Over my 30+ year career as a provider, I have cared for so many babies that I have almost lost count! When I became a certified provider over 10 years ago, I made the decision to only accept infants that were at least 12 months old and that were developmentally ready to be cared for in a mixed age group. It is widely thought that babies do not do well in a larger group, however contrary to this belief, it has been my experience that babies flourish in this environment. At my house, babies are allowed as much free movement as possible with access to the whole group. I know that they learn advanced skills such as verbal and large motor as well as being exposed to and learning advanced social skills from the group.
Babies are included in all free play indoor and out as well as in general routines such as eating and napping and also in the conversation, and they are cared for and loved by all. Babies do however present unique issues if they have never been in daycare before.
If you are the parent of an infant, I will address a few things that you may need to know before having your baby included in our daycare family.
1. Napping can be an issue if baby is not prepared and able to adjust to naps at daycare successfully. Parents need to know that babies that need to nurse, need to be rocked, or need to be held and infants that cannot go to sleep alone without these rituals, can become difficult to care for in childcare. It is better for baby to have parents break any dependencies on these types of rituals and routines that may prevent baby from being able to fall asleep on their own. Babies who cannot self-soothe will sometimes cry and cannot be soothed without their familiar routines. Please work on trying to get baby to go to sleep on their own before starting daycare. Most providers do not have the ability or time to hold and rock individual babies to sleep. If you are considering daycare, it is best to try and allow baby to go to sleep on their own at home instead of expecting them to learn this new skill at daycare. It is traumatic for infants to start daycare as it is with a new caregiver, new environment, new kids, new rituals and a new bed, and it makes it that much more difficult for them if they cannot self-soothe and put themselves to sleep. And when they cry, a provider wants to comfort them but baby has not yet learned to trust and just wants mommy and daddy. Crying each day at nap time creates a bad feeling for baby about sleeping at daycare and can make a new daycare situation very stressful for baby, other children in care, AND for the provider. Babies all have difficulty getting used to childcare and the new routines, but babies who can fall asleep on their own move through this transition much easier and more quickly than others who cannot .
Please take the time to help baby learn to go to sleep on their own at home before asking them to adjust well to sleeping at daycare.
2. Eating can be an issue at my daycare if babies are still being hand fed by parents after 12 months. But if babies are eating finger foods and can handle cut up soft foods, it is usually fine. Babies will need to be weaned from bottles (or at least ready to be weened) and should only be given water in a bottle at nap time. I start sippy cups as soon as 12 months of age and graduate to small dixie-style at around 18 months old or when baby is developmentally able.
3. Walking is not necessarily a requirement, however parents need to realize that at my house babies are not separated and are allowed free-range to co-mingle with the older and larger children. The older children are taught to be careful and respectful around all babies and to allow them to be included within the childcare environment.
Babies are always going to be a part of our family at Rugrats! My older children love it when babies start daycare and babies love to come to this big family with so many people to care for them.
We all want the best for these smallest of children and being a bit "daycare ready" can make a the transition into a new daycare situation so much easier for baby, the daycare family and for mommy and daddy as well!
Babies are included in all free play indoor and out as well as in general routines such as eating and napping and also in the conversation, and they are cared for and loved by all. Babies do however present unique issues if they have never been in daycare before.
If you are the parent of an infant, I will address a few things that you may need to know before having your baby included in our daycare family.
1. Napping can be an issue if baby is not prepared and able to adjust to naps at daycare successfully. Parents need to know that babies that need to nurse, need to be rocked, or need to be held and infants that cannot go to sleep alone without these rituals, can become difficult to care for in childcare. It is better for baby to have parents break any dependencies on these types of rituals and routines that may prevent baby from being able to fall asleep on their own. Babies who cannot self-soothe will sometimes cry and cannot be soothed without their familiar routines. Please work on trying to get baby to go to sleep on their own before starting daycare. Most providers do not have the ability or time to hold and rock individual babies to sleep. If you are considering daycare, it is best to try and allow baby to go to sleep on their own at home instead of expecting them to learn this new skill at daycare. It is traumatic for infants to start daycare as it is with a new caregiver, new environment, new kids, new rituals and a new bed, and it makes it that much more difficult for them if they cannot self-soothe and put themselves to sleep. And when they cry, a provider wants to comfort them but baby has not yet learned to trust and just wants mommy and daddy. Crying each day at nap time creates a bad feeling for baby about sleeping at daycare and can make a new daycare situation very stressful for baby, other children in care, AND for the provider. Babies all have difficulty getting used to childcare and the new routines, but babies who can fall asleep on their own move through this transition much easier and more quickly than others who cannot .
Please take the time to help baby learn to go to sleep on their own at home before asking them to adjust well to sleeping at daycare.
2. Eating can be an issue at my daycare if babies are still being hand fed by parents after 12 months. But if babies are eating finger foods and can handle cut up soft foods, it is usually fine. Babies will need to be weaned from bottles (or at least ready to be weened) and should only be given water in a bottle at nap time. I start sippy cups as soon as 12 months of age and graduate to small dixie-style at around 18 months old or when baby is developmentally able.
3. Walking is not necessarily a requirement, however parents need to realize that at my house babies are not separated and are allowed free-range to co-mingle with the older and larger children. The older children are taught to be careful and respectful around all babies and to allow them to be included within the childcare environment.
Babies are always going to be a part of our family at Rugrats! My older children love it when babies start daycare and babies love to come to this big family with so many people to care for them.
We all want the best for these smallest of children and being a bit "daycare ready" can make a the transition into a new daycare situation so much easier for baby, the daycare family and for mommy and daddy as well!
RSS Feed