Having a hard time....

[Miss K]

I've got DD's 2nd week starting tomorrow and I am still feeling extremely uneasy...

Everyday she cried last week DH picks her up and said she's sooky when he gets there then she's fine when she see's him.

On friday I picked her up as I finished work early and there she was crying her little heart out on the swing in the playground, I don't know how long she was in the swing for and she's never been in a swing before either I just grabbed her out and wanted to get the hell out of there.... She's in the toddler room and not the baby room aswell she's only 14months...

Please tell me it gets easier and they adjust as I'm soo worried

[onthefly]

Are you totally comfortable with this place?

[Miss K]

I thought I was now I'm not sure? I don't know if its just a first time daycare nerves or an uneasy feeling for a reason?

[beckoes]

poor little poppet, just sitting in the swing crying. maybe you could talk to someone and find out what they think, what they do with her in the day. maybe you could pop in unexpectedly a few more times, see whats going on. hugs

[AliBaby]

When DD was younger (and sometimes still now) I hang around a bit at pick up. I sit on the floor, play, ask about her day, chat to some of the kids, even play with some of the bubs when she was little. DD was 10months when she started. By staying for a bit, I could see what was happening, how carers were responding to children in distress and how they interacted, I could also get to know the carers and they got to know me. Most importantly for DD she would show me things she liked to play with and now (at almost 3yrs old), her friends all come up and say hi and run to her telling her mummy is here. It is rather cute. It helped her being comfortable there. If you are unsure about the level of care maybe look at other centres but it could have just been bad timing. always have a chat to the carers, ask about the day and how your DD was. It will get easier as both you and her get to know this new place in your lives.

[onthefly]

Listen to your heart on this, definitely. We ignored ours with our first daycare experience and it didn't go well for DS. 2nd time i was a lot more cautious, spent lots of time at the centre before leaving him there. Was heaps better and I was confident that he was well looked after there.

Have you spent much time there?

[Liviam]

The ladies have given some great advice. I completely understand the nerves leaving your precious bubba to someone else. My kids have been going to the same centre for over 3 years now and I'm extremely comfortable with the staff and centre but I still do surprise drop ins, stay for a while during drop off/picks ups occassionally, call the centre whenever I want to ask about the kids, question/talk to the staff about what my kids did during the day - I ask questions specific to my kids not just general ones like did he sleep, I talk to the director about anything I want.
I sometimes wonder if they roll their eyes at the sight of me wondering if I'm going to question them again, LOL!!!
If I'm uncomfortable about something I've seen/heard/been told by the kids I talk to the staff about it. There have been a small handful of occassions this has happened.
Trust your gut feelings more than anything.
Good luck.