How long does it take for infant to adjust to daycare

[Anonymous]

first time mom here. 6 month old started daycare at teh start of august (he was 5.5months) he seemed ok the first 2 weeks. Then week 3 his face would become real small at drop off and would almost tear up. Week 4 the daycare was closed for annual training etc. Its week 5 now and he has been crying every day at dropoff the minute someone comes to the door to escort him in his stroller to the classroom.

Is this normal? How long should we expect it to take before he feels better at dropoff and does not cry? We really like the daycare and have heard good things about his caregiver from former parents. They tell us that once he is taken to the room where he sees the caregiver, he starts looking around and stops crying. Indeed in the pictures they send from the mornings and through the day he seems fine. Eating and napping as he usually does at home.

Could this also be because we are not taking him into the room as we would have in normal times. It is not the same person who receives him at dropoff every day - they have a pool of some 3- 4 staff who do the escorting of children from parent to classroom everyday. (not ideal of course in terms of exposure but i can see how it is difficult logistically to have the same person, plus they all wear masks)

[Anonymous]

I think it may be the drop-off situation. I would drop my kid off, give him a toy and bolt while he was distracted. That's not an option right now.

[Anonymous]

Yes it’s normal. The separation in transition at pick up and drop off is a lot for kids and many of them cry. He is doing just fine in daycare so take a deep breath.

[Anonymous]

Normal forCovid era especially. Can you ask them to send a picture of him playing happily (or chilling happily) sometime that morning? I also believed the teachers that my baby didn’t cry long but a photo helped get the image of him crying out of my head.

[Anonymous]

It's normal. And for what it's worth, this separation crying will come and go, and it can be as much about the transition as anything. If he stops crying quickly, then he's fine.

[Anonymous]

thank you all. yes we get pictures of the morning, in which he is playing as usual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes it’s normal. The separation in transition at pick up and drop off is a lot for kids and many of them cry. He is doing just fine in daycare so take a deep breath.

This.

[Anonymous]

It's developmentally normal. Expect varying degrees in separation anxiety between now and 18 months, possibly 2 years of age

[Anonymous]

It's totally normal, even without the added stress of COVID dropoff protocols. My DD started daycare Pre-COVID at that age, when I was allowed to be in the classroom. For the first few weeks, she would barely notice when I left, but would scream when I came back. Then as she learned to expect that I would leave, she would scream when I left. Luckily, pre-COVID I could sneak a peak back in the window, and see that she really was back to playing within 60 seconds.

She was well-adjusted and loved her daycare, but I don't think we outgrew the big emotions at drop-off/pick-up before COVID shut everything down two months later.

Your baby is probably very happy at daycare if he has a good teacher. It's just that his love for mama is too big an emotion for such a little person.

[Anonymous]

If the staff say that he is happy and doing well for the vast majority of the day, there you go! Just check in with them, and ask them to please let you know if he's upset for more than just drop-off or normal little fusses here and there. That drop-off moment can be hard. Another thing to know: they can adjust beautifully, fall into the routine, then suddenly decide drop-off is hard again! My youngest child did that to me every now and then...she'd be happy to see the staff and her friends for weeks, then she'd cry for a day or two...then go back to being happy.

[Anonymous]

Yes totally normal even in non Covid times. The transition is hard on kids but it’s the transition of it that is the hardest which is why he’s better quickly! I think it’s harder on us really. Honestly like someone else said it’s on and off til it peaks usually around 18 months then slowly gets better usually (and usually there are a few months before 18 months where it is drop down drag out screaming crying and it is HORRIBLE. Let me tell you. But keep up with your confident loving goodbyes, he needs to know you are confident in his caregivers. And it will get better over time. Got way better for my son maybe around 18 months and then now that my 2.5 year old has been home 6 months he’s been a little teary at drop off but is happy moments later. Normal, but hard on us.

[Anonymous]

Poor kid. What a horrible time to be born.

[Anonymous]

God, that’s way too much stress for such a young baby. You need to talk to the daycare director or teachers to find a smoother way to transition a baby so young. This isn’t right, OP. If covid prevents them from changing, I’d look for a small in-home daycare or spring for a nanny.

[Anonymous]

Fake post. A baby of this age cannot experience separation anxiety, they are not there developmentally yet.

[Anonymous]

Are u are attempting to belittle an infant’s deeply felt emotions... disgusting. Next time u cry we will call it totally fake.