https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 03 May 2026 23:31:25 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/transition-home-from-daycare-tips#post-2825671 Fri, 01 Jun 2018 05:24:14 +0000 looch 2825671@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That time of day is usually described as the witching hour, my son would lose it at that time no matter what happened during the day and eventually it passed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/transition-home-from-daycare-tips#post-2825662 Thu, 31 May 2018 22:29:18 +0000 peaches1038 2825662@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Does he take a binky? DS was the same way at that age after daycare pickup but we had a 35 min ride :sad: I tried nursing him in the parking lot and even on the side of the road but sometimes he would be so worked up, he wouldn’t nurse. What really worked for us was a trick my coworker told me. So, I would have a bottle of gripe water in the car and a cup holder with a few binkies. I would dunk one in the bottle and give it to DS. The taste encouraged him to keep sucking and if he dropped it, I would dunk another one and finangle it into his mouth. He also seemed to enjoy having the window down a little bit and finding a good AM station that was just static worked sometimes. Otherwise, I would just try to talk to him and say “I hear you are so upset right now. I’m listening to you. We will be home soon” on repeat and tried not to have a panic attack. Solidarity mama. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/transition-home-from-daycare-tips#post-2825661 Thu, 31 May 2018 22:20:09 +0000 daniellemybelle 2825661@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Are you nursing? My daughter had intense separation anxiety, so pick-up was also intense. We would nurse in the car in the parking lot and I wouldn't put her in her car seat until she was calm and happy. That often was a long time! </p> <p>In not too many months he will also be able to hold a pouch or a teething cracker or a small, low-key toy (literally a plastic water bottle is perfect) on the ride home. I've always found that helps so much! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/transition-home-from-daycare-tips#post-2825604 Thu, 31 May 2018 14:28:22 +0000 Becky 2825604@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD2 hated the car. I avoided drives any longer than 30 minutes for months until she learned to chill. It broke my heart to hear her screaming and it was such a relief to get her in my arms when I got her out of the car seat but I also knew there wasn’t anything I could do: some babies hate the car. Honestly I’d just ignore it. It’s such a short drive and if you know he’s safe and comfy and fed there isn’t anything you can do. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/transition-home-from-daycare-tips#post-2825598 Thu, 31 May 2018 14:07:17 +0000 psw27 2825598@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No real advice, except to say it gets better as they get older. I think they are so over stimulated from their day + it's the witching hour cause they are so tired from all the playing and sensory input all day. It does get better, I swear! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/transition-home-from-daycare-tips#post-2825584 Thu, 31 May 2018 12:57:12 +0000 snarkybiochemist 2825584@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MaryM: Yea it sucked for a bit but now she is pretty much over it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/transition-home-from-daycare-tips#post-2825582 Thu, 31 May 2018 12:45:38 +0000 MaryM 2825582@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snarkybiochemist: That's pretty much what he's been doing. Thankfully, he's much better at being calm during crying than I am! </p> <p>If he's still crying when they get home, DH takes him into a dark room, turns on the sound machine, and rocks him. If there's milk leftover from the day from daycare, he'll give that to him too. He calls it his sensory deprivation chamber. lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/transition-home-from-daycare-tips#post-2825581 Thu, 31 May 2018 12:45:05 +0000 skiierchck99 2825581@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MaryM: she’s in our rooms till. Honestly I think it’s mostly luck - I joke that she inherited our love of sleep. Then again, we’ve struggled right omg with day sleep/naps and that may be why! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/transition-home-from-daycare-tips#post-2825577 Thu, 31 May 2018 12:25:09 +0000 snarkybiochemist 2825577@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I pick E up about 5 after 10 hrs at daycare and after the first few weeks she cried every day on the way home from the moment the carseat clicked into the base in my car for at least 10 min. Nothing really helped, I would just grin and bear it until she stopped or we got home, whichever came first and then we would have some cuddles before she would play and then eat and bedtime. At almost 7 months it doesn't happen regularly anymore, just days when her last nap ended around 2. I think it really started to happen less frequently around 4-4.5 months. I know it isn't easy driving in a car with a screaming kiddo but if your husband can ignore the crying and still drive safely I would say your best bet might just be to get home and then give him loving at home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/transition-home-from-daycare-tips#post-2825573 Thu, 31 May 2018 12:09:13 +0000 Ajsmommy 2825573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I bet it's a combination of things. He's probably tired. He's probably hungry. He probably misses you guys. It might just be him letting down at the end of the day. I know w DS I pick him up at 415-430 and as soon as we get home it's a whine fest. Whine, whine, whine, cry, cry, cry. He's just tired and hungry. I do my best to feed him asap and I try to hold him (bc that's all he wants) as much as feasibly possible. It is very hard and sometimes stressful. But I try to appease him as best I can until I take him to bed around 6 pm. