Difficult first days at daycare.....

[susan123]

I dropped my little one (18 months) off today for day 3 of "school" (daycare). It is so tough to have them scream and you just have to hand them over and hope they will settle. I did go through it with my other child but I'm finding this time just as difficult, if not more so!

Just looking for some reassuring words. Also, did other parents do short days at first or do you think it is best to just get them used to the whole day right from the start?

Thanks!

[MikeyP]

Patience! I know where you're coming from. I dropped our 18 month old off for his first day back in August and for the first 6 weeks or so once he figured out where we were going (it's only 2 days a week) he would start to sob in his car seat.

We did an inaugural drop in for an hour or so a few times before his official start, but I dropped him off for the full day.

Fast forward to now.. he LOVES it. Can't wait to go. Doesn't even bother to say bye to me anymore, unless I remind him. The BEST part of my day is picking him up.. even though he loves it there, seeing his dad and latching on... ahhhh bliss.

[laxplyr17]

I went thru the same thing dropping off my little guy.. you get used to it.. and so do they.. what I used to do to reassure myself all was well, was to call the daycare 1/2 hr or so after I dropped him off.. and everytime.. they told me he was doing great!!
Don't worry.. your child will be ok!

[Alvito]

I suggest you spend some time with him in there as well. Maybe ask other parents if they are willing to set up play dates. Get some of the kids to play at your place. They will become friends and going to daycare will become easier.

[ayeung]

Most daycare will at least give you a week to transit your LO to daycare, ie. a few hours on the first day, you stay in the next room and check on your LO every few hours, etc etc. One daycare that I've been to ... each child has a small photo album with the mom & dad's picture in it and they can hold the album with them when they are home sick or something ...

I will start my LO at daycare in a few months too.

[ai_c]

It gets better. We recently changed daycare and with this new daycare, we've been there for a month and a half, my son (16 months) likes it there now. He does not cry in the morning when my husband drops him off and on weekends, he wants to go there too. He was carrying/dragging his bag on one hand and his jacket and toque on the other hand..:lol: He was even trying to put on his toque.

[mrG]

My mom ran a home day care while I was growing up, so I saw a lot of this. I found that most of the kids who cried when they were dropped off (when they first started), were more likely to be the ones who never wanted to go home at the end of the day!

They all cry at first, and they all get used to it like anything else :)

[susan123]

Well, overall I am feeling more confident, however, it is still so tough each morning. The daycare is reporting he is doing much better but he is still screaming and crying at drop off and I'm told there are tears at each transition during the day. Also, he gets upset because his sister is in the other room. They tried visits but it just made the day harder for both of them. Wish I had thought of a photo album - or wish this expensive daycare had! Even if I had the teacher's photos ahead of time to talk about them more before his first day, it might have helped. And, maybe I should have insisted on spending the first hour or few days with him rather than a one hour drop off with him alone, and keep going... At least there has been some progress to cling to and it is only really week 3 (as he got sick and was at home for most of week 1.)

In any case, thanks to all those who responded - I keep each word on my heart when things are tough and I truly appreciate the support!