What does your infant do during the day at daycare?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many infants and adults are in the room? When I worked in the infant room, some babies were in swings or bouncers, some were in their cribs (sleeping) and some were on the floor (rug) with a teacher. Usually the other teacher was rocking or feeding another one. We tried to have them switch activities regularly, along with feeding and naps as needed.

At our daycare, the infants rotate between the chairs/swings, mat, and cribs when they aren't being fed, changed, or held. The teachers do story time and other activities also but most of the infants don't really pay attention that closely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:My daycare doesn't use bouncers or swings as a matter of policy (I think it also has to do with their NAEYC accreditation). There are floor things that they hang out on for tummy time and so forth. I think one of the ladies has taken a shine to my baby, because she is always being held when I go in. (Clearly teacher's pet...)

Not sure that you really play with a 12 week old...mine is still just starting to try to grasp objects...she mostly just likes looking around and doing tummy time. I think floor time is pretty important at this age. She really doesn't like being read to (bummer).

Having worked in an infant room, I assure the teacher picks the child up and interacts with the child when they know it's pick up time...

HAHA. This. I also worked in an infant room. We always scrambled to interact with the baby when we knew mom was coming. In our case we could usually see the car out the window. Even if we couldn't, we knew approximately what time each parent came. And often another employee would pop her head in to give us the heads up. No infants were ever neglected, but we knew who wrote the checks every week.

Nice try defensive SAHM, but you cannot see cars from any of the childcare rooms, and we come at different times every day. Go get a job.

I was going to say the same thing as the earlier PP's. Daycare providers know when you pick up your kid and are very good at making it look like your child is their favorite. Sorry, this is not a defensive SAHM, just someone who knows the truth about infant daycare. Yup, I worked in one. FWIW, the worst experience of my life-there is no way in hell I would ever put an infant in daycare. Parents just don't know what goes on in those places.

Oh, you again. EVERY. THREAD. Our daycare has 4 teachers for 6 infants. I work from home and come at all random times. But try again to tell me my baby is neglected. Asshole.

I'm the poster that first said something about teachers interacting most at pick up. Sorry, but this is true and please know that the norm is not 4 teachers to six infants. The daycare I worked at was 2 teachers to six infants. Consider yourself lucky to have that many teachers in your child's class. I am not saying they neglect your children but do know that some things are staged. We need a "I work at a daycare, AMA" thread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daycare doesn't use bouncers or swings as a matter of policy (I think it also has to do with their NAEYC accreditation). There are floor things that they hang out on for tummy time and so forth. I think one of the ladies has taken a shine to my baby, because she is always being held when I go in. (Clearly teacher's pet...)

Not sure that you really play with a 12 week old...mine is still just starting to try to grasp objects...she mostly just likes looking around and doing tummy time. I think floor time is pretty important at this age. She really doesn't like being read to (bummer).

Having worked in an infant room, I assure the teacher picks the child up and interacts with the child when they know it's pick up time...

HAHA. This. I also worked in an infant room. We always scrambled to interact with the baby when we knew mom was coming. In our case we could usually see the car out the window. Even if we couldn't, we knew approximately what time each parent came. And often another employee would pop her head in to give us the heads up. No infants were ever neglected, but we knew who wrote the checks every week.

Nice try defensive SAHM, but you cannot see cars from any of the childcare rooms, and we come at different times every day. Go get a job.

I was going to say the same thing as the earlier PP's. Daycare providers know when you pick up your kid and are very good at making it look like your child is their favorite. Sorry, this is not a defensive SAHM, just someone who knows the truth about infant daycare. Yup, I worked in one. FWIW, the worst experience of my life-there is no way in hell I would ever put an infant in daycare. Parents just don't know what goes on in those places.

Oh, you again. EVERY. THREAD. Our daycare has 4 teachers for 6 infants. I work from home and come at all random times. But try again to tell me my baby is neglected. Asshole.

I'm the poster that first said something about teachers interacting most at pick up. Sorry, but this is true and please know that the norm is not 4 teachers to six infants. The daycare I worked at was 2 teachers to six infants. Consider yourself lucky to have that many teachers in your child's class. I am not saying they neglect your children but do know that some things are staged. We need a "I work at a daycare, AMA" thread

What do you do for infant childcare?

