https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 01 Jun 2026 21:24:13 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-switch-daycares-1#post-2589747 Thu, 21 Jul 2016 11:41:27 +0000 Mrs D 2589747@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sharpie: So glad its going better for you... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-switch-daycares-1#post-2589654 Thu, 21 Jul 2016 10:23:24 +0000 sharpie 2589654@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Update: After talking to the director things are a lot better. In my daily email I don't just get diapers/naps/bottles, but also a list of things they did that day (tummy time, songs, books). The ladies are a lot sweeter at pickup too and tell me little things about him from that day </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-switch-daycares-1#post-2584444 Mon, 11 Jul 2016 20:25:43 +0000 sharpie 2584444@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@youboots: @Pollywog: @MrsA: Yeah it seems like talking to the director is my next move</p> <p>@Worrywart: We get an email with naps, feeds, and diapers.</p> <p>@KayKay: There are two infant classrooms that range from 2-12 months, and the "division" is when they get more mobile, so not a set age. But I think enrollment for that age is low because they are combined more often than not. You have a point that he may be happiest in the bouncy chair, and to be fair I'm not watching it the whole time he's there (I am working, I swear lol). To your second comment, he isn't crying every time... maybe 2 times out of 5? But whenever it happens I just feel awful about it of course.</p> <p>@mauxie: I toured all of the ones in my part of town, and they all used bouncers and/or swings. The infant rooms in all of them seemed the same to me honestly, and relatively calm, so maybe I'm seeing things that aren't there.</p> <p>@kiddosc: That is an awesome idea actually, I haven't felt comfortable taking time from work but I could shift my lunch break around to try it. Hopefully it makes me feel better.</p> <p>@mediagirl: That is interesting! As far as I know there are only chain centers around here, or unlicensed in-home daycares. I may have to widen the area I'm looking at if I do decide to pursue a change.</p> <p>@T.H.O.U.: I'm going to ask if they have a policy about that - maybe they are doing it and I happen to catch him in the bouncy seat each time? Or maybe they aren't following their own policies (or should make a policy).</p> <p>@nana87: They follow the state ratio which is 1:4, all of the daycares I looked at do. He's the youngest right now but there are 2 or 3 other babies who are less than 6 months.</p> <p>@Pumpkin Pie: That sounds so nice! If we decide to change I think I might expand my search area to see if I can find something similar.</p> <p>@sapphire: Fair enough, I guess I figured if I could see how they were caring for the kids I could relax. I never considered that I wouldn't like what I saw! (obviously a flaw in my plan...)</p> <p>@Mrs D: Good point that I may not have given it enough time! And yeah, I hold that kid every chance I get, so in that way he definitely has to adjust. The video can totally be addicting! I'm pretty distracted by work but when things get slow I watch more and basically worry the whole time lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-switch-daycares-1#post-2584413 Mon, 11 Jul 2016 19:14:30 +0000 Mrs D 2584413@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>From my experience it is not uncommon for the littlest ones to go from crib, to floor, to crib. They cant do much else.</p> <p>We are in a large center but they have no bouncers/swings...so the little ones (like my DD who is 4 mos) is basically either in her crib, on the mat or in a boppy lounger type thing. The ratio is 4-1...so sometimes she cries before the teachers can get to her.</p> <p>I do see little ones come into the room who seem to cry a bit at first. Was/Is your little one held a lot at home and during your leave? If so - it may just be an adjustment period to being in a daycare where sole attention cannot feasibly be paid to one child. From my experience they tend to get the hang of it after a few weeks...some thing with the rough drop off kids!</p> <p>I intentionally didnt want a center with video cameras because it would be too addicting!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-switch-daycares-1#post-2584367 Mon, 11 Jul 2016 17:26:13 +0000 MrsA 2584367@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd talk through your concerns. Our center has an infant room but the babies are held, on mats, etc. not just in a bouncy seat all day. I'd be unhappy about that too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-switch-daycares-1#post-2584339 Mon, 11 Jul 2016 16:22:49 +0000 sapphire 2584339@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't use a daycare that put my baby in a bouncer or swing. I don't think it's enough interaction and the safety concerns are higher. With that said, cameras are not important to me so that wouldn't have been a factor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-switch-daycares-1#post-2584338 Mon, 11 Jul 2016 16:21:51 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 2584338@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn’t want my kid to be in a bouncy chair all day, but I think some time in it is acceptable. We chose a smaller private day care instead of a chain. It was so tempting to go to the chain with the video cam, but in the end decided on the smaller one because it was close to our house, and we got references from other parents who had kids in that room. When my LO was an infant, she got floor time, tummy time, outside time. They also gave us a sheet at the end of the day with nap/feeding times, and anything else that happened during the day. They also let parents drop by any time of the day unannounced, so I did that a few times, and felt comfortable that my kid wasn’t being neglected. The teachers were also really nice and approachable, and we could talk to them about any concerns. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-switch-daycares-1#post-2584325 Mon, 11 Jul 2016 15:54:38 +0000 nana87 2584325@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>From your description, it would seem to me like there aren't enough caregivers for the number of children there. My daycare didn't have bouncers or other seats, lo was always either being held or on the floor before she could sit on her own-- it's also a mixed age classroom so she was the only real "baby" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-switch-daycares-1#post-2584320 Mon, 11 Jul 2016 15:48:05 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2584320@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our old center had a 30 min max rule for any "seat". So if he's there longer than that I would address with the director. I know you want him to be happy but you also want him to be held and try new things. