Is new daycare expecting too much?

[Anonymous]

Recently moved to a new area with our almost 16 month old. She has been in a small, inhome daycare since 12 weeks. Class size was about 8 infants and about 2 months ago started slowly transitioning to toddler room with 12 kids.

Since our move, we had to switch daycares to a small center. Class size is still about 12 kids ranging from 15 months to 24 months. Loved this place during the tour, seemed like everyone was very friendly and accommodating. Except now that we are in the center, they are not. I'm trying to gauge here if our issues will work itself out in time or if its a bad fit.

We're on day 3 of the new switch and there are massive tears on drop off and pick up (to be expected). What I don't like though is the feedback the main teacher is providing me.

Is it reasonable to expect a 16 month old to walk 2-4 blocks on a rope along with the other kids to the park? Their main issue is that a block or two into the walk DD starts to cry and wants to be picked up. While I'm sure it's an inconvenience to stop and comfort her, they mention this "problem" at pick up and drop off every day this week and ask us if we walk with her at home. (????) At her previous daycare they did a combo of stroller walks and walking so this has never been an issue.

They also have a strict no bottle, no sippy cup policy in the 15- 24 month room. Previously DD was getting sippys and now is just getting dixie cups of milk at meal time and is expected, if she is thirsty, to walk over to the water fountain. The teacher has also mentioned that she is struggling with this transition and "making a mess" at meal time.

I know transitions especially at this age will take some adjusting but what's your opinion on this center? Are these rules typical of a small center? My gut says they are expecting too much from a 16 month old, especially being new, but I also want to understand from their viewpoint as well in case I'm being overly sensitive.

[Anonymous]

Both my kids have been in daycare since 3 months (center) and this is absolutely expecting too much.

[Anonymous]

Wow. At 16m my daughter wasn't walking. Those expectations do not sound appropriate for the youngest kids in the class.

[Anonymous]

We're at a large center and it sounds like they're expecting too much to me, too. At our center they don't do the rope walk until the 2s classroom and no expectation of water fountain until 2s as well (although there is one for the toddlers to use if they want). They started regular cup usage in toddlers but most were still using sippy cups, and when they used regular cups they put very little liquid in since spills were inevitable.

[Anonymous]

These were things I celebrated when I switched DD to a new daycare center. No more sippies on day one. I got the same talk about the walking piece. They encouraged more exercise, asked me to try walking her to school instead of using the stroller since we lived only about three or four blocks from the center.

She held on to "being a baby" with her dad, during visitation days, but showed off her new abilities with me and her brother at home. I felt she really came into her own.

[Anonymous]

Our center did not expect all the toddlers to walk holding the rope. Younger toddlers were in a buggy/stroller, while the older ones held onto the rope or held hands with each other.

Also, our center does not allow sippy cups or bottles, but they give the kids milk at snack and lunchtime, and water at various points throughout the day.

[Anonymous]

That's ridiculous. Their expectations are not developmentally appropriate.

[Anonymous]

These are unrealistic expectations. I have a 16 month old people are constantly telling me is "early" at everything, and he would not be able to handle the stuff at this center.

[Anonymous]

My kids are with a nanny not daycare, but I do have a 17 MO DD and there isn't a snow balls chance in hell that she could walk 2-4 blocks holding on to a rope - she's incredibly active, but that would take some serious practice and attention span to get her to do that - we are just now holding hands and walking into buildings etc - until now I would carry her from the car to wherever we were going. Um a cup? I haven't even thought to try that - with my older DD now 3 she still uses sippy cups - at school they use small Dixie cups and she's competent, but to get enough fluid in her otherwise we have to use sippys still.

[Anonymous]

That's crazy. I have a clutzy 4 year old who is still mastering the little dixie cups.

And way to far to be walking with a big group of toddlers. Doesn't sound safe or appropriate to me. Is there no playground on-site?

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's inappropriate, but it's going to take your DD a while to get the hang of the new expectations. After only 3 days, of course she's struggling. But she'll get it.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like your daughter needs more exercise. However the no sippy cup thing is crazy, the child won't go get water on her own. Also the messy thing wow that's what toddlers do. I would not stay at this day care.

[Anonymous]

I don't know if this is typical for a center, but my 2 kids wouldn't have been able to do those things at 16 months. So, I think they are expecting too much.

[Anonymous]

I think this is waaaay too young for either one of those rules.

My first DD didn't even walk by herself until 18 months and while that's on the very late end of the curve, that is not out of normal range (sure, there is a rope, but I wouldn't feel safe relying on it for someone who can't walk by herself). 16 months is two months younger and 4 blocks is huge at that age. Not that many kids walk well and for long distances at that point.

No sippy cup for a 15 month old is insane.

They sound awful, tbh. I mean, if you want to train you kid to be a future Marine, that's probably a good beginning, but otherwise they push much too soon and sound horribly inflexible.

[Anonymous]

Wow. My 15 month old would dump/spill open cups. With the walking, she would likely wander off in another direction at some point. And can a baby that age even operate a water fountain? 16 months seems really young for these rules, especially for a toddler who just started there and isn't used to their routine yet.