Moms who send their DC to daycare

Well, I think we've found the right daycare center for DD! DH and I both loved it. It's just going to be SO hard leaving DD in someone else's care since she's been with me full time for over 15 months. I have a few questions for daycare mommies that I hope you can answer!!

1 - How did DC adjust to napping with other children in the same room? DD sleeps in her crib for naps/overnight with a sound machine because she tends to wake up when she's not in a DEEP sleep if she hears noise. I'm so worried that she won't be able to nap well with other children right near her.

2 - How long did it take DC to adjust to be away from you? Did you ease him/her into by sending them half time first? What made the transition easier?

Any other info/advice would be greatly appeciated!!

TIA

Message edited 6/21/2010 11:00:25 AM.

Re: Moms who send their DC to daycare

No real advice since my DS is only 6 months but lots of hugs to you and Good luck!!

Re: Moms who send their DC to daycare

DD's been going since she was 14 week sold, so there wasn't really any reason for a transition concern. As far as naps go, when she was in both infant rooms, she took naps when she needed them and didn't really seem to be bothered by the other kids. When she moved into the toddler room around 18 months, they take one nap a day all at the same time.

Good Luck!

Re: Moms who send their DC to daycare

First off... it's very hard to leave your DC and if you feel good about this daycare then that's a great thing.

Mason has been at this daycare since he was 3 mons. I think he just learned to sleep with noise.
I always tried to keep things "normal" when he naps. Not lower the TV, still clean, vaccum, etc. I think as long as it stays the same sound DD will be fine. It's a loud shriek out of the blue that wakes him and that rarely happens. I've also learned they start going to sleep around the same time so the lights go off and they have music playing.

Took DS a little over a week to adjust and took me two weeks
The first week he was quiet and always looked around. They said he was curious about everyone and everything. I did bring some things from home to leave there so he felt comfy. Maybe that was for my own sanity. LOL!
The 2nd week he was really reacting to the other kids and teachers and by the third week I could see who he really loved and which toys he loved most.
He's 12.5 months old now and still loves it. He has a best friend and a few fav teachers (and I can tell some favor him).
I think b/c of daycare he's a very outgoing and sociable boy. He was like that b4, but he's comfortable in any environment. Remember, it's harder on us. They adjust better. I called every day the first week. Now I only call if he was off that morning or getting over being sick, etc.
Good luck!!

Re: Moms who send their DC to daycare

Thanks for the feedback. Just wondering how SHE is going to adjust (even though I know it will be harder on me).

Re: Moms who send their DC to daycare

Chloe went to daycare at 12 months. It took a while for her to get used to napping for long periods of time. She would always nap, but she would be woken up by the other babies a lot. She was so happy and distracted by everything that was going on that she wasn't cranky though. It also didn't effect her sleeping at home, so I felt a lot better about it. For a while, she would sleep when we got home from daycare (at around 3). Now at 16 months she is in a new room and all of the babies sleep at the same time (12-2). Believe it or not, she naps the full two hours (sometimes more) with all of the other kids. When she is home she will sometimes take 2 naps still, but she is fine at daycare taking just 1 long nap.

Re: Moms who send their DC to daycare

At Bella's daycare they have a structured naptime or quiet time. All the kids are put in their cribs or on their cots for a certain time period a day, the lights are low, there is light music playing in the background.

Bella didn't always nap and now she mostly just "relaxes" during that time...but being that she is there for 7-8 hours a day, I like that they encourage naps, but don't force (if some kids don't sleep or wake up early, they quietly color or read with a teacher).

I am no help with the transition question, but was happy to hear you are happy with your choice.