Help me!! :(

[Lee-Bee]

I can't help but feel that he MIGHT "hate" you and your home because you enforce rules and order on him. Odds are that this child that comes from a home where HE rules everything will someday come to LOVE you and your home for that very reason.

As much as children want and try to rule everything there is nothing more scary for a child to realize they are in control not the adult. They NEED their adults to be in control. Even the most demanding, little princes and princesses can come to love a daycare that provides that security and order in their life.

I do hope he comes to realize this and becomes one of your best little daycare kids for you. Till then...hang in there!

[kindertime]

If he eats well, you said, does that mean that he stops crying long enough to eat? That would definately suggest to me that it is a behaviour. You're staying inside longer now anyways, how long can you drag out his snack and lunch? If he's in a highchair to eat, maybe give him just a little bit at a time, drag it out, so snack takes 30 minutes instead of 10. Same for lunch. If he's not crying when he's eating, then maybe you'll have a bit more time crying-free.

Good luck- I have been where you are - and it was a behaviour here too. Soooo draining, and so stressfull.

[babydom]

If he eats well, you said, does that mean that he stops crying long enough to eat? That would definately suggest to me that it is a behaviour. You're staying inside longer now anyways, how long can you drag out his snack and lunch? If he's in a highchair to eat, maybe give him just a little bit at a time, drag it out, so snack takes 30 minutes instead of 10. Same for lunch. If he's not crying when he's eating, then maybe you'll have a bit more time crying-free.

Good luck- I have been where you are - and it was a behaviour here too. Soooo draining, and so stressfull.

Ya. I for sure do that. Drag it out. Lol. But then I feel bad that he's stuck in a highchair and let him down. His lunch he'll do well! Very well eats a ton. But I try food all am incase it's Hunger. Sometimes he goes for it other times he tosses it and cries. Even out of the highchair I'll give him a baby mum mum thinking he'll sit quietly on the floor and eat it giving me two seconds to think but nope takes a bite and throws it. Has to be behavioural.

[babydom]

Thank u so much everyone for all the thoughts, questions to make me think and ideas to try. The more I talked this out here, I think it's got to be behavioural. Playpen time outs here we come!

[flowerchild]

I think Lee-Bee has hit the nail on the head. He probably doesn't know what way is up if he's catered to all the time at home.

I find the kids that often have the hardest transitions are the kids who have little to no structure or boundaries at home and a strong personality. That seems to be a brutal mixture. They get away with everything at home and then come to your house where they are expected to follow rules and accept consequences and they don't know what to do. It's so confusing for them. BUT once they figure out that is how it works at your house, they are fine and I do believe the structure and routine are comforting for them.

Good luck!