Starting infant at daycare: Question about naps

[Anonymous]

My 7-week old will be starting daycare in 5 weeks. While she sleeps in her crib well at night, she cries when I put her in it for naps (I continue to try daily). She also won't sleep for more than 10 minutes in her stroller, car seat or swing. For moms in similar situations, what happened when daycare started? I know the caregivers won't be able to hold my baby all day. Similarly, for moms who swaddle for naps, did caregivers continue to do so at daycare? I will call the daycare this week and ask the director for her thoughts (this must happen fairly frequenty), but would appreciate your thoughts in the meantime. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Things will change a lot from 7 to 12 weeks. She will probably be fine not sleeping in your arms by then. I wouldn't sweat it at this point.

[Anonymous]

You have to know the quality and experience of your daycare center. There are so many incidents of injury and death caused by improper swaddling that various states are considering legislation banning it and many daycare centers refusing to swaddle at all.

[Anonymous]

Agreed, a lot will change by then for your baby, and she'll probably be fine sleeping on her own (not being held) by then. Daycares shouldn't/won't swaddle, but they will/should use sleep sacks. They should have some on hand and if not, you should supply.

Many babies adjust just fine. My baby was similar to this - wanted to be held all the time. As she got closer to 12 weeks, she was better sleeping on her own, but didn't do well unless she was in a quiet/dark room. It was very hard for her to sleep at the daycare center when we started her there, because it was light and there was so much other noise/other babies. After 2 months of her not napping there for more than 15 minutes at a time, she was coming home exhausted like a zombie and we ended up having to move her to an in home daycare, where she could sleep in a room by herself in a pack & play instead.

[Anonymous]

My child napped better in daycare as an infant than she did at home -- I think she was just exhausted from all the stimulation. Now that she's older (2), she naps way better at home for the exact same reason (now all the stimulation and excitement keeps her up).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 7-week old will be starting daycare in 5 weeks. While she sleeps in her crib well at night, she cries when I put her in it for naps (I continue to try daily). She also won't sleep for more than 10 minutes in her stroller, car seat or swing. For moms in similar situations, what happened when daycare started? I know the caregivers won't be able to hold my baby all day. Similarly, for moms who swaddle for naps, did caregivers continue to do so at daycare? I will call the daycare this week and ask the director for her thoughts (this must happen fairly frequenty), but would appreciate your thoughts in the meantime. Thanks!

We were told by our caregiver in Arlington County that they were not allowed to swaddle for naps b/c of the potential for smothering. We were told the same thing for sleep sacks.

[Anonymous]

Since they aren't allowed to put a baby in a crib while awake, our day care used bouncy chairs and swings to put the babies to sleep. I had to really push for them to even put dd into a crib once she'd fallen asleep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since they aren't allowed to put a baby in a crib while awake, our day care used bouncy chairs and swings to put the babies to sleep. I had to really push for them to even put dd into a crib once she'd fallen asleep.

Are you sure about this? I was a licensed in-home daycare provider several years ago and that wasn't the rule back then.

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much all! Sounds like these are all things we should talk with our daycare about. I'll set up a meeting the week before she starts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since they aren't allowed to put a baby in a crib while awake, our day care used bouncy chairs and swings to put the babies to sleep. I had to really push for them to even put dd into a crib once she'd fallen asleep.

This was not the case at our in home provider - and seems like a really stupid rule to me.

[Anonymous]

We go to a center, and they put baby in the crib awake, swaddled. Dc did not sleep in a crib at home but had no problem at daycare. They are experts!

[Anonymous]

The problem with daycare is that there may be only one adult per four infants so it is tougher to dole out individual attention if all the babies are crying at the same time.

I don't know your finances, but is there any way you can hire a provider to come into your home and care for your baby vs. him staying in a daycare? A good nanny will be able to work with you on establishing good sleeping habits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Things will change a lot from 7 to 12 weeks. She will probably be fine not sleeping in your arms by then. I wouldn't sweat it at this point.

Yes.

I cried during week 10 because I just couldn't imagine leaving my tiny baby at daycare. She was so little and still seemed so vulnerable. By 12 weeks, I started to see she was much stronger and felt more confidant. I went back to work when she was 13 weeks and it was an entirely different baby than at 10 weeks.

Give it time!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem with daycare is that there may be only one adult per four infants so it is tougher to dole out individual attention if all the babies are crying at the same time.

I don't know your finances, but is there any way you can hire a provider to come into your home and care for your baby vs. him staying in a daycare? A good nanny will be able to work with you on establishing good sleeping habits.

OP, don't let people like this make you nervous. I am sure your baby's teachers will be extremely attentive during the initial adjustment period and will work through any and all sleep issues your baby might have. Really.

[Anonymous]

OP, our daycare center provided Halo swaddle sack (and sleep sacks for when the babies were slightly older). Can you speak with them about the possibility of using something similar?