[Anonymous]

Infant daycare consists of the following. Feeding, changing, napping, tummy time, reading stories, and repeat.

[Anonymous]

The ratio is 4:1 in fairfax. The reality is that my daycare has 5:1 at times. I don't think they can interact with my infant much. Just think about the time it takes ti feed and diaper change 4 kids. Even a sahm with her own kids with the best of intentions will have lots of moments when 3 of the 4 kids are just plopped somewhere while tending to one.

[Anonymous]

4:1 is not easy to find any time to interact wit infants. In our home daycare in MD is 2:1 its where you can have sometime to read, sing, play, finger painting, and crawling or walking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The ratio is 4:1 in fairfax. The reality is that my daycare has 5:1 at times. I don't think they can interact with my infant much. Just think about the time it takes ti feed and diaper change 4 kids. Even a sahm with her own kids with the best of intentions will have lots of moments when 3 of the 4 kids are just plopped somewhere while tending to one.

Exactly, it isn't neglect, it just isn't logistically possible. Imagine you had quadruplets the same age as your infant. You focus on the one with the most pressing need at the moment. Someone needs to changed or fed or is screaming. The others are put in swings, bouncy seats or floor time until they are the one with the pressing need. I know of 2 moms who had quadruplets and they both had significant help at home as they didn't feel they could do it alone for them a 4:1 ratio was overwhelming. Daycare workers can sometimes get extra help but often the 4:1 ratio is just the reality of the job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The ratio is 4:1 in fairfax. The reality is that my daycare has 5:1 at times. I don't think they can interact with my infant much. Just think about the time it takes ti feed and diaper change 4 kids. Even a sahm with her own kids with the best of intentions will have lots of moments when 3 of the 4 kids are just plopped somewhere while tending to one.

Exactly, it isn't neglect, it just isn't logistically possible. Imagine you had quadruplets the same age as your infant. You focus on the one with the most pressing need at the moment. Someone needs to changed or fed or is screaming. The others are put in swings, bouncy seats or floor time until they are the one with the pressing need. I know of 2 moms who had quadruplets and they both had significant help at home as they didn't feel they could do it alone for them a 4:1 ratio was overwhelming. Daycare workers can sometimes get extra help but often the 4:1 ratio is just the reality of the job.

That said, I'd think 6:2 is easier than 3:1, no? Everybody poops...

[Anonymous]

yes, because you have little extra support. 3:1 is OK, but if very sensitive baby then it will be 1:1 and other 5:1 both ways are not easy job.

[Anonymous]

But you all are also forgetting the other KIDS. Wen info to pick up my infant, sometimes she is being held by a provider, sometimes she is on her own, but MOST often, she is on the floor "playing" with one of the 3 or 4 year old kids who adore her, with a provider sitting nearby. They follow my baby Around, hand her toys or pacifiers, etc. So even when the staff aren't interacting with her, she is often getting social interaction in other ways.

[Anonymous]

8 months. No bouncers or swings. When she was younger lots of lap time. Now on a floor mat trying to
crawl or methodically taking her socks off.

[Anonymous]

my daycare doesn't have any bouncers or swings or TVs. some babies are on the floor, others being held/fed, other eating. they read them books, sing and all kinds of stuff. there are babies from 2 months to 18 months in the infant room so babies are doing different things as appropriate to their developmental level. i visited one center where all 6 kids were in an apparatus and it was a total turn off.

[Anonymous]

Ugh. Infants in daycare...so sad...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. Infants in daycare...so sad...

Ugh...stupid SAH moms who think they know all about the thousands of daycares from visiting two in her neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many infants and adults are in the room? When I worked in the infant room, some babies were in swings or bouncers, some were in their cribs (sleeping) and some were on the floor (rug) with a teacher. Usually the other teacher was rocking or feeding another one. We tried to have them switch activities regularly, along with feeding and naps as needed.

This is what it's like at our daycare.