Hello moms - I know you can offer some great advice for me. You have in the past! My daughter is 17 months and just moved down to a bigger kid room at the daycare (from the infant room). She was going three 1/2 days and now she will be going three full days and two half. She loves the daycare - she rarely cries when I leave her, she eats well and smiles when we get there everyday. The workers are caring and loving.
The only problem is that she doesn't sleep well. I drop her off on MWF @ 9:30 and she takes about a 45 minute nap with the other children. The other children sleep for between an hour or two. TR I want to keep her with me in the morning and drop her off for lunch, nap and afternoon stuff. The manager of the place really wants me to drop her off @ 9:30 every morning. I really don't want her there all day - every day. Partly because she is only little for so long and I want to spend time with her and partly because of guilt.
Do you think it would be better for her to be playing, kept on a schedule and with the other kids 5 days a week? Or would you drop her off late on TR and deal with the consequences of the unhappy teachers (since she may not sleep well).
It is the question a lot of people ask...is it better to keep her home with me on TR even if her schedule may be wacky vs. sending her everyday with a consistent schedule.
I am a university professor and this schedule will only need to stay this way for the spring. Come summer and next year she will be home with us and starting an Early Childhood Education program @ a school.
Sorry to go on for so long...I just don't know anyone I can ask/share my concerns/issues with.
Thank you so much!
This is a crucial time with schedules. I would talk to your provider, and work out a plan. Your daughter needs to sleep great now, or she will most likely never have a great sleeping schedule.
Hi, C.:
Keep your baby at home with you as much as you can.
Babies need protection, safety and nurture.
Good luck. D.
I am the oldest of 7 children. I have babysat since I was 12. I am the mother of 2 and the stepmom of 3. I homeschooled 3 of the kids. I have also worked in daycare in family, group and centers. Listen to me VERY carefully - she is your child and you do what you want regardless of what they say at the daycare. I would bet if she never misses, they'd complain about that too! The only exception to that is if she is one of those toddlers who don't seem to deal with changes - then base that on HER, not the daycare. You are the most important person in her life right now. It won't always seem that way especially in the teens. Enjoy her now as much as you can. Good luck!
C.,
You're a college professor, for crying out loud! lol
Why are you letting a daycare dictate what's best for your daughter? Do what works for YOU and HER! You will always know what is best for her. Go with your gut feeling on this. IMO, if you're available on T/R, why not keep her home with you all day?
Best of luck!
Hmm, could you find out what the day care schedule is? and follow that at home?
If they serve breakfast at 8 you feed her at 8
play time until 10 you have play time until 10
Nap at 10.05 nap at 10.5
I know it's a little hard to do but being consistent really helps. either way keep her with you and have fun.