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-switch-daycares-1#post-2584319 Mon, 11 Jul 2016 15:47:49 +0000 KayKay 2584319@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>About the crying, I'd be concerned if he was crying EVERY (or almost every) day when you picked him up, and especially if he seemed to not be attended to. Even if he is just grumpy because he isn't napping well there yet (so he is over-tired)...and even if they are trying to tend to others on any specific day...it doesn't seem right that you would always find him crying alone. At our old center, if too many babies were crying at once, the director or one of the admin staff or floaters would come lend some snuggling to the cause. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-switch-daycares-1#post-2584318 Mon, 11 Jul 2016 15:47:11 +0000 mediagirl 2584318@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>From experience - I have seen more babies crying for longer periods of time at chain centers. Privately held centers seem to have more care givers for the babies and they don't let the babies cry. They also have specific amounts of time the babies can sit in bouncy seats. I would be unhappy with my baby in a bouncer all day. </p> <p>I would expect babies to have a rotation from floor to bouncer to crib to arms to high chair, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-switch-daycares-1#post-2584317 Mon, 11 Jul 2016 15:46:19 +0000 kiddosc 2584317@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Are you able to adjust your schedule and pop in during the day a few different times. This may give you a better idea of what's going on in the middle of the day. I feel like drop off and pick up times aren't a great representation of how the day goes at most centers. If you're still not happy, then I'd address my concerns with the director before moving and see how she responds/if any changes are made. </p> <p> I have a 4 month old in a center and she's often in a bouncy, or swing, or exersaucer, but the teachers also kind of rotate who they're holding. Or sometimes a teacher will sit on the floor with two or three babies around her in different types of seats so that she can interact with them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-switch-daycares-1#post-2584316 Mon, 11 Jul 2016 15:45:06 +0000 mauxie 2584316@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Did you tour many daycares prior to enrolling? From my personal experience, of the ones I toured I found that the facilities without any bouncers, swings, etc gave me a more quality program impression than the others (in that the teachers/staff seemed to know more about child development and emphasize interaction/floor play, etc). Most of the centers around where I am do not have cameras, but have a strong open door policy for parents to drop in any time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-switch-daycares-1#post-2584315 Mon, 11 Jul 2016 15:43:50 +0000 KayKay 2584315@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What's the (typical) ages for the mobile/non-mobile babies? Options I have seen/used for infant centers include:<br /> - 2-12m &amp; 12-24m<br /> - 2-9m &amp; 10-18m<br /> - 2-15m &amp; 16-24m</p> <p>I think there are advantages and dis-advantages to all of those divisions, so I wouldn't necessarily be too worried about them combining. Do they combine all day long? Or mostly at the end of the day when there are fewer kids?</p> <p>For the youngest babies, there isn't too much they can do! My DD1 was in a center that had a handful of different locations around the room for the littlest babies -- a couple different places where they were either flat on the floor or on a reclined boppy with hanging toys/scarves above them. Or some version of tummy time. They didn't have bouncers or any baby containers. During art projects or music/story time, one of the caregivers would hold the ones who couldn't sit up on their own yet.</p> <p>I'd say if he is just sitting in the same bouncy seat the whole time (minus eating, changes, and maybe napping), I wouldn't love it. But if that's his favorite place and you don't see him the times he is doing other things, it's probably ok. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-switch-daycares-1#post-2584314 Mon, 11 Jul 2016 15:43:48 +0000 Pollywog 2584314@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's not normal. Babies shouldn't be crying all day. I'd talk to the director. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-switch-daycares-1#post-2584313 Mon, 11 Jul 2016 15:42:17 +0000 Worrywart 2584313@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would talk to them. My 6 month old is in a large daycare that I've been fairly happy with. They give us a sheet at the end of the day that details how much and when he ate, when he napped, diaper changes, etc. Does yours give you this? I'm also able to tell them specific things on the sheet at the beginning of the day such as practice tummy time, rolling, etc. Yes at 3 months, he was in a bouncy seat or a swing a lot of the time, but I know it wasn't all day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-switch-daycares-1#post-2584312 Mon, 11 Jul 2016 15:39:39 +0000 youboots 2584312@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd talk to the director with your specific concerns. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-switch-daycares-1#post-2584310 Mon, 11 Jul 2016 15:32:55 +0000 sharpie 2584310@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have an almost 2 year old and a 3 month old in a daycare center. It's the only center in the area with cameras, which is one of the reasons we chose it. This chain came recommended by people I know, but none of them used this specific location.</p> <p>My only issues are in the infant room. This is supposed to be for non mobile babies but I see them combine the two infant rooms most of the time so it's an even mix of mobile and non-mobile babies. What I see a lot is that he hangs out in a bouncy seat most of the day. They change and feed him regularly enough but in between he's in the bouncy seat. He's rarely in his crib (but that doesn't surprise me b/c he hates sleeping alone/in the crib) - but I rarely see him sleeping in the bouncy seat either, just hanging out/squirming. I worry he's crying much of the time because often when I go to pick him up he's just laying there crying (as are several other babies). The teachers don't seem lazy, they are always moving/doing something so I guess I don't know why a new center would help.</p> <p>He's been there for 3 weeks so maybe I'm not giving it enough time. I put my first in an in-home daycare which I loved when he was an infant, but I really like a "school" setting for him now and I'm not willing to have them go to two separate daycares.</p> <p>Is this a typical infant daycare experience? Would you consider switching? What can I do about this now - talk to the teachers more (they generally say he's had a good day but when pressed they are vague about whether or not he was crying)? Talk to the director? </p>