Cranky/whining at home since starting daycare... wdyt?

She's great at daycare from what I can see (I watch on the live feed throughout the day) and her report always comes back that she was happy and cheerful.

In the car she whines most of the way home and once we get home she's so whiny and cranky. I hate that the few hours we have together each night she's cranky for most of it. She even hates bath time now, which we do the minute we get home, which she used to love.

This is her 3rd week of daycare and this behavior started just about when she started there so I can't help but think it's b/c of that. But she's happy to be there so I don't know.

She also finally has her eye teeth popping through and some other molars and she has the daycare curse of constant runny nose and slight cough for the last 2 weeks. Just normal 21 month old behavior? Does she still have to get used to daycare? A mix of everything?

I miss my incredibly happy girl.

Re: Cranky/whining at home since starting daycare... wdyt?

I'm sure it is tough for you, I imagine how you just want to have fun with her when she's home!

Sounds like a combo of all those things to me-- being tired from the long days of playing there (must be tiring!), the teeth, not feeling 100%, etc.

Hang in there, I hope she's back to her smiley self for you in no time!

Re: Cranky/whining at home since starting daycare... wdyt?

Thanks yea it really sucks, i'm hoping it doesn't last too much longer.

Re: Cranky/whining at home since starting daycare... wdyt?

Ds hates bath time when he's teething! Could def be that.

Re: Cranky/whining at home since starting daycare... wdyt?

My sister went through the same thing with my nephew (he was 18 months) when he started daycare. It only lasted a week or two and then he was fine!

Hang in there!

Re: Cranky/whining at home since starting daycare... wdyt?

Sounds like she is just really tired. Plus the terrible twos should be starting soon.

Re: Cranky/whining at home since starting daycare... wdyt?

Posted by julz33

Sounds like she is just really tired. Plus the terrible twos should be starting soon.

Message edited 5/9/2011 10:31:10 PM.

Re: Cranky/whining at home since starting daycare... wdyt?

I switched my kids' day care in March after being in a different day care for as long as my DD could remember.

After about 2 weeks in she started to have serious meltdowns at home (DD subscribes to the 'go big or go home' life philosophy ). She was doing SOOO WELL in the new day care, getting along, playing, being nice but her routine had changed and once she realized we weren't going back to the old day care it rocked her world.

Now we're doing a lot better, she's made friends and knows everyone's name and the meltdowns are starting to subside.

I think your DD's crankiness is probably due to the new routine -- now that she realizes that the day care wasn't a one time thing.

Re: Cranky/whining at home since starting daycare... wdyt?

How is she napping at daycare?
It sounds like she is just overtired from a fun filled day. Sucks sometimes that we get the bum end of the stick, but better that then an unhappy kid at daycare.

Re: Cranky/whining at home since starting daycare... wdyt?

It could be exhaustion - DS tends to be crabby on days he's at daycare - even if he naps well during the day, there's so much activity and stimulation, he's wiped.

Re: Cranky/whining at home since starting daycare... wdyt?

Sounds like a mix between being tired at daycare and the teething. Around 18 months DS went through this. He had a great day at daycare then the moment I put him in the car he'd be a little cranky. Then when I'd walk in the house he had a total meltdown
I know he was tired from the long day and add teething to that... it's rough
Also, he was getting sick a lot b/c of the teething, weather (it was winter time) and ear infections.

Now he's doing much better, but still gets those cranky days. It stinks, but she'll get better.

Re: Cranky/whining at home since starting daycare... wdyt?

I def think its from being overtired. I am reading Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child and it really explains the diff degrees of sleeping, she may be napping the same but maybe not falling into the deep sleep like she did at home because of all the stimulation going on

Re: Cranky/whining at home since starting daycare... wdyt?

Sounds like a mix plus the terrible twos/threes setting in...

But how cool is it to hve a live feed to see how happy your DC is! I used to sneak by and look in the window or on the security monitors...but only once ever month or two...

Re: Cranky/whining at home since starting daycare... wdyt?

She's probably tired. They keep them so busy at daycare, it's a big adjustment. Once she gets used to the day she will be fine. It's kind of like when I graduated from college and started working fulltime, crazy hours. It took me a month to get used to it. I was exhausted. She's so young. She'll bounce back quick.

Re: Cranky/whining at home since starting daycare... wdyt?

Thanks I think it's a mix of everything too and plus she's tired and hungry. I took some snacks and put them in my purse for the ride home today, maybe that will help. Yesterday she wanted "cooooookies" when we got home so I gave her some animal crackers and she ended up having a lot of them and then didn't want to eat dinner. I guess we still have to figure out our routine.

Re: Cranky/whining at home since starting daycare... wdyt?

My DD is the same way and I chalk it up to exhaustion.
It's a long day for them, and my DD doesn't nap well at daycare- at all!
Plus there is a lot of activities there and she tires herself out more so than at home.

Plus sometimes her last snack or bottle is a few hours before we get home so she is hungry too.

I always know that on daycare days it's - home, dinner, bed.
She is a monster when she is tired!

Message edited 5/10/2011 9:13:52 AM.

Re: Cranky/whining at home since starting daycare... wdyt?

Re: Cranky/whining at home since starting daycare... wdyt?

how does she nap at daycare? could she be overtired?

Re: Cranky/whining at home since starting daycare... wdyt?

Posted by julz33

Sounds like she is just really tired. Plus the terrible twos should be starting soon.

Re: Cranky/whining at home since starting daycare... wdyt?

Our DD started at her new daycare that same day that your DD did and they are very close in age. I could have written your post word for word, runny nose/cough/cranky/etc! I think it is a combo of all the factors and am hoping that it passes soon!!!!

Re: Cranky/whining at home since starting daycare... wdyt?

Posted by maymama

how does she nap at daycare? could she be overtired?

Re: Cranky/whining at home since starting daycare... wdyt?

Re: Cranky/whining at home since starting daycare... wdyt?

Posted by NextStopBabytown

Our DD started at her new daycare that same day that your DD did and they are very close in age. I could have written your post word for word, runny nose/cough/cranky/etc! I think it is a combo of all the factors and am hoping that it passes soon!!!!

Re: Cranky/whining at home since starting daycare... wdyt?

My son has always been like this. Perfect angel at daycare and then I pick him up and he turns into a whiny, cranky, difficult mess. I've read that it's very common. They had a long day, well behaved, and "save" their crankiness for you. They "let it all out" so to speak at the end of the day and you are the lucky one to get the brunt of it!

It also goes in phases, not all days are bad.

Hang in there!