I will be taking my 5 month old to day care in 2 weeks. It is a family friend whom will be watching her 4 days a week while my husband and I go to work. She will be also taking care of my newly born nephew in January 2008, who will be 3 1/2 months by then.
My daughter has been napping on and off in her swing and crib since she was born. She naps longer in her swing and in her crib she naps from 30-45 minutes.
I do not know what to take the babysitter so my daughter can nap in. I have seen the TravelBed Pea Pod..and then the Playpen also. My husband told me not to worry because the babysitter has been taking care of kids for a very long time. I've asked her and she said to do whatever I feel comfortable in. She said she normaly plces the baby on the bed with pillows surrounding them. I am just worried she will fall off.
Any advice as to what to take her. I will be taking her a high chair, swing and toys since both my sister and I will be taking our kids to her. It was our idea to take the baby gear to her. Her other baby gear is pretty outdated.
After much consideration, the day care provider originally planned to take care of my children did not work out. My mother-in-law generously offered and we now take her there. She is doing great there 3x a week and my MOL has accustomed my 7 month old daughter into sleeping on the bed for naps. I am fine with that because there are side rails we purchased for her bed. She was napping in her swing from day one and we never thought we would see the day when she would nap on the bed. She sleeps fine in her crib at night but has always screamed bloody murder when I placed her in her crib for her naps. Now when my husband and I place her in her crib at home, she is napping from 2-3.5 hrs a day. We are so grateful to his mother plus my daughter is getting much love from her grandma and grandpa.
Thank you all for your advice.
I do Daycare, basically for friends but have been doing it for many years. I recommend just a pack n play. That way it can be easily folded up and left at her house. It's also the safest. Good Luck
I am a home daycare provider and all my babies sleep in cribs. No ifs and or butts. The little ones like weeks old I will either have in a snuggle with me sleeping, or lay them in a playpen out in the livingroom with me. When they are that young I like to have them close. When they get about 4 months or so I will start the transition into the cribs. When they get about 1 year old or able to pull themselves up I will put them into a pac in plays or playpens. It is all based on the children. I currently have a 2-1/2 year old boy that sleeps in a playpen. I had a little girl who was 2 and she was able to sleep on a cot. I would say it is time for a nap and she would go down, unlike the little boy to this day he would not be able to stay on a cot. I also currently have a 6 month old in a crib and they other day she had pulled herself up in a sitting position from laying down in the crib. I may move her to a pac n play.
I do care for 2 infants, 6 months and 9 months. They are both very happy babies, developing farther along than normal and both sleep in seperate.
DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES except that a baby should sleep on a bed and be okay with pillows. This is totally a danger to your child. Even if they are family friends. Just because they are family friends does not mean it is safer. So if you have to provide her with a crib and make it clear she is to sleep nowhere else except maybe a playpen.
Lastley never accept have more than one baby in a crib. I see it all the time in Facilities with multiple babies. This is also wrong.
M.
Under no circumstance should you have a baby napping on a bed surrounded by pillows. My mom told me about a story she read where a couple lost their baby that way. Their baby was sleeping at her mom's house on the bed surrounded by pillows. A pillow ended up on top of the baby and she died. Portable cribs work well and are safe for infants.
Just to add my two cents as a very protective mom & a former daycare provider,I would never leave my child with someone who has been putting babies to sleep on her bed surrounded by pillows for years. If she is comfortable with that scenario, what other unsafe practices might she be employing regularly? I know (and have been told by others) that I can't keep my kids in a bubble, but that doesn't mean I have to willingly subject them to an unsafe environment.
C.
Hi C.,
Definitely have a crib or pack-n-play. It may be okay for now for your baby to be on the bed with pillows around her, but is the sitter going to be watching her while she is sleeping? Probably not! Think about when your child get's older and starts to rollover and stand - then what? Wouldn't you want your child in a secure and safe place then? Might as well get your daughter used to sleeping in the pack-n-play now. It will give you more peace of mind. It's better to be safe than sorry.
On an added note: I've also heard that children who have playpen time feel secure and learn to focus easier - they can only focus on one toy at a time, so more than 2 toys in the playpen can become confusing and hard for your child to focus. Our daughter practically grew up in a playpen. We had a 2 story unit and while in the living room she would spend time in the pack-n-play! It was great for when we'd travel, because the pack-n-play (or playpen) would be familiar place for her. Good luck.
My dtr. attended an in home daycare and they had playpens for each child to sleep in (some outdated). The small babies (like yours) slept in an actual crib I believe.
