https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 13 May 2026 06:26:42 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-daycare-dilemma#post-1635709 Thu, 15 May 2014 09:49:43 +0000 Sammyfab 1635709@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. High Heels: yes! While you don't always want your child to be the littlest fish in a big pond, they are learning and growing through observation and imitation soooo much at that age (both good and bad!). I think that having a big sister will definitely help him transition nicely into the toddler room. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-daycare-dilemma#post-1635674 Thu, 15 May 2014 09:43:36 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 1635674@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@locavore_mama: I think this was my initial dilemma that prompted me to ask this question. I took a quick glance into the older toddler room and it seemed so chaotic, and the room is huge. So more teachers, but also a lot more students. DS just started walking two months ago so I was worried he might get trampled. My cynical side was wondering, "do they just want me to move him up sooner because they need the space for their infant room?" because they already requested that I push back our start date by a few months (J was supposed to start months ago, but we were able to push it back because my MIL was available).</p> <p>@Sammyfab: True. I'm thinking I'd rather him be motivated by older kids than stay stagnant with younger kids. </p> <p>@Seattlemom: Good point. That's what they currently do! My daughter is slated to move up to the next room soon, so they've been bringing her to the 3 1/2 age room for a few hours every few days to get her acquainted with the teacher and kids in that room.</p> <p>@Pumuckl: That's true - I told the director my concern with the bigger ratio so soon, and she said she will definitely make sure that he is getting the attention and that there is never a shortage of teachers in there.</p> <p>Thanks for the responses, all! Seems like the big consensus is to not have him transition twice in such a short time. The director said I could bring him in and have him sit in the older kid room to get him acquainted with the environment and see how he does... so I'm going to take him tomorrow, do some observation, then go from there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-daycare-dilemma#post-1635391 Thu, 15 May 2014 08:33:18 +0000 LuLu Mom 1635391@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Older room, transition twice in two months would be difficult. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-daycare-dilemma#post-1635363 Thu, 15 May 2014 08:28:31 +0000 mrs. wagon 1635363@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also voted older room.. I think the transition could be rough, and he's gonna be one of the youngest in the older room soon enough anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-daycare-dilemma#post-1635203 Thu, 15 May 2014 07:44:26 +0000 Mamaof2 1635203@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Older room! I wouldn't want to transition again after 2 months! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-daycare-dilemma#post-1635202 Thu, 15 May 2014 07:43:47 +0000 septca 1635202@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm going to be the voice of dissent here, but I will also say that it really depends on the center's transition procedures and how your son is doing at home. For example, at the center I've been looking at, the transition to the toddler room starts three months before the actual move - during that time, the older infants spend a lot of time in the toddler room so they can get to know the room and the teachers. During this time, the infant room teachers also work to get the older infants on the toddler room schedule (meals and one nap at specific times). Because toddler room schedules are usually much more structured, this is a big factor - how does your son's current schedule mesh with the toddler room? Would he benefit from a transition period? These are the things I would consider. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-daycare-dilemma#post-1635199 Thu, 15 May 2014 07:42:24 +0000 sunshineandsushi 1635199@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The ratio of 1:6 versus 1:4 wouldn't phase me. My boys are 16 months right now and their 1 yr old room is a 1:6 ratio. (The room actually maxes at 6 and since there are two of them, they make up 1/3 of the class, haha). I vote for the older room right away so there is less transition when he would have to move up anyway in 2 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-daycare-dilemma#post-1635184 Thu, 15 May 2014 07:29:27 +0000 Adira 1635184@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Older room! I think it would be rough to JUST be getting used to going to daycare and knowing those infant teachers only to transition again immediately. I think it'll be smoother if he just starts in the older room and can stay there for the next 1.5 years! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-daycare-dilemma#post-1635027 Thu, 15 May 2014 05:09:08 +0000 Pumuckl 1635027@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted older room - doing the transitioning twice would suck. And since he's transition and the youngest he will probably be getting a lot of attention even if the ratio is 1:6. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-daycare-dilemma#post-1634948 Wed, 14 May 2014 23:12:09 +0000 Kimberlybee 1634948@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would go straight to the toddler room. I think he would welcome being with the older kids since he's use to being around older, more playful kids like he awesome big sister. Hope he loves it and has a lot of fun too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-daycare-dilemma#post-1634943 Wed, 14 May 2014 23:03:51 +0000 Freckles 1634943@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would go straight to the big room. Transitions are so hard!! I think it's easier on them not to go through so many changes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-daycare-dilemma#post-1634935 Wed, 14 May 2014 22:47:33 +0000 lady grey 1634935@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would prob go with infant room first. He could get comfy there with the lower ratio and get all the attention. At the same time you could request they bring him to visit the older room frequently to promote another smooth transition. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-daycare-dilemma#post-1634931 Wed, 14 May 2014 22:41:37 +0000 Mrs. Bee 1634931@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i would go into the older room. transitioning again after 2 months will be rough! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-daycare-dilemma#post-1634928 Wed, 14 May 2014 22:38:44 +0000 sunny 1634928@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think having to transition after 2 months would be tough. We had the same dilemma. We started LO at 16 months and she started straight away in the 18 month room rather than the one just before it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-daycare-dilemma#post-1634897 Wed, 14 May 2014 21:59:39 +0000 Sammyfab 1634897@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Transitions are tough so I would go straight into the toddler room. My LO tends to do better with older kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-daycare-dilemma#post-1634885 Wed, 14 May 2014 21:45:22 +0000 Mrs. Blue 1634885@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I would go with the older room. There's already going to be a lot of transition and it seems like he would just be settling in and have to transition all over again. Since he's already adjusted to playing with N at home, I bet the extra two months won't be that big of a deal! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-daycare-dilemma#post-1634650 Wed, 14 May 2014 19:46:09 +0000 regberadaisy 1634650@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My initial reaction is maybe the smaller class plus 1:4 ratio might be a easier transition into daycare in general. Versus going into a room with more kids and less attention. Especially since he is so used to the 1:1 attention at home? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-daycare-dilemma#post-1634645 Wed, 14 May 2014 19:40:46 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1634645@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted older room. He's going to have to deal with that ratio anyways and I would rather not transition twice that closely. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-daycare-dilemma#post-1634640 Wed, 14 May 2014 19:37:18 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 1634640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are putting DS into daycare next month - he'll be 16 months. Up to this point he was being watched by my MIL at home.</p> <p>The infant room goes up until 18 months, then he'd transfer into the next room up, which is for toddlers 18-36 months.</p> <p>This means if he starts in June, he will only be in the infant room for 2 months before transferring over to the bigger kid room. The director talked to me today and said they can probably start him in the bigger kid room from the getgo if I want. </p> <p>My only concern with him starting in the big kid room is that the ratio is 1:6, instead of the 1:4 ratio in the infant room. There are also a lot more kids in that room. He would also be the youngest in there, but that doesn't phase me as much since he has an older sibling at home anyway. </p> <p>What would you do? Have him slowly transition into a lower ratio room, but then have to transition him again only 2 months later? Or jump straight to the big kid room? </p>