BTDT or Working Moms question

Does your child get a lot of interaction with other children? I work all week and my mother babysits for DD she will take her for walks but she doesn't really get a lot of interaction with other babies. This worries me and also makes me feel guilty that she doesn't socialize with other kids. I know she is 10 months old but I feel like this is so important. Now with my father's health issues my mother doesn't really leave the house with DD because she needs to be there. On the weekends we go to the beach club and there are kids there so far this season I've only seen older kids, but we have yet to get to the kiddie pool. I am hoping I can meet some mommies there.

It makes me feel guilty when I listen to my friends who don't work and they are all meeting for play dates and their kids are meeting other kids and I feel like I am not giving Reilly what she needs almost like I am depriving her of a social life if that makes sense!

Re: BTDT or Working Moms question

Luce doens't hang with other babies. he does have my nieces who are over 3 days a week after school to play with.

MY MIL watches him and we don't have anyone she would go see, so, it's just them during the week. we see his baby cousins occasionally but nothing consistently.

one thing about hanging with bigger kids is that he is DYING to walk. he is trying to hard, already pulling to standing and cruising and he hasn't turned 8 months yet.

he's also trying to "talk." doing call and response with certain sounds. so there are benefits to have the exposure be with older kids adults.

but like you, I do feel bad that he doesn't have any consistent "baby friends". my youngest sister is starting college near my apt in September and I am going to try to arrange a class that she can take him to so he gets more baby time.

it's a definite compromise and it is hard sometimes...I feel you there

Re: BTDT or Working Moms question

I was JUST thinking about this. DD pretty much only interacts with other kids on the weekend (her cousins mostly) who range in age from 6 months to 4 years old. She is so interested in them and wants to play with them the entire time! But on the weekdays she's either at our house or MIL's and doesn't see any other kids (except her 6 month old cousin once/week).

I'm looking into signing her up for a few classes... one during the week that MIL can take her to and one on the weekend that DH and/or I can take her to.

Re: BTDT or Working Moms question

If my mother drove I would sign her up for classes but she doesn't drive. There is a library semi-close to my mom's house but again with Dad sick she can't leave the house. I just feel like when Reilly sees other kids she lights up and laughs, reaches for them and stares all wide eyed it makes my heart feel sad that I don't give her that interaction during the week and then on nice weekends I want to be outdoors with her not stuck in a class, again I am really hoping that there are some little babies by the kiddie pool that she can meet. I hate feeling like I'm not giving her all that I can though, it eats me up.

Re: BTDT or Working Moms question

This is one of the reasons i love daycare. DS is there 11 hours a day! he has 4 other kids in his class and he loves it. i always hear stories about how he laughs while watching the other baby eat his cheerios, or his girlfriend holds his hand.

Re: BTDT or Working Moms question

Posted by QTDimps23

This is one of the reasons i love daycare. DS is there 11 hours a day! he has 4 other kids in his class and he loves it. i always hear stories about how he laughs while watching the other baby eat his cheerios, or his girlfriend holds his hand.

Re: BTDT or Working Moms question

Posted by snowprincess

Posted by QTDimps23

This is one of the reasons i love daycare. DS is there 11 hours a day! he has 4 other kids in his class and he loves it. i always hear stories about how he laughs while watching the other baby eat his cheerios, or his girlfriend holds his hand.

same thing for my son -when he was getting sick lots i thought about a nanny but felt guilty because he loves the other kids at daycare

Re: BTDT or Working Moms question

we used to have a great social life! then i started working from home and i barely see anyone anymore and it really sucks. if we're lucky, we see friends once a week when it was like 4-5 times a week

Re: BTDT or Working Moms question

It's something that was/is very important to me and DH - which is why Sean goes to Daycare 3x a week, and is home w/ Grandma & Grandpa 2x a week -

On the weekends, DH and I are usually w/ friends and/or family who all have kids -

Re: BTDT or Working Moms question

My mom watches DS 3x/week and also watches my niece and nephew those days and DS LOVES it.

He is so sad when it is the babysitter and he does not get to play with other kids, so yes, I do feel like it is important, especially now that your DD is getting older.

Re: BTDT or Working Moms question

My DD's are watched by my ILs. Their next door neighbor watched a little girl last year and they would play together almost every day. She no longer watches the little girl, but is now watching her granddaughter and she is almost 1 and they come over a couple of times a week.

Other than that the only kids they interact with are their cousins, which they see about twice a month.

I'm going to enroll DD#1 in a gym, music or art class in Sept hopefully so she will have some interaction with other kids and then she will go to preschool either in January or next Sept.

