Your lil man deserves better than that, and you deserve better for the money you pay!
But.......
is he actually happy there? If he is happy and settled, it might be better off to sit down with the manager of the centre and express your concerns. If he isnt really happy there, try somewhere else - he will adapt and chances are he might even be given his milk!
Its so hard isnt it mel
Because (although it isnt our fault) we to an extent blame ourselves because we were the ones that put them in day care!
But i know exactly how you feel and i would be up front and direct with them. Even go in face to face if you can so that you ensure it is sorted out.
I would have snapped if i saw someone nudge DD with their foot like a dog! you are a stronger person than me... makes you wish there were little spy cameras in there!
as for the drink.. i was say that yes it wasnt given. I made sure i made it clear that DD is to have her water available 24/7 to her (as it is always in her reach at home) because she doesnt have bottles of milk anymore (only one at night b4 bed). so if it isnt then she doesnt drink at all! iykwim.
Leaving your child in daycare is hard enough without the stress of mistreatment or high turn over of staff!
id ring and just ask some questions. You have the right to know- your paying for his care. I dont use my foot to get my sons attention, what makes them think they can do it to someone elses kid? When i was looking into dc for my lil man, they all were telling me that they let you know how your child was that day- nappy food drink and behaviour. If your not happy with their responses let them know that youll be watching them (and if your son talks) talking to your son. Still ask at other centres, maybe theyre more communicative.?
Rhianon - nah he doesn't talk that well yet, he can say words, but nothing to convey whether he is happy or not? I mean, he only cries for a second when I drop him off, and most of the girls are really good at distracting him.... I think its funny that they all think he is sooo laid back, and just goes with the flow - and he is SO not like that at home!! lol
But I will call the director and suss it out this morning (probably when DS is in bed so I won't be interrupted by screams.. lol)
Ok rang director, waiting for her to get back to me about the water/milk thing, she knows the girl who must of been the one to use her foot, and when I remarked that I just thought it was unusual because thats not how the other girls get babies attention, she said no thats not usually the way it is done. So I've probably got the girl into trouble..the director is pretty fierce too, I wouldn't want to fight with her!! (and I'm big and tough too!!)
Soooo.. just waiting to see about if they totally starved my child of liquid or not.... I mean he wouldn't go without water here because even if he has run out or something, he goes into the kitchen and says "cup" but I'm sure he wouldn't associate their fridge to be able to do the same thing...
Gosh....poor little man...and poor you. How awful that your baby 'may' not have had any liquids all day. Good on you for approaching them. At least they know your onto them. Keep a close guard on everything......
Do you know any other parents there ? Maybe whilst walking to the carpark or something you could casually ask one of the mothers/fathers 'you had any probs with this place?'. Put your feelers out....good luck...
glad to hear you were able to sort out an alternative, hope it gives you good feelings hon, you have to do what is right for you and your baby boy!!
and wow are other centres allowed to dictate what nappies you send your child in????, we certainly aren't our policies are based on the individual needs of the family so if you want them to wear cloth....they wear cloth!!!!
good luck sweets xxxxxx
Blizz - I think its more a case of can they be stuffed bothering with having to work with cloth rather than disposables..
But yeah, hopefully Tadpoles don't mind!!!
mbear - you know, I have never really spoken to any of the other mothers there?? They don't come across real friendly (I think its the area that its in, sorta.. not snobbish.. but cliquey if you know what I mean??)
Ren - spot on dude, thats what I thought too..
SL - yeah its not the first time he wasn't given his milk, but they have been good for a bit (and I never got explanations as to WHY they didn't give him bottles when he was still on bottles) plus I've had stuff stolen from there from other mothers.. like seriously.. who wants a sippy cup with "Aricyn" written on it..
I hope all goes well with your talk with the Director.. Even if they don't give him his weetbix like he usually has at home.. Most centres that I've seen have a breakfast time between 7 & 8, but then they have morning tea at about 9, so he should get something before lunch time, especially since he's so young. I mean they could even let him have weetbix during the morning tea time.. It wouldn't be that hard! As for the milk and water that just isn't on. Unless they have said, like at my sons childcare, that the children can't bring in bottles of milk, but that they can bring in bottles and the centre will supply the milk or water (something about sometimes parents mix in medications or things with their childrens milk and if other children snatch it away or the child wanders around puts it down, another child could drink it and get sick.. never thought it could happen but better to be safe than sorry i guess). Or they might have forgotten and been using their own sippy cups for him? I don't know. You won't know unless you ask I guess. But nudging him with their foot to get his attention, if I saw anyone do that to my son I would lose it. There should be an "ethos of attachment" and that includes respect, trust and a caring relationship between the caregivers, child and parents, which honestly doesn't sound like you or your son are getting any of that from the day care.
Well the director called me back. She said that she will have words with the girl about the "foot" incident, that she is young, and still learning, and just a relief worker, but that she has no justification for it. I said that was fine, just that I was a little surprised thats all.
And she said that she asked the girls in his room about the water/milk, and they said that they DIDN'T offer him his milk..... but that he had his water bottle all day....
I dunno..... I don't believe them. They have NEVER filled up the water bottle before, just left it empty if he finishes it...
Hmm..... dunno if I'm overreacting or acting on my gut instinct...
BUT - as a plus - they have agreed to let me use cloth nappies on him... small positive out of today!!
DS's last day at the centre will be on wednesday. I have booked him into a local Tadpoles centre (nice and new - just recently built -woohoo!) for Tuesdays to start with.
Plus, they have a specific toddler room - which is different to what he has at the moment, which is in a room from 6 weeks to 2 years. So now he goes into one that is 15 months to 2 years. I guess that is better for him??
Decided to go with my gut and get him out of the old one.... just do it I told myself!!! And managed to make all those phone calls (including one to centrelink to change provider numbers over) whilst DS was sleeping!! Wooohooo!!
Thanks for your support everyone, greatly appreciated. *mwah*
Good for your Mel!
It is hard to take the plunge! I had a problem with not being comfortable with the group DD was in and i pulled her out (still in the same daycare though) until she can go into another group.
I agonised over it for ages then just did and and felt so much better!
lvoe the idea of a new day care centre too! flashy
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