Help, baby wont settle in daycare, im in tears everyday

[Ameliaanna]

DD 12 months has started attending a private daycare, she is going 2 days a week with the plan to move to 3 days but its not going well. The staff say she is crying on and off all day, proper cries, things seem to be getting worse, she refused to eat anything all day and only napped about an hour. Staff advised she really isnt settling and is only happy when she gets some one on one time which they can't always facilitate as they are 1 staff to 3 babies. Im really struggling mentally as im due back to work in the next few weeks and don't know what will happen. She is in her 4th week. Should we perserve or cut our losses and try a different daycare/child minder. Im considering moving jobs so i can work night shifts or weekends. Has anyone experienced this? Feel sick worrying about all this. Baby is breastfed and very attached to me

Would something with your smell on it help OP Maybe a soft toy?

Hi,

Yes my daughter is very settled there now which I would never have believed back when I first made the post. One thing that helped was having my husband drop her off and collect her, having her comfort toy, going consistently and getting into a routine everyday going- she now goes 4 full days in a row! The biggest thing was just giving it time and consistency, I definitely feel once my baby was up walking around independently she really started to enjoy it as she could do so many more things and get a toy she wants etc, she moved from the baby room down to the toddler room too which again made a big difference. I had felt if she didn't settle by a certain time I would look at other daycares as some are more suited to certain children if that's an option for you? Some staff are just more skilled than others and my daughter got a great key worker who really helped settle her too. Its so hard, I remember how upset I was every day but it does get better and now both of us can drop and she walks in no problem! I really hope things improve for you x

Maybe 4 days with a childminder is better

Stop breast feeding or express all the time.
Makes the transition easier.

Hi,

Sorry for the late reply. I’m so glad to hear that your daughter has settled. We are still very much on the journey. I am the only one who can drop her off and pick her up at the daycare, and she has never taken to a comfort toy which is annoying. She is the youngest in the room and the only one who can’t walk yet so I’m hoping once she is walking this might help once she does start. I have cut back my hours at work so she only does a half day until she settles. We had a few trials at a few other day cares but as soon as we walked in it was like she knew what she as going on and would immediately start screaming and grabbing onto me tightly. Trying to wean her off breast feeding but that’s a very big challenge in itself. Praying she settles soon 🤞🏽🤞🏽