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/transition-home-from-daycare-tips#post-2825569 Thu, 31 May 2018 12:03:43 +0000 MaryM 2825569@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Madison43: I'd think it's just the witching hour, except it doesn't happen when he's home on the weekends! </p> <p>@skiierchck99: That's awesome that she's sleeping so well! DS woke twice last night instead of three times and even that was such a huge step. I can't wait until he'll go even longer!</p> <p>Is your daughter in her own room or in your room? I'm wondering if we move him to his crib if we might not hear him fuss and he'll self soothe a little better. He loves sucking his hands too and just found his fingers this week. But sucking his hands seems to wake him up further! Only once or twice has he gotten an arm free and been able to keep sleeping. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/transition-home-from-daycare-tips#post-2825565 Thu, 31 May 2018 11:44:38 +0000 MrsBucky 2825565@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not super helpful, but my guess is that LO just really needs to share those super tough feelings with you guys at the end of the day, and there isn't much you can do other than ride it out. You're doing all you can to make him feel comfortable and safe, and beyond that all you can do is accept that it's a tough time for him and that it will pass. We still have days like that with our 3 yo, but I know it's tougher with a tiny baby. He's sharing valuable feelings with you guys, and as much as it's hard, if you can ride it out, I think it will continue to nurture your bonds with him. Hang in there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/transition-home-from-daycare-tips#post-2825564 Thu, 31 May 2018 11:39:20 +0000 skiierchck99 2825564@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MaryM: she doesn’t usually. Occasionally she wakes for another feed an hour after we put her to bed or gets up at 5 but she has been sttn for about 6 weeks. She’s a big baby (16.5 lbs at 15 weeks) so I think that plays a part, but yes - very lucky! She likes to suck her hands and I think it helps self-soothe. She was frequently getting at least 1 arm free even in the halo so maybe that’s why it hasn’t impacted her ability to stay asleep. Very nervous about the coming sleep regression though since we’ve had it so good! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/transition-home-from-daycare-tips#post-2825563 Thu, 31 May 2018 11:36:50 +0000 Madison43 2825563@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My thoughts may not be super helpful bc we used a nanny but that time of day (5-7 pm or so) was a total nightmare for both my girls when they were babies. Everyone’s tired and cranky and anything could trigger a total meltdown (btw this still happens at ages 2 and 4). There might not be anything to do to white knuckle the thankfully short drive home! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/transition-home-from-daycare-tips#post-2825562 Thu, 31 May 2018 11:32:51 +0000 MaryM 2825562@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@skiierchck99: Is she not waking in that time? That's freaking fantastic! </p> <p>I was sort of hoping daycare wouldn't swaddle so they'd help break the habit. DS can't keep his hands out of his face if the swaddle even gets the tiniest bit loose... </p> <p>I even tried a swaddle up and having his hands that close to his face was just too freaking fun for him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/transition-home-from-daycare-tips#post-2825561 Thu, 31 May 2018 11:26:24 +0000 skiierchck99 2825561@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MaryM: no, not even those sadly. That’s what we were using at home! I honestly haven’t noticed a big change - we aren’t swaddling at night any more either and she still sleeps about 8-6; I think the big difference is in how long it takes her to fell asleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/transition-home-from-daycare-tips#post-2825560 Thu, 31 May 2018 11:25:12 +0000 MaryM 2825560@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: There are hanging toys on his carseat, and he's only recently noticed them and started batting at them. He also has a mirror he can see himself in. </p> <p>I think there's only one red light between daycare and home, and DH says the worst of it is when they get to our neighborhood anyway. I really think it's the transition, not the car. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/transition-home-from-daycare-tips#post-2825559 Thu, 31 May 2018 11:23:43 +0000 MaryM 2825559@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@skiierchck99: I was afraid they wouldn't swaddle...</p> <p>Will they not even use a velcro one? My center won't allow anything loose in the crib, but they'll let me use the sleepsack swaddles until he can roll over </p> <p><a href="https://www.target.com/p/halo-174-sleepsack-174-100-cotton-swaddle-cream-s/-/A-12756497?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&#038;AFID=google_pla_df&#038;CPNG=PLA_Baby+Shopping&#038;adgroup=SC_Baby&#038;LID=700000001170770pgs&#038;network=g&#038;device=c&#038;location=9007539&#038;gclid=EAIaIQobChMIg6ScmK6w2wIVyiSGCh3ZjQTwEAQYASABEgITE_D_BwE&#038;gclsrc=aw.ds" rel="nofollow">https://www.target.com/p/halo-174-sleepsack-174-100-cotton-swaddle-cream-s/-/A-12756497?