Is it normal for a baby to look “lost” at daycare?

[Anonymous]

Dropped 8m baby off and she was cuddled by and held by a carer for the first couple of mins or so before she had to set her down in the play area and tend to another baby. I was watching her and she seemed so lost and confused- just sat and stared at her surroundings for a good bit, eyes looked a little glazed (it was loud). Usually when she gets in a new space she immediately gets super excited and starts racing around and exploring without pausing. Is she overstimulated and just too young for group care at this age?

[Anonymous]

She was apprehensive and maybe a little scared. This is all new to her and she doesn’t understand what’s going on. She’ll get used to it.

[Anonymous]

Do you have a video feed to the daycare? So glad i did not have that - i would be obsessed.... and not in a good way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She was apprehensive and maybe a little scared. This is all new to her and she doesn’t understand what’s going on. She’ll get used to it.

+1

[Anonymous]

Some are observers for awhile before they settle in. There is sensory overload going on for some.

[Anonymous]

It's called observational learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dropped 8m baby off and she was cuddled by and held by a carer for the first couple of mins or so before she had to set her down in the play area and tend to another baby. I was watching her and she seemed so lost and confused- just sat and stared at her surroundings for a good bit, eyes looked a little glazed (it was loud). Usually when she gets in a new space she immediately gets super excited and starts racing around and exploring without pausing. Is she overstimulated and just too young for group care at this age?

IMO yes, but that may be my anti-daycare bias speaking. I don’t think group care is good for kids until 2 or 3. However, if that’s the only choice (can’t afford a good nanny) then so be it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dropped 8m baby off and she was cuddled by and held by a carer for the first couple of mins or so before she had to set her down in the play area and tend to another baby. I was watching her and she seemed so lost and confused- just sat and stared at her surroundings for a good bit, eyes looked a little glazed (it was loud). Usually when she gets in a new space she immediately gets super excited and starts racing around and exploring without pausing. Is she overstimulated and just too young for group care at this age?

IMO yes, but that may be my anti-daycare bias speaking. I don’t think group care is good for kids until 2 or 3. However, if that’s the only choice (can’t afford a good nanny) then so be it.

It’s not my only choice, I just need it very part time and part time nannies are hard to find. It would be inconvenient but not a hardship to pull out.

[Anonymous]

Certainly it's more stimulating, but that doesn't mean she's overstimulated. She's sitting and observing because there's a lot to see! She doesn't need to race around to see new things. If she's not distressed, then it's just adjustment, and she'll get used to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dropped 8m baby off and she was cuddled by and held by a carer for the first couple of mins or so before she had to set her down in the play area and tend to another baby. I was watching her and she seemed so lost and confused- just sat and stared at her surroundings for a good bit, eyes looked a little glazed (it was loud). Usually when she gets in a new space she immediately gets super excited and starts racing around and exploring without pausing. Is she overstimulated and just too young for group care at this age?

IMO yes, but that may be my anti-daycare bias speaking. I don’t think group care is good for kids until 2 or 3. However, if that’s the only choice (can’t afford a good nanny) then so be it.

It’s not my only choice, I just need it very part time and part time nannies are hard to find. It would be inconvenient but not a hardship to pull out.

He’s part time? That explains some of it. Part time babies are hard to adjust.

[Anonymous]

You go from a completely isolated existence as a pandemic baby where you haven't seen or played with another baby to dropped off with a stranger with 6-10 other screaming babies in the same room and you'd be a little 'lost' too OP.

Babies need to be desensitized to it. Yours got dropped into the deep but better now than at 2-3 when they've spent years being the sole attention of one individual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dropped 8m baby off and she was cuddled by and held by a carer for the first couple of mins or so before she had to set her down in the play area and tend to another baby. I was watching her and she seemed so lost and confused- just sat and stared at her surroundings for a good bit, eyes looked a little glazed (it was loud). Usually when she gets in a new space she immediately gets super excited and starts racing around and exploring without pausing. Is she overstimulated and just too young for group care at this age?

IMO yes, but that may be my anti-daycare bias speaking. I don’t think group care is good for kids until 2 or 3. However, if that’s the only choice (can’t afford a good nanny) then so be it.

It’s not my only choice, I just need it very part time and part time nannies are hard to find. It would be inconvenient but not a hardship to pull out.

He’s part time? That explains some of it. Part time babies are hard to adjust.

+1