Am I overthinking how my baby is being cared for at crèche?

[DogsandDungarees]

Hi all, im really hoping that I am being OTT and suffering with mum guilt, anxiety and worry. However this has left a sour taste in my mouth.

I have started taking my 7 month old to creche she has been 3 times.
First time- great
Second time- she was in her pram tearful and they were trying to get her to sleep (she was due a nap and it was a hot day)….
Third time- when I arrived they were super busy with pick ups and drop offs and one of the workers had just been passed another baby and said “ you can pop her down anywhere”. I wasn’t prepared to walk off leaving my baby on the mat alone so I got some toys and played with her until the worker came ( she thanked me and came over ). Now on pickup the worker had the same baby in her arms as he came without a pram and mine was in her pram crying in another section of the room. supposedly they were walking her round trying to get her to sleep. I said she wasn’t due a nap and does she not settle when they try and soothe her and pick her up… the worker said ‘a little’.

Now I really hope I am being unreasonable and thinking the worst here because I really value my one hour a week at the gym as it’s the only downtime I get. In my head I can’t help wondering if my child had been neglected because it’s easier just to put her in the pram as she had to carry that other child around…

Just for info there was 2 workers and 5 children.

My husband keeps trying to reassure me they probably had picked her up and comforted her as well, but I think I have sent myself a little mad over this.

Just to clarify- it’s a gym crèche and it’s an hour a week?

You can’t know if they have or haven’t. If you’re not comfortable with her crying without knowing if they attend to her for the hour I’m afraid you may have to organise other childcare for the gym. As they won’t show you CCTV and they won’t tell you if they’re not seeing to her.

At the gym? Sounds quite right tbh.
You might think about a babysitter only taking care of your child.

Sorry, this is for an hour a week?

yes you are massively over thinking it.

I wouldn’t do it. Sorry, probably not what you want to hear. Always trust your gut. Or in this case, what you can see with your own eyes! Babies shouldn’t be left with strangers imo.

Yeah just at the local gym for one hour a week.

TBH I would try to time my workout to coincide with nap time.

Thanks for the advice, I wasn’t sure what was best sleepy baby who might nap or take baby during her usual most active time.

Can you schedule it when she is due a nap and bring her in asleep in her pram?

With only 2 workers and 5 children, sometimes a child is going to have to wait. I wouldn't be concerned without any other worries for 1 hour a week.

Thanks as crazy as it sounds I didn’t actually think of that. I guess I was worried she just wouldn’t sleep.

I've never been keen on the idea of gym creches. 1 hour a week isn't long enough for them to settle or get to know the staff. How do the staff get to know the children with just an hour a week?

At DL? I always found it great for sleepy tiny babies who were happily held and also good for active young toddlers who would play. But mine as babies just never got used to it. Too short a time, and not often enough to have any routine and learn to enjoy it.

I would try handing over when fresh from a nap rather than due one. Also I DH alwasy hand better luck handing over mine as babies than I did- they never got as upset when he left them.

Ultimately I didn't like the idea of mine being upset for a hour so just stopped using it until they were a bit bigger and recognised the ladies.

Yes DL, I think the first session going so well gave me a false sense of reassurance. I might give it another go at a different time, if she has little moments of being sad that’s fine but obviously I don’t want her to be distraught for the full hour.

2 staff, 5 tiny babies and they don't really know each other because of limited time spent together. It's just about meeting basic safety needs really isn't it, making sure nobody chokes, becomes ill or has an accident. They're never going to be able to cuddle every baby at once nor do fulfilling activities. Doesn't make it a bad thing to send her there, just means very careful scheduling to maximise her either being asleep or happily awake. Check if you can bring her in already sleeping - my children's nursery doesn't allow this in case the child is actually unconscious.

Never did gym crèches - not letting random people look after (or not more likely) my children. Look up a pram fitness class where they can be with you, join pram walking club or just walk lots of places with them if you want to avoid the gym creche - I think your instinct is serving you well.

1 hour with people she doesn't know - they literally just need to keep her safe for an hour. I wouldn't expect much more than that.
Nothing you've mentioned sounds like she wasn't being cared for appropriately.

One hour a week isn't going to be enough for her to settle happily - maybe try going every day for a week so she can become familiar with the staff.