Mom reeeeeeally prolongs drop offs...

[busydaycarelady]

I have a dcm who I really like. Pays on time, generally respects my daycare rules, etc. Used to just drop kids and go. The last couple months she's started this thing where oldest kid comes in as usual and sits down for breakfast but she fawns over youngest saying things like 'oh, mommy is SO SAD to leave you all day. Mommy will miss you SO SO much when she's gone. Give me one more hug and kiss!' Now kid has developed an anxiety over drop off and clings to mom and keeps asking for one more kiss and hug. Then mom says stuff to me like 'I feel so guilty leaving her when she obviously needs me so much'. I tell her kids go through phases and that honestly once mom is in her car this kid is running around playing. I suggest a quick have a good day with ONE hug and kiss so we can ALL get on with our days. I get the impression she's doing this so she feels 'needed'. Sometimes this takes 15 minutes. I walk off after a few minutes and continue doing what I need to do. So frustrating!!!

I also have a dad who just dropped his 2 year old off in panties. No extra diapers or extra clothing in the 'diaper' bag. Proclaiming she never peed in her undies on Saturday but she did yesterday so told me to just 'keep a close eye on her'. As he drove off I rifle through the diaper bag with the intent if putting a diaper on this kid only to find its empty. Arrrrgh!

[Fun&care]

Argh that's so annoying. Have you tried having an honest, serious talk with her? Not just dropping hints? Some ppl just don't get it. The dad dropping off with no pull ups is NOT cool. Don't let that happen again. Ask that she come in pull-ups tomorrow and that she needs to keep her pull ups dry for at least two weeks before she can wear big girl underwear. You have other kids to watch, you don't have time to clean up messes. I would be so ticked I would almost be tempted to call them to pick her up if she has an accident. What about naptime? She should at least have a pull up for naptime. I am fuming for you.

[busydaycarelady]

I am furious. He knows my potty training policy is 2 week dry pull ups at daycare then undies at daycare. I never expected him to leave an empty diaper bag though. I've called, no answer of course, so left voicemail and text asking for pull ups and reminding him of my policies. I also told him if she has an accident she for sure must be picked up. I will definetely be checking the diaper bag next day.

[JennJubie]

That's frustrating. Prolonged drop offs throw a wrench in the whole morning. I'm clear right from the start that mornings are very busy. There's so much going on between drop offs and making sure my son is ready for school. Plus my husband works nights so he's coming home right around this time too. Just too much going on in the mornings for that.

[Crayola kiddies]

My parents bring diapers by the case .... Do you not have a like there? What if the parent forgot the diaper bag?

[mimi]

I had a parent who did the long drop off thing despite my best efforts to get them out the door. It was like they didn't want to leave until child was crying so the parent would feel better thinking the child was going to miss them. Ugh parental egos.
I finally wrote a letter stating the reasons for quick drop offs/pick ups and that it benefits the child not to be driven to hysterics before parent leaves. Arming the parents with this knowledge and what is expected from them, I am now forth right and tell them to say good bye in a firm manner.

I would also send a letter to no diaper parent. I always have extra diapers around and would not hesitate to put one on this child after parent leaves. That is ridiculous.

[busydaycarelady]

I've never had a parent forget a diaper bag yet. I've asked for a box of diapers to be left but they all generally send 10 or so per day, so I've never runout. I try not to have 'extras' as these particular parents would begin to think they don't need extra diapers because dayhome will now provide them. So I try to stay away from that. If you give these particular ones an inch they'll take a mile.

Just don't have the energy for stupid adults lately. I was recently rear ended at a very high speed and am dealing with car accident injuries as well. So that alone has really been draining my energy and patience. Oh well. Life goes on.

[KellyP]

I don't even allow diapers bags. Way too much stuff not meant for babies get kept in diaper bags. Plus a provider friend of mine had a bad experience with a family putting a recorder in the daycare kids diaper bag and recorded her all day. She didn't do anything wrong and the family had no reason to suspect anything, they just did it. She termed.

I require families to leave a 30 day supply of diapers here and then I let them know to bring more when they get to the half way point.

[Momof4]

Wow, the parent who plays favourites with their children make my blood boil first of all! But I agree that you must figure out a way to get the child in quickly and the Mom out quickly, maybe by standing at the door and taking charge right away, saying that you have to get the morning moving along and you've change routines a bit? Can you actually implement a bit of a routine change? We all have different entrance ways, mine is a long hallway so I can send the child off to the toyroom after a big hug and kiss and goodbye with the parent, then I also have a few parents who take their time going. I had one little boy running back again and again and I made a rule that he couldn't do that any more using the stairs as an excuse and my safety rules.

As for the Dad who dropped off his child in panties without diapers, my contract states that there must by 30 accident free daycare days while wearing diapers or other covering such as pullups before I will consider letting a child use underwear. I would have called the parents and asked them to come pick up their child or bring in a supply of diapers ASAP, their choice. Did you have to clean up messes that day? I have a cupboard with a space for each child's diapers, wipes and extra clothing so I expect a week's worth of diapers to be brought in every Monday.

I agree with the ladies who stated that you need to have honest talks and lay down the law (your laws) with these parents.

[apples and bananas]

I always tell clients that the child stops crying as soon as the door closes. I also tell clients that it's easier and less stress on the child if she just drops, big hug and kiss and out they go.

If you tell the client straight out.... " you are making my job harder which will increase stress on the kids " then they typically listen.

AS far as the no undies go? I would have called the parents and told them I need them to come back to drop off what's needed.

Or, I would have borrowed diapers from another childs bag and told the dad. "we borrowed johnnys diapers today, so tomorrow you will need to bring me 4 extras in order to pay them back. suzy is not ready to go with just undies yet. I appreciate that she did great on Saturday and we will continue to build on that so she is successful long term"