today was my dd's 3rd day in the day care center we selected. she's 4.5 months and for the last 6 weeks she had a nanny (until her spot in daycare opened up).
the facts:
1. i want to continue to work full time at my job. the role model i want to be for my daughter is that of a working mom. it's a great job, benefits are great and it's very flexible. sahm isn't for me.
2. by all accounts, our childcare center is great. it's naeyc, 3-1 ratio, highly recommended and 2 of the teachers in the infant room have been there for 15+ years. for socialization and structure, i want my dd to be in a childcare center environment.
the situation:
she's napping ok (napping twice a day rather than the usual 3) and eating ok. i'm fine with this, i expect her to take time to adjust to sleeping & eating in a new environment.
but the last 3 days i've picked her up and she's doing that gulpy hiccupy thing like she's been crying hard. previously, she's only gotten upset enough to be still hiccuping hours later after she's had shots. i know they aren't just leaving her to cry, we've had extensive conversations about how they comfort her etc and when i've called she's been happy as a clam. but at some point she's getting upset enough to cause the gulpy hiccups. i know she's going through a period of adjustment (and so am i!), but it's killing me to think that she's getting so upset. another problem is that all the hiccuping is causing her to swallow air and she's gassy, which just makes thing worse.
i am dropping her off a bit late and picking up a bit early to avoid the pickup/drop off rush, but i can't do it forever.
knowing that she is having a tough time is the worst torture i've ever experienced. i'm so stressed out i'm on the verge of tears all day and it's hard for me to be as present for her in the evenings as i want to be because i'm so preoccupied with the stress.
will it get better?
has anyone gone through a rough adjustment to day care and lived to tell the tale?
how long is this nightmare going to go on?
the facts:
1. i want to continue to work full time at my job. the role model i want to be for my daughter is that of a working mom. it's a great job, benefits are great and it's very flexible. sahm isn't for me.
2. by all accounts, our childcare center is great. it's naeyc, 3-1 ratio, highly recommended and 2 of the teachers in the infant room have been there for 15+ years. for socialization and structure, i want my dd to be in a childcare center environment.
the situation:
she's napping ok (napping twice a day rather than the usual 3) and eating ok. i'm fine with this, i expect her to take time to adjust to sleeping & eating in a new environment.
but the last 3 days i've picked her up and she's doing that gulpy hiccupy thing like she's been crying hard. previously, she's only gotten upset enough to be still hiccuping hours later after she's had shots. i know they aren't just leaving her to cry, we've had extensive conversations about how they comfort her etc and when i've called she's been happy as a clam. but at some point she's getting upset enough to cause the gulpy hiccups. i know she's going through a period of adjustment (and so am i!), but it's killing me to think that she's getting so upset. another problem is that all the hiccuping is causing her to swallow air and she's gassy, which just makes thing worse.
i am dropping her off a bit late and picking up a bit early to avoid the pickup/drop off rush, but i can't do it forever.
knowing that she is having a tough time is the worst torture i've ever experienced. i'm so stressed out i'm on the verge of tears all day and it's hard for me to be as present for her in the evenings as i want to be because i'm so preoccupied with the stress.
will it get better?
has anyone gone through a rough adjustment to day care and lived to tell the tale?
how long is this nightmare going to go on?
- it took us about a week. DS would be happy to go play, but then wouldn't eat. Then he decided it was ok and things got much better. We've been going for about 3 weeks now. Unfortunately now with teething he's having a harder time again as he wants to be comforted more and sometimes the only thing that he wants is the boob. So still adjusting here, but when I bring him there in the morning and he beams a huge smile for both caregivers I feel that he's ok. Hang in there, it should get easier. 
