Infants not prepeared for daycare

[MonkeyPrincess]

I am currently transitioning an 11 month old and i LOATHE the transitioning process, especially from kids who parents have been too attached and havent gotten their children ready for daycare. I love the kids, they are all very special to me, but transitioning can be the hardest part of the job. I think the parents did a decent job transitioning this baby, but she is going thru the typical stuff, making strange with her surroundings, not eating a lot, wants to be held, can't be out of sight and screaming thru naps and waking everyone (i did get her to sleep though, 30 min so far, crossing my fingers!). She is not as bad as her older sister was though- I also care for their oldest, who is now 3 and she was one of the hardest kids i ever transitioned. In my opinion, they didn't do a very good job getting her ready for daycare. This child cried for months, vomiting almost everyday, would SCREAM and cry for 6 of the 8 hrs of the day, didn't eat, didn't sleep, was always sick, wanted to always be held/rocked, and was sucking the life out of me. It was obvious that the child was not ready for daycare. She got better at daycare after about 4 mos gradually, luckily, i was ready to give their notice.

[Busy ECE mommy]

I'll give it a month of full time care, and then term if needed. I've had kids scream 4 months straight before, and I vowed I'd rather be short on money than do that again. The rest of the group suffers, so maybe some kids need a 1 on 1 nanny at home. Hopefully it will improve.

[5 Little Monkeys]

Superfun...of course, go ahead!!

I verbally told parents most of what is in my list but like others, found it just didn't sink in. I also find that parents (especially new ones) are overwhelmed as they are usually looking at multiple daycares and being told a lot of info. I like to send them home with written (or emailed) info about how my daycare runs so they can sit at home and read it and let it fully register. It's also the number one reason I email my contract before even meeting in person. It allows both parents to read it in detail and come prepared with questions specific to my daycare and not just general questions that are already answered in the contract. Saves so much time!

BusyECEmommy....I hope things get better soon! I agree with everyone, transition sucks!! lol

[bright sparks]

Sounds like there are a few of us transitioning right now so I'd like to say how happy I am to read that people are filling spots considering the dry spell of enquiries I have had over the last year or so and the amount of providers posting similar stories. I filled my 3 day a week boy who left when his mom went on mat leave with a 12 month old girl. She is really strong willed and stubborn. Yesterday was day one...today is worse. When I interviewed her parents they were really open and honest about how they parent her asking for advice and I gave them the pointers that 5LM said and some more in depth with regards to food as she was still on pureed. They weaned her totally onto table food and zero puree for her starting here and I couldn't be happier. That being said the transitioning is killing me. She is not a tactile child, not even with her parents so its not like I'm even faced with the challenge of a child constantly seeking comfort by being held, quite the contrary. If I pick her up she squirms, and if I put my arms out she crawls away lolol I don't take it personally but it does make it very difficult to try and calm her down. She honestly does the best if I ignore her. She has not been socialized at all with other kids or even been out much as her mom didn't have a car during maternity leave. The crying was OTT this morning but thank god she sleeps. She sits with her soother and cries intermittently, and will not take her bottles or eat anything...except today she had a yogurt which is a plus.

I transitioned 2x 1 year olds at the beginning of the year, one AP and it was really tough taking a good few months to have them totally settled. I said I'd never do it again, but when you rely on the income and other options are scarce, sometimes you have to just grin and bare it.

[torontokids]

I mention all the readiness stuff at the interview but I also email the parents one month before care (for the 12 mos olds I sign on early) and check in re: the readiness stuff. I will ask specific questions e.g. "how's Mike doing with the sippy cup?" "is he soothing himself to sleep yet?" etc. This has helped tremendously and has helped parents I think feel connected to me and to the daycare before their child starts.

[bright sparks]

So my little one got up from nap screaming....hasn't stopped. Won't be held, won't eat, no water, no bottle. Only thing that gets her to be quiet is placing her in a playpen. She gets angry if I put toys in with her throwing and crying. Gets mad if any of the kids even look at her. If I talk it sets her off. Jeez let's hope there is some improvement over the next week otherwise I don't know what....

This is a great example of how a child having zero socialization for the first year of their life can be a major issue in group care.

[Fun&care]

That sounds rough brightsparks! I don't think I've ever had one that bad, I hope she comes around soon. Just emphasizes how important socialization really is! I so wish parents would realize this. So many parents drop their kids off at daycare at the 12 month mark and hope the kid adjusts.