LOVES being in the toddler room, now that he's used to it.</p> <p>Hope things get better for your LO soon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/rough-daycare-transition-to-toddler-room#post-2722719 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 07:59:55 +0000 peaches1038 2722719@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS is having a hard time transitioning to the toddler room at daycare. He was moved 2 weeks ago today. The room is 16 months-24 months and they do not allow binkys or sippy cups. He cries hard everyday at drop off, which he never did before. He also is not napping well, though that's improving. They have to hide his coat bc he just sits under his hook and cries and points to it all day. When I walk in, he's usually being held by his teacher and seems ok, but starts crying as soon as he sees me. So far, we talk about school a lot and how the day will go. When we get there, I say "it's ok to be sad and mama will be back to get you after snack. I love you" Big hug, then I hand him over and walk out. </p> <p>They do allow him to have his lovey and that seems to help a bit.</p> <p>His teachers are being really patient and kind about it and keep telling me it's normal, but I feel so sad for him!</p> <p>Anyone else struggling with this right now? How long did it take your lo to adjust? Any other tips? </p>