I agree with both of you but like Momof4, I think that sometimes, some kids ARE a lot harder to get adjusted than others and I can't devote all my time to helping one child adjust to care while I have several others I am caring for at the same time. I canNOT walk around all day holding a one year old. Sometimes giving them so much individual attention and concern only reinforces the behaviors and teaches them that the harder or longer they cry, the more attention they will get or that they will end up getting to be held just because they are screaming their head off.

I alos think there is a resonsibility on the parents part to do EVERYTHING they can to help their child be capable of making the adjustment to child care in a group. The parent has to be teaching the child at home that they aren't going to be helpd 100% of the time and that they are going to have to cry sometimes....that is how they learn to deal with frustration and develop coping skills.

Now I am NOT saying just let the kid scream his head off. I am saying that there are ways to "teach" them to cope. Delay picking them up every time they make a noise, soothe and comfort them without holding them, encourage them to go play etc. We are also talking about a 12 month old not a 3 month old which IMO, is a totally different thing. 1 year olds are classified as toddlers under my licensing requirements so age-wise, I dont treat them like infants so to speak.

Parents play a huge role in the adjustment of thier child into group care and sometimes the bulk of that responsibility falls on them.

As a child care provider to a GROUP of children, I need to be in tune with the other kids' needs as well and speaking from experience with just having a baby scream bloody murder for almost 6 straight months, the other kids shouldn't have to listen to that either. I now give my babies (7 mos +) a minimum of 30 days to show some kind of improvement or I let them go so the parents can find care arrangements that better meet their child's needs.

I also agree that the part time situation plays a HUGE role in adjustment for any child.