Re: BTDT or Working Moms question

I can completely relate. I work FT and my parents watch DS (8 months). While they interact with him constantly (they ahve more energy than me and DH put together) he never sees other children. I've been thinking about this too. Not only does he not see kids, but he rarely sees strangers.

I've considered doing a saturday Music Together class to expose him to new things and kids but am wondering if he's too young.

I feel the guilt too

Re: BTDT or Working Moms question

Dylan is going to be 15 months this month and my mom watches him during the week. He loves kids but doesn't get much interaction with them. My mom goes to the park with him and her next door neighbor has a little boy the same age. I still feel like I should be getting him out there more lololol.

Re: BTDT or Working Moms question

DD goes to daycare so 5 days a week it's a given she interacts with other kids. She LOVES other babies. We usually see either family and friends with kids on the weekends too. If we don't, I seriously think she gets bored with me and DH

Re: BTDT or Working Moms question

Yes DS goes to daycare and LOVES it He has friends and even a girlfriend

Re: BTDT or Working Moms question

That is why I was so insistent on DS going to daycare...not that we had any other option!

But I really wanted him to interact with other kids, not just adults. I have seen firsthand what CAN happen when kids aren't exposed to other kids. NOT saying it holds true for all children, just saying I have seen it happen to SOME.

DS absolutely loves playing with his friends. He has learned so much from them (good and bad I might add), and I really am happy with our situation.

Now I just have to find a way to pay for his daycare when I am out on maternity.....

Re: BTDT or Working Moms question

well, I am not enrolling my son in day care. $1800 dollars a month when I have it for FREE is insanity in my mind. especially when he IS getting interaction.

mia, I hope they have other kids at the pool. but I am sure Reilly is super happy where she is too. she is well cared for and loved. try not to let it get you down too much.

Message edited 6/17/2010 12:32:00 PM.

Re: BTDT or Working Moms question

We have occasional GTGs with other kids his age but not a lot. He gets a ton of interaction with me, his dad, his sister, my parents, my ILs, the nanny... I would think he is quite exhausted

I loved when he was in day care because he had a lot of interaction with the other kids but not as much one-on-one. Now he has the one-on-one with less interaction. It's a give and take, and honestly, I am fine with the limited interaction with other kids. He'll be in school soon enough.

Re: BTDT or Working Moms question

no not so much. we were taking him to my gym every saturday but he was constantly sick so we cancelled his membership. We have a newborn at home and I prefer he not be around other kids so he doesn't bring any illness home. he saw his cousins about a week ago (daycare kids) and sure enough he is sick now

once NB gets a bit older we will get out more w/ other children

Re: BTDT or Working Moms question

Posted by pnbplus1

I can completely relate. I work FT and my parents watch DS (8 months). While they interact with him constantly (they ahve more energy than me and DH put together) he never sees other children. I've been thinking about this too. Not only does he not see kids, but he rarely sees strangers.

I've considered doing a saturday Music Together class to expose him to new things and kids but am wondering if he's too young.

I feel the guilt too

Re: BTDT or Working Moms question

Posted by Ophelia

well, I am not enrolling my son in day care. $1800 dollars a month when I have it for FREE is insanity in my mind. especially when he IS getting interaction.

mia, I hope they have other kids at the pool. but I am sure Reilly is super happy where she is too. she is well cared for and loved. try not to let it get you down too much.

Re: BTDT or Working Moms question

That is why we put DS in daycare 3 days a week. We wanted him to have interaction with other kids.

That being said, my grandmother watched me when I was a kid and the only other interaction with kids I had during the week was with my brother and sister. We did spend a lot of time with cousins on weekends, but they were older than us. I think I turned out okay

Re: BTDT or Working Moms question

I don't think you've hindered her in any way just as i don't think i've hindered DS. There are pluses and minuses to everything. I'd rather my DS be with my parents where I know he is well taken care of, where he is a priority, where my wishes for his care and upbringing are carried out than to have to worry about whether he is ok in daycare, not being neglected, etc, etc. They won't be tiny forever and will make friends and play.

And, as an only child cared for by my mom at home in a time when playdates weren't all the rage, I turned out just fine (better than fine). I went to every saturday program imaginable though. If anything, her vocabulary will be that much better bc of her exposure to adults. I think as working moms we struggle with guilt about so many of our choices, it's hard.

Re: BTDT or Working Moms question

She's fine! She's being taken care of by your mom, she has love and hugs and she will be perfectly fine.

Sign up for a class on the weekends or at night during the week.

When she gets to preschool or Kindergarten she'll socialize more.

We picked a daycare center in part for the socialization-but it's a perk not a requirement for little ones at that age. We all do what it best for our individual families-and your DD will be great.