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@SteelerGirl: You should talk to the director and teachers and tell them all your concerns. How can they justify rules about bottles and stuff when they go against health recommendations? My daughter was moved up to the 2-3 class before she was 2 because she STILL needed some help feeding herself (it's not that she couldn't feed herself, she just didn't') and in the 1-2 room the teacher babied her a bit and would feed her every few bites and then verbally tell her to take bites. I was worried, but then the 2-3 room teacher did the same thing.

Pretty much this exact situation happened to us with DD1. They moved her up to the young 1-year-old room when she was 8 months old due to space issues. She wasn't even crawling yet! It was rough until she turned 1, but she also only attended part-time most of that time (we usually reduce to 2-3 days/week over the summer because DH is a teacher), so that may have made the transition tougher as well.

We were initially told the sippy cup/nap mat/shoes thing was a requirement as well, but it ended up not being an issue. The only thing they insisted on was the shoes, which is a health/safety requirement, so we sent her in a cheap pair of crib shoes until she was walking. They did have to allow the continued use of bottles and crib until 1 year old. They started transitioning her to sippy/straw cup and nap mat right around 1 year, but we'd already transitioned her to a straw cup at home during that time and she did amazingly well on the nap mat (actually slept better on the mat, believe it or not!).

The room was kind of a transition room at our center at the time (they've since switched things up) so the kids were on a one nap schedule but they would put the youngest ones down for a second nap if they needed it. Unfortunately this meant DD had often just fallen asleep when I came to pick her up

I would definitely inquire about whether the move was really necessary, but if it turns out to be the only option at least push back on the bottles/nap mat/etc because I think that's totally unreasonable and they may actually realize that in practice as well. For what it's worth, the situation totally resolved itself when DD turned 1 - she was much better able to keep up at that age, despite being the only non-walker in the class.

That room sounds too advance for a 9 mos old. I'd push back as long as you can. The room my LO is in now is like the 1 year old room you describe except they don't force the sippy cup issue. If we don't bring one in then there isn't one for them to give. He transitioned at 11.5 mos though.

@SteelerGirl: I would talk to the director and as soon as possible to understand more. Personally, I would not be comfortable with LO moving to a toddler room at 9 months because at that age LO wasn't ready for 1 nap and certainly wasn't ready for only sippy cups).

Is there any way they will let your LO stay in the infant room and move someone else's kid to the toddler room?

@SteelerGirl: Our center shifted things a bit a year ago. They went from having infant, then Tod 1 thru 3 rooms, then pre-school. They previously had restricted moving to Tod 1 to walkers - so they would not move a baby up until they were at least starting to walk unassisted.

They have now created more toddler space - to accommodate that kids move through the toddler spaces at such varying rates. Mobile babies can now be moved into the Tod 1 room at 12 months - though I have seen them move a baby as young as 11 mos.

They have a crib in the corner. They have two kinds of tables (one slightly more restricted for younger babies). They have a fridge so they can have bottles.

I know they say its to create diff toddler spaces - but a part of me does also think its a bit of a play to have the flex to move a baby up to bring in a new one. Which is ok - they are a business I get it - but at least they have made modifications to accommodate the little ones.

DD is 13 months. She is not walking yet (she will walk around things while holding them but has not taken any solo steps or stood up on her own yet). I was very nervous about her being in there with some 17 mos olds who cruise around yet are still a bit oblivious to their surroundings. So far it has been ok - and DD has a big sister so she is a bit used to being around crazy big kids.

I would not feel guilty at ALL demanding they accommodate her at her current needs and not force her to "grow up" faster than she is ready to. Its ok to accommodate their business decisions - but they also need to accommodate your daughters development and not force her to make leaps she may not be ready for.

I would talk with the director before jumping to any conclusions. I know you said that they're moving her because they need to consolidate, but if they're willing to work with her and help you wean her off of bottles early, help with feeding, etc, I would welcome the change. My LO was moved up just before he turned 1 and it did wonders for him being the youngest in a class that he could learn from. He was talking way before my oldest was at that age and was feeding himself by the time he was a year. It was exciting!

@SteelerGirl: also check your state laws. Our state requires babies under age one to be in individual cribs.

@T.H.O.U.: oh wow! it's so easy to check out state laws. My DCP is not supposed to have my kid on a floor bed since he's under 12 mos/ under 18 and not walking.

Hmm @SteelerGirl: I wonder what you will find out about your state.

If they are doing it to consolidate classes for the summer definitely see if they will work with you on naps and bottles. No way was my son ready to give up two naps at 9 months. Even when he transitioned to the 1yr old room he still had two naps for a month or so because he needed it. My daycare was able to accommodate that.

@SteelerGirl: good news!