HELP Bad sleeping habits, unable to self sooth!

[Samantha33]

I would not keep a child longer than a week that cried for more than an hr. everyday unless I saw great improvement in that first week. I have the following in my contract and even go over it with the parents at the interview so they know I am serious. Feel free to share.

Prepare Your Child for Daycare

Even a home daycare has a routine they must follow in order that they are organized and ready for each segment of the day. Before bringing your child to my home daycare it is strongly recommended that you teach them some of the “tricks of the daycare world.” Learning these behaviors will make your child adjust more quickly and with ease in the months to come. Setting routines and practicing good eating, playing and sleeping habits really pays off when they begin coming to daycare (any daycare, not just mine) please prepare your child in the following ways if possible, before they begin care:
Sleeping habits:
Sleep is an important part of your child’s life. Lack of it, can result in stress, illness and a cranky child; All of which I feel is not fair to your child, to the children in care, or to me. I promote good sleep routines and habits. I strongly suggest that your child should practice or know how to:
1) Fall asleep while still awake and able to self-sooth when woken up. (this means not picking them up right away when they wake up or cry…give them a moment to go back to sleep or to wake up) Many children wake up and then fall back to sleep in around 3-5 min. Just like us they have heavy and light sleep patterns.
2) Fall asleep without walking/rocking/driving, being placed in a swing or a car seat or by having to pace the floor.
3) Go to bed without a bottle.
4) Go to sleep at regular nap and bedtimes with other noises around them.
5) Follow my sleep routines and naptimes whenever possible in order to make the transition easier on your child.
Eating habits:
I always try to offer healthy food and snacks. I encourage all children 12 months or so to eat on their own with minimal assistance; and to eat table foods by 12 months. I do help them when needed. No walking around with food; eating at the table only, and no t.v. while eating. Homo milk is served. We do have treat days and parties with cupcakes and ice cream etc., but these days are limited and are very special to the children I care for. For allergy reasons no outside food is to be brought into the daycare. Meals and snacks are offered. I do not bribe or cohorce a child - to eat - beyond the normal effort. Everyone eats the same meal. They usually eat well because they are hungry and everyone else is eating. Initial ______

Independence
Children are always encouraged to do things for themselves. Things such as putting on shoes, sweaters, coats and snow pants and pulling their own pants down before a diaper change and pulling them up again after encourages them to be independent. Of course they are practiced at the appropriate age according to each child.