Help! daycare, sleeping, and tantrums!

[QueenOfThePride]

I posted in the FYT section, but not many people are reading my thread. link (http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=404878)

Even if you can't help, maybe some advice? or support? I'm so tired and worried, I can't think straight.

[MamaBug]

Didn't want to read and not post :hug

[flyingspaghettimama]

Um, it does sound like you're going through a rough time. But I would stop the CIO immediately, especially if he's crying for hours. Is it really helping you to sleep better? He is probably very confused and needy right now, and one thing that helped us was for me to MULTIPLY my affection and attachment towards my child when she felt that way. As in, when you are home, try to always be holding him, cosleeping, spending lots of time together. Take baths together, walks together, cook together, etc. If you're in school, I know you have homework too - can you do it near him? Can you take next quarter off and just work and spend time with your kid? I did what you're doing as well (FT school, PT work) and the cosleeping really helped us to reconnect.

I like the Playful Parenting guy's description of the "cup" of affection and attachment. If the child's cup gets too low, they let you know it (i.e. crying, acting out, sleeping poorly, etc), which in turn takes more out of you. If you act to fill the cup, you will get a more securely attached child and better behavior in the long term.

[QueenOfThePride]

Well last night he slept all night on the couch. I just let DS choose where he wants to sleep. He is welcome to our bed, but often chooses to sleep in his own bed. I have suspicions that DS is not napping in the afternoon before daycare like DH tells me.

I have that book, Playful Parenting, and I love it!

[Sydnee]

I just wanted to add that I do daycare in my home, and I recently had a 1.5 year old boy start about 5 months ago. For his first year, they had a nanny that came to their house when mom worked. (about 2-3 days a week) After a year the nanny moved, so they found a daycare center and put him in there. He was MISERABLE, he screamed almost the whole time he was there. Fortunatley I know the mom (we went to high school together) and she called just to see if possibly I had an opening, which I did. He does beautifully since he started with me. He is a very needy child, and needs more of a one-on-one attention that I can give him. Maybe look into home daycares, I only have 5 daycare kids, and then my 2, soon to be 3. :love