https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 14 Apr 2026 20:25:24 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-daycare-what-were-your-experiences-there-and-at-home#post-2046776 Fri, 30 Jan 2015 03:14:16 +0000 Cherrybee 2046776@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Elliott started nursery (daycare centre) at 6.5 months. There were no problems with the drop off initially but she has never slept well there so she was super tired by 3pm and she was often crying when we arrived to collect her. It's heartbreaking to walk into the room and see your precious baby crying.... you think that they must have been crying all day but the staff were adamant that she was happy and smiling up until the last hour or so. Separation anxiety kicked in around 10/11 months and we had a little cry at drop off for a while - but it only lasted a few weeks and then she was back to crawling off to play the second we set her down! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-daycare-what-were-your-experiences-there-and-at-home#post-2046726 Fri, 30 Jan 2015 00:38:31 +0000 daniellemybelle 2046726@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ScarletBegonia: Definitely clinger but you gotta remember that they get like that at this age anyway! So daycare may just be triggering what would have happened eventually if that makes sense. Moms with LOs who have gone to daycare for months &amp; months go through this too at this age. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-daycare-what-were-your-experiences-there-and-at-home#post-2046710 Fri, 30 Jan 2015 00:17:14 +0000 ScarletBegonia 2046710@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: Thanks :) Did you find that her time at home was affected as well, or was it just that she cried a lot at daycare? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-daycare-what-were-your-experiences-there-and-at-home#post-2046704 Fri, 30 Jan 2015 00:09:50 +0000 daniellemybelle 2046704@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly, this sounds great to me! Calming down after 5-10 minutes in the first week is really good, especially at an age where you are at the height of separation anxiety! It all sounds like he is adjusting really, really well. Adjusting well still means adjusting!</p> <p>Our adjustment was hell on Earth. LO was the worst case any of the teachers and directors had seen! In less than a month, she started to love school and didn't even bat an eye at drop off. So, it goes to show that they WILL adjust completely even when they are a severe case like my LO! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-daycare-what-were-your-experiences-there-and-at-home#post-2046639 Thu, 29 Jan 2015 23:27:13 +0000 ScarletBegonia 2046639@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for the info ladies! So I hope what we are going through is normal. His separation anxiety really kicked into high gear last night/today..i think we have a rough couple of weeks ahead of us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-daycare-what-were-your-experiences-there-and-at-home#post-2044948 Thu, 29 Jan 2015 08:56:24 +0000 KayKay 2044948@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@scarletbegonia: my LO started daycare full-time at 12 weeks and did pretty well with that transition. BUT, her separation anxiety peaked between 10-11 months. Despite having the same caretakers she had had the whole time, she started crying &amp; clinging a lot at drop-off, and we had a grandparent visit that time where she would have *nothing* to do with them and only wanted to be held by me. So the separation anxiety might be developmental and just happening to hit at the same time you are trying to transition? Hang in there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-daycare-what-were-your-experiences-there-and-at-home#post-2044925 Thu, 29 Jan 2015 08:42:02 +0000 catomd00 2044925@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD started daycare at 7 months and transitioned easily. However, now at 11 months (since separation anxiety has kicked in) she does cry at drop off more and cling to me. I think regardless of age they start at they will go through it. Hang in there, I know it's heartbreaking hearing them<br /> Cry as you walk away! I think it's reasonable to expect 4 weeks for the transition. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-daycare-what-were-your-experiences-there-and-at-home#post-2044918 Thu, 29 Jan 2015 08:34:05 +0000 Grace 2044918@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD started at 13 months and it was the exact same as you. Took a solid month for her to adjust. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-daycare-what-were-your-experiences-there-and-at-home#post-2044872 Thu, 29 Jan 2015 07:34:24 +0000 Ajsmommy 2044872@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No advice to share as my DD started daycare much much younger than your little so we didn't have any issues. She is now 14 mos and loves daycare so hopefully once he gets more used to the routine everything will smooth out. Good luck, it should get better! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-daycare-what-were-your-experiences-there-and-at-home#post-2044844 Thu, 29 Jan 2015 05:56:02 +0000 lamariniere 2044844@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gilmoregirl: @ScarletBegonia: My DD just started daycare at the beginning of January when she was 13 months. Our experience has been similar to both if you in terms of clinginess and disrupted schedule. I think it's pretty normal and it does take (a long) time for them to settle in. We had some better days last week where she didn't cry at all, but this week has been rougher, she's crying more at school, but on the other hand she is going to one of the teachers for comfort (to hold her) so I take that as a good sign. My DS started daycare at age 2 and it took about 3 weeks for him not to cry every day. It will get better! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-daycare-what-were-your-experiences-there-and-at-home#post-2044842 Thu, 29 Jan 2015 05:46:40 +0000 gilmoregirl 2044842@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm three weeks in and could write something similar except my kid does not eat or nap well at daycare. But the nighttime stuff is what we saw too. And it's getting better. We coslept the first two weeks bc nights were so bad and he had NEVER been into that. But he's back to normal sleep in his crib now. Evenings are kinda hit or miss. He's extra clingy and cranky sometimes but we've had normal evenings this week too. </p> <p>All that to say I'm only two weeks ahead of you and seeing improvement so there is hope! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-daycare-what-were-your-experiences-there-and-at-home#post-2044835 Thu, 29 Jan 2015 04:09:43 +0000 ScarletBegonia 2044835@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is 10.5 months and just started daycare this week. He's been 3 days. Drop offs have been pretty rough, but the teacher tells me he cries maybe 5-10 minutes and then settles down. He's been sleeping okay, less than at home but 2 naps where he goes down easy and wakes up happy. He's eating much better for them than he does for us, which is awesome cause he is borderline failure to thrive and they really load him up. The teacher told me that every day around 3/3:30, or after his post-nap bottle, he pretty much melts down - he can be calmed down but needs to be held and REALLY loses it when he sees me. The teachers are all really positive and say he is transitioning well, but I do hate to see him upset! Also at home, he has gotten a lot more clingy and has been waking up at night which he rarely does. I think it must be separation anxiety, and I'm struggling with it cause he's never had it before.<br /> Whew! Sorry for the novel. I've got the mommy guilts and am curious about your experiences. Did starting daycare affect your children's life at home? How long did they take to properly settle in? Anyone also start around 10-11 months? Please tell me stories!! </p>