C., ONLY a crib or newer Pack 'n' Play. I would NOT accept her sleeping on a bed with pillows: Too many risks, including falling off (because she'll be rolling soon, if not already), suffocation, other children bothering/hurting her. That sleeping arrangement is not even legal for licensed childcare. It seems VERY neglectful to me, for it to be offered to you. And I think the swing needs to be used in EXTREME moderation, or not at all. The most serious advice I have for you is: Never assume someone knows what they're doing, just because they've been "babysitting a long time." I have older children of my own. I'm telling you, I know that (overall, not each-and-every) parents, teachers and childcares have been going wrong for a loooong time. Status quo needs MAJOR improvement.
I, also, have a number of years of professional childcare experience. And I have to ask: How can she care for two infants, together? Are they the only children in her care? Does she have an assistant? That concerns me because, in the natural order of things, a child (especially infant) is held for a great deal of his/her early life. That physical touch MUST be offered on demand throughout the day, and is essential for healthy development on all levels. I can see if she had one newborn and other children; but with two, someone may not be getting the appropriate care. CA licensing guidelines are NOT best practices; they are bare minimum. I hate to say this at the risk of upsetting you; but I want you to know that I offer it with the best of intentions and my understanding that you simply haven't been down this road before and may appreciate the input.
I am happy to be used as a free resource. I also have a bunch of (carefully selected!) books and links to refer you to.
Take care of yourselves,
J. Smithson
Loving Hands Learn 'n' Play
http://www.lhlearnandplay.com
I used to work with infants in a day care setting and we slept them on the ground level with a firm mat. You can find something like that at target or wal-mart that you can roll out on the floor (kind of like what you might do exercises on) and put a thin rolled up receiving blanket next to her torso to keep her from rollingm but if she does roll, it will be just a few inches from her the mat to the carpet. It's easy and relatively inexpensive. This also works best if all the children are napped at the same time, so others won't be disturbing her while asleep. I also agree with the pack and play, but the reason those were not allowed in day care is because they tend to pose a safety hazard to other children who are not asleep around it. If the person you are bringing her to is experienced, I'm sure she is aware that no matter where the child is asleep, she should be aware of her state/positon of sleeping at all times...and to check on her often to make sure she is sleeping safely. Best wishes to you and your new baby!!
I am the grandmother of an 18 month old grandaughter whom I have taken care of since she was 6 weeks old (Mom and Dad work full time). My concern is 2 fold. 1st . Is this person a licensed daycare provider. 2nd. Never put a child unattended on a bed. Babies start scooting and rolling over even as young as 5 months. Not only is there the danger of falling off the bed but also suffocating in the pillows.
You and you sister should take Pack & Plays or playpens or whatever will keep your children safe and secure. lindamae....concerned GM in Califronia
Bring whatever will give you the most peace in leaving her there.
I run a day care and I sleep the kids in pack-n-plays. I don't have room for cribs in my home, and I see nothing worng at all with p-n-p's.
I want to say first that she should be licensed. In Calif you must be licensed if you care for more than one family. This will benefit you as well as the provider. Think of the write off's. Are you going to write off what you pay her, and is she going to claim it?
Okay now......no way is the child to sleep on the bed. That is just not okay. That is to much cushion under her. I don't see anything wrong with her sleeping in the swing until she gets use to dc. I wouldn't let her do it forever. But until she gets on a routine and your provider is able to read her moods I wouldn't worry about that.
Make sure she has monitors in the room as well as she checks on her often. Just tell her you are a new mom and that you are sure that she understands your concerns. I also keep daily journals for all the kids in my care that I write in so the parents know what kind of day we had and what the child ate and slept for the day. It really helps the parents feel like they are more connected. And the parents write inthe journals to me as well. I love it.
Best of luck
S.
Dear C.,
Well, for one thing, you shouldn't try to micro manage the baby sitter. Your husband is right, but that is really nice for you to take the equipment over there. Babies on the bed with pillows around them is done alllll over the world. They just have to be watched like they always do. I did that for my children, grandchild and gr grandchildren. There is a sort of like 'fence' that we used to have to keep the children on their bed when they left the crib. You probably can find one in a baby store.
I really truly know how intense you are about everything being just right for her. But, she will be in a different environment and it would be better if you just trust the sitter, especially with her experience, and offer her your support, asking what would you like for me to do, or send, or how are things going are there enough diapers, wipees, nipples ? Stuff like that. She will do a more easy going job with no tension between the two of you, and that is what you want - an easy going baby sitter, who is watchful. Um huh.
Sorry if I am being too blunt.
C. N.
