DS is starting child care next week for one day per week. The centre has said they will follow whatever routine we have at home for settling to sleep (which is rocking or laying down next to him). When I went and checked out the babies room the other day, one of the carers was on the floor next to one of the babies who she was trying to get to sleep. Baby seemed calm and happy.
We have been having a lot of sleep issues, and they wont just be able to put him down and expect him to go to sleep. But, I have been told by a friend (who thinks I should be letting him cry) that the child care staff will let him cry and not pick him up and if I do it at home I will be confusing him!! Now I think I am the one who dictates how DS should be going to sleep, and not the child care centre!!
Am I dreaming if I expect that they will do what they say they will?
How did your bubs go with sleep when they started and what did the staff there do to settle them?
Just quick as I don't have much time. The centre will do what you say. Sam is still wrapped and cuddled to sleep at 13 months, and the centre is happy to do that for him. Sometimes they'll put him in a pram to do it, but they do what's needed. They don't let him cry.
As an early childhood teacher, I can tell you that we do what ever the parents tell us to do. You are the expert on your child and know what's best for him. They will most likely do what you tell them, what ever your routine is at home. I always tell parents to go with their guts when they come to our centre. If they have a gut feeling about how the child is at the centre and how they (the parent) feel there, then go wtih it. It sounds like you have a good gut feeling. It sounds like the babies there are happy. That is usually a good sign they are a quality centre.
My DD was and still is a shocker to get to sleep. We never let her cry either. she went to childcare at about 14 months and I just told them she was difficult to get to sleep and they patted her to sleep and it always worked for them. I was never patient enough to pat to sleep especially as DD would always stand up for me whereas she would stay lying down at childcare. so it was my experience childcare could get her to sleep with a gentle method. I think that because everyone else is going to sleep the little darlings sort of go with the flow and do what everyone else is doing. good luck.
Thanks everyone I do feel comfortable with the centre from what I have seen. I went in there on 3 different occassions last week and never saw anything to doubt them. It was just someone else ranting on at me about letting him cry so he learns to sleep and that childcare would do it even if I didn't that concerned me.
Only two days to go. I hope he'll be ok.
I have had to change daycares a few times in the last few years (due to moving). Every single one of them has asked me to answer questions about the routine for sleeping etc. Every single one has followed the routine that I have put down.
I think your 'friend' is just trying to push her ideas of what is suitable onto you. If you like the centre, go with your instincts.
I was pretty concerned about this too!! My DS started two days in a centre last week.....as far as sleeping they were really great with him!
I had to write out his usual routine...how and when I go about getting him to sleep, having his bottle etc. He didnt sleep much the first day (to be expected I guess) but same as Anney mentioned, my DS was patted to sleep every nap....which he will not do for me!!
When I was first checking out the centre and asking about sleep routines...the lady seemed shocked that I thought she would do anything different....basically her response was that they will follow what works at home because otherwise if they left my DS to "cry it out" they would have a nursery full of upset non-sleeping babies...can understand they wouldnt want that.
At our DC they also have some of those rocker/swing things for bubs who like to be rocked to sleep....the lady suggested if I thought DS would like that, then to pack a shirt of mine or something similar to put on the rocker so DS would have the familar scent to drift off to.
Starting DC is rough....the last thing you need is friends putting extra fears in your mind!! I hope everything works out really well for you guys at your choosen centre
Looking forward to an update on how the first day went :hugs:
Great question Megan - we are starting child care in July and this has always been a worry for me as we rock DS to sleep and I want the same to happen at CC.
Great to hear the CCC are so accomodating - it makes sense that the follow the home routine, otherwise they are just setting themselves up to have LOTS of unhappy babies to look after
Totally agree, the CC will not leave your child to cry! or i have not yet worked in one that does, they will try everything to settle im sure, they dont want the other children becoming distressed with another childs cry either.
If you have been happy with them so far then i would not have concern
Well, it all seemed to go ok. He had two 1 hours sleeps while there and she told me that he went to sleep faster than the other baby that she put down at the same time. She just sat between the cots and patted them to sleep. When we picked him up he looked exhausted, which I guess was to be expected. It was a big day for him and he wouldn't have understood why mummy or daddy weren't around.
It was lovely to get home and we had some snuggly cuddles on the couch for half an hour before he was back to his usual self creating havoc on the lounge room floor and talking louder than ever! So far so good.
Glad it went well Megan - hope he is having fun at CC and you are dealing with it ok, I look forward to those cuddles when I get home from work and see my DS
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Child care and settling to sleep
I do feel comfortable with the centre from what I have seen. I went in there on 3 different occassions last week and never saw anything to doubt them. It was just someone else ranting on at me about letting him cry so he learns to sleep and that childcare would do it even if I didn't that concerned me.
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