day care adjustment period

[Anonymous]

my 7 month old was wailing when i left her at day care today. i've never seen her look like that before. and she wouldn't eat at all on her first day last week. we were traveling for the holidays and admittedly her schedule was very off, and she's used to hanging out with mama. plus we left a nanny share and she's used to being with far fewer people and distractions.

how long before she gets used to it?? be gentle.

[Anonymous]

Is this her second week, then? I wasn't sure from your post.

When I first started my son in day care, I'd call around lunch time to see how his morning went. It's pretty normal for a baby to cry when you leave, but hopefully she's calmed down a few minutes later. It would be hours of crying I'd be concerned about.

Did she start eating the second day?

As far as adjustment period, it's different for all kids. My son was fine with day care in general from Day 1, although he ALWAYS cries when I leave. He's almost 5 and he threw a fit today (after a long vacation) when I dropped him off. But at this age, I'm sure he was fine after a few minutes. He just hates transitions in general.

I'd look at her overall day to see how she's doing. Is she happy most of the day?

[Anonymous]

My daycare providers said that we should wait two weeks before getting worried about adjustment issues, both regarding transition to toddler room and then also switching to a new daycare. Both times, she was no longer screaming at drop off, was eating normally and napping normally by about a week and a half.

That said, it was possibly one of the longest week and a half periods of my life. Having every morning start out with a sad sobbing little girl and then having to go to work was nerve wracking. Hang in there, for at least a couple weeks.

[Anonymous]

thanks for the comments. yes, only one day last week because we were on vacation and then dc was closed. that was her first day. it's her second today. she's used to being away from mama but not with these new people.

she was calm when i got there that night. hopefully she calmed down some.

[Anonymous]

OP I'm going through the same thing. My son is 2.5 which sounds like it should make things easier but it doesn't (as far as the screaming goes). I don't have any words of wisdom as I'm wondering the same things you are, but just wants to say hugs to you.

[Anonymous]

It took our son 4 weeks. It was very very hard and I'm sending comfort your way. This is one of the hardest things to go through I think. The first three times we took him, it was only for half days (first time just an hour or so, second time half day, third time most of the day and stuck around a bit). Then it was another week where we only sent him 3 days. Then the third week it was all 5 days. By the end of the fourth week, he was fine. But there was a LOT of crying at drop off for a while.

[Anonymous]

i just called and she still won't eat. omg this is terrible. thanks for the support. it helps a lot.