Hello bees! I've been reading the blog and boards since I stumbled upon the site after my daughter's birth in August and learned so much from your collective wisdom. Now my daughter is 7 weeks old and will be starting daycare next week. She has definitely hit the 6-8 week fussy period. We love the daycare we picked out, but I'm wracked with anxiety about the daycare having to deal with her fussiness! Some days, even I as her mother have a very tough time dealing with her fussiness. I can't even imaging taking care of 2 other children in addition to my fussy daughter, as the daycare teacher will do!
Has anyone else been through this? Is there anything I can do? Most of what I've read about transitions to daycare deals with older children. Thanks a million!
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Don't stress about it. They'll figure it out and manage it. It's what they do for a living! Babies can act completely different at daycare then they do at home with us!
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Exactly what pp said. They will figure it out. DS was hugely fussy at home until 12 weeks he was great at daycare. I think watching all the activity helped him.
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I have been a nanny for a long time and when a mom expresses a similar concern to me about whatever phase their lo is going through I always remind them that I have been through that particular phase on many occasions, I get a full night's sleep And I get to give them back at a set time. It is far easier to deal with a fussy baby when there is an obvious end in sight. Plus the people at daycare can pass the baby around when need be- don't forget going to the bathroom all alone can feel like a luxury! They will be absolutely fine! Good luck!
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@Janet: is it a center or a home daycare? I feel like daycare workers are really used to babies crying and fussing. They are much more nonplussed (I don't want to say desensitized, but yes...kind of desensitized) that I am when babies are crying.
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@Cole: I think you hit the nail on the head with the part that you get a full nights rest and get to give the child back at the end of the day!
My DD went to a home daycare for 5 days (at which point she was asked not to return). The provider had a 3 month old and my 6 month old (who is very easy!) The provider said my daughter cried all day long and was too difficult (I don't believe it for one second because she has never done this for anyone, including her current daycare, but I digress...) I think the issue was, it was way harder for the provider to be up all night with her baby, then provide care for my baby all day long, and at the end of the day still had to care for her baby (and her other child, and 2 step-children)...
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Thank you so much, everyone! When I saw your replies (after my daughter had yet another couple hours of crying), I had a few tears of relief.
@ CATOMD00 @ Jetsa: So glad to hear that babies can be in better moods at daycare than at home! You are right that watching the other children provides stimulation and distraction@Cole: I never thought of it that way - makes total sense. I dread each nap time and bedtime because it is such a struggle!
@Anagram: She'll be going to a Bright Horizons center in Cambridge, MA. I think also when our own babies are crying, it hits a nerve . I'm a pediatrician and I was never fazed or worn down by babies crying until my own daughter is screaming in my arms.
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Trust me, she / they will be fine. My first was super fussy, would only take 20 minute naps and only in someone's arms. They can handle it.
It helps if you tell them what does work to calm her down, get her to nap, her schedule (if there is one), etc.
Hugs! And welcome!
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I don't have experience with an 8 week old but I will say that even if she is their WORST case (which I seriously doubt) they will figure it out and it will be great in the long run! I say this because my daughter at 10 months was the worst case her teachers had had, and they worked with her and it got a lot better eventually. It will be okay!
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@Janet: awww! Well, Bright Horizons is a great chain (we use it sometimes for drop in care that we get through my husband's job) and I have a few friends whose LOs go there all the time, and they love it.
Good luck!!
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@Regberadaisy @daniellemybelle - So reassuring to hear that your LOs did well - gotta love those 20 minute catnaps!
@Anagram - Glad to hear that you and your friends have had a good experience with Bright Horizons. Was such an internal struggle for me to choose daycare vs a nanny, but even my very pro-nanny mom thought a nanny would go stir-crazy in our condo after a few days!
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