Adjusting to daycare!

Hi Ladies,

My one year old started daycare last week! He goes part time, three days a week(Mon-Wed). He has been crying a lot in the daycare..i know he is gonna take time to adjust, but not sure if all kids go through the same or is it just him? The care giver tries to pacify him but he cries the whole time:(...I feel so bad for him and would ike to help him out somehow,..It would be great if other moms who went through this could post their experiences!

Thanks,
Lakshmi

Lakshmi...no advice, just to say hi and how is Rishi? When was his bday? Hope you both are doing well.

Vanathi.

Hi Vanathi,
Rishi is doing great! He is turning one day!(DOB) ..Ayush homam was last week! How is Aadhu doing?

Thanks,
Lakshmi!

Hi Lakshmi,

I would say all kids will take some time to adjust to new environment in daycare. I started sending my daughter around 18months and she took almost 3 weeks to adjust properly. Even after that she would cry a bit during drop-offs. Those initial 2-3 weeks was so tough for me too emotionally to leave her crying in her teachers hands and concentrate on work. But her teacher used to update me over phone on how she is, her eating etc.
Try to send some of his favorite toys or maybe a blanket to the daycare, that will make him feel better. Also send some of your family pics....when he is sad, his teacher can show the pics.

Now after almost one year of daycare...my kid loves her daycare. She enters her classroom very happy..stays happy and active whole day. I have tough time getting her back home in evening from daycare:)
Hang in there...after initial 2-3 weeks things will be much smoother!
all the best,
Sihi

Hi Lakshmi,

I can understand how emotionally distressing the whole process must be for you. It took my son one month to adjust to day care. And even after that he used to cry during drop offs. In order to ease his adjustment this is what I did:
1) Gradually increased the number of hours he spent at daycare. I started with 3 hours and increased it to 5 hours. Only after a month did I put him for 8 hours.
2) Do not go during the day because your child would have to go through 2 separations.
3) Don't sneak out of the daycare. Always say goodbye and make it short and sweet.
4) Try to drop your child when they are doing some interesting activity. My son would never cry if I dropped him off at the sand box.

I hope this helps.

Thanks,
Kavya.

Originally Posted by laksn

Hi Ladies,

My one year old started daycare last week! He goes part time, three days a week(Mon-Wed). He has been crying a lot in the daycare..i know he is gonna take time to adjust, but not sure if all kids go through the same or is it just him? The care giver tries to pacify him but he cries the whole time:(...I feel so bad for him and would ike to help him out somehow,..It would be great if other moms who went through this could post their experiences!

Thanks,
Lakshmi

Lakshmi...Happy bday to Rishi! Did you have a party? Hope all the great advice given by the PPs helps you..Aadhu is fine - had his mottai 2 weeks back.

Vanathi.

Hi All,
Thanks for the reply. He has his fav toy and blanket in the daycare:)...But he wants mommy I guess! I started off with 2 hours and now it is 4 hours! The moment he sees the door he hold on to me tightly:) ...though he is very happy to peek into the toddler room! Its just a wait and watch game I guess...He goes only three days a week and by the next week I think he totally forgets about it! His care giver said ,he is happy if they take him outdoors...Anyways I don't know what to expect next week!

Thanks,
L