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&#038;AFID=google_pla_df&#038;CPNG=PLA_Baby+Shopping&#038;adgroup=SC_Baby&#038;LID=700000001170770pgs&#038;network=g&#038;device=c&#038;location=9007539&#038;gclid=EAIaIQobChMIg6ScmK6w2wIVyiSGCh3ZjQTwEAQYASABEgITE_D_BwE&#038;gclsrc=aw.ds</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/transition-home-from-daycare-tips#post-2825557 Thu, 31 May 2018 11:17:09 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2825557@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I nearly forgot, but your post reminded me there was a time when LO absolutely hated being in the car. My guy definitely prefers the quiet of home, but he wasn’t always excited about getting there.</p> <p>Does he have car seat toys? I don’t think mine was into his little pirate squid until close to 6 months, but it’s worth trying out a distraction. The worse of the crying was when we were stopped at a light. I started taking a route that would offered two less light opportunities- more right turns. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/transition-home-from-daycare-tips#post-2825556 Thu, 31 May 2018 11:07:40 +0000 skiierchck99 2825556@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MaryM: so you’re saying there is hope! Day 1 she took a 10 minute nap and a 20 minute nap :shocked: I need a backup sleep sack for them, you reminded me. Unfortunately state (I think?) regulations mean they won’t swaddle them. I knew and we’ve been moving out of that for some weeks now but it’s still crummy lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/transition-home-from-daycare-tips#post-2825553 Thu, 31 May 2018 10:48:19 +0000 MaryM 2825553@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@skiierchck99: The first week or so, his naps were total crap. I think his first day (when he was still less than 3 months old) he slept MAYBE an hour and a half? I came home and put him down for a "nap" and he slept for 8 hours straight and only woke once that night (he usually wakes two or three times)</p> <p>He's gotten used to napping there and usually takes at least one if not two good 1-2+ hour naps. So it's not so much the sleep anymore (though sometimes is. He had a blow out in his swaddle yesterday so he refused to nap after 2:30 since I didn't have a clean back up there for him)</p> <p>@2PeasinaPod: Usually, DS does fine in the car. Especially if it's moving. He handles going TO daycare just fine...even babbles and talks to me the whole way there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/transition-home-from-daycare-tips#post-2825551 Thu, 31 May 2018 10:40:10 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2825551@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MaryM: It may just be a phase that he's going through. DS1 HATED the car period. So it was always such a challenge going anywhere with him. If this is only on the way home from school, try being consistent with the ride. Sing a specific song over and over to get him to calm down. If DH has heightened anxiety, the baby is going to feel it too...so being consistent is key. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/transition-home-from-daycare-tips#post-2825550 Thu, 31 May 2018 10:38:22 +0000 skiierchck99 2825550@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MaryM: no advice just commiseration! We started this week too and she was a basket case yesterday even though I picked up early at 2. She basically slept and nursed from 2:30-6 when I had to wake her to go get the dog and then was asleep again by 7:15. Is your babe napping there? Abby isn’t really getting any good sleep and I am hoping that will change but if not we might need to rethink our care arrangement. And like you we live in a major metro area with bad traffic and can’t change our schedules 😕. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/transition-home-from-daycare-tips#post-2825549 Thu, 31 May 2018 10:35:29 +0000 MaryM 2825549@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pollywog: We don't have the option of changing our schedules. Well, I *did* change mine...so I can get home at 5:30 or 6 instead of 6:30 or 7 like I used to...</p> <p>But we live in a metro area with awful commutes, so there really isn't much of a chance we can get him before 5:30 or 6. DH actually had to ask for help at work yesterday to get to pick him up on time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/transition-home-from-daycare-tips#post-2825547 Thu, 31 May 2018 10:32:52 +0000 Pollywog 2825547@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hugs. He probably misses you and has all of these big emotions that he doesn't know how to deal with. What we did was change our schedules to pick up DS around 4. Then he'd cuddle with daddy until I was done with work. Then nurse and cuddle with me until bedtime. It helped so much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/transition-home-from-daycare-tips#post-2825545 Thu, 31 May 2018 10:26:14 +0000 MaryM 2825545@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, our LO is only 3.5 months, but the transition home from daycare seems to be killer for him. I'm sure it doesn't help that he's usually exhausted, but even if he's coming off awesome naps, he still loses it on the way home. And it's seriously like two miles from home. </p> <p>DH does pick up most of the time. The baby will be fine (usually) until DH clicks the carseat into the car. Then, I can only imagine, it must set in for him that he's going from a very loud bright place to a home where there's just the three of us. </p> <p>I know I've read about easing this transition for older kids, but has anyone been able to help a baby not freak out about it? I can tell when DH gets home by the crying as soon as the garage door opens. DS is inconsolable for several minutes until he finally tires himself out and calms down (and we immediately start getting him ready for bed). </p> <p>DH has tried feeding him at daycare before putting him in the car. He's tried leaving the car running with the AC on in case it was too hot. He's tried music, no music, talk radio... </p> <p>Anything else we can try? Or is this just how it is? </p>