Working moms with babies in daycare centers

Jake is in in-home care and I'm just wondering what the difference is in the way they spend their days... can anyone tell me what a typical day is like for your baby in a daycare center?

Re: Working moms with babies in daycare centers

When she's in daycare she takes a nap every 2 hours. In between those naps, they feed her, play with her, let her lie on the floor under an activity center, sing to her, or take her for a stroll in the stroller around the daycare center if it's cold outside, or outside if it's nice. Most of the time when I drop in unannounced, she's on someone's lap and they're talking or singing to her, or playing with her with one of the toys at the center. Otherwise, she's asleep in her crib.

Re: Working moms with babies in daycare centers

Message edited 12/16/2011 6:23:07 PM.

Re: Working moms with babies in daycare centers

When I had Joseph & Maddie in daycare, their days were pretty structured in terms of what activity was next but were flexible if say they seemed more tired and needed a nap.

As I recall it was - eat, activity center, belly time and then exersaucer, swing (for the babies who had a hard time napping on their own) or nap time.

They would have the exersaucer babies all next to each other so they can look at their faces. Belly time consisted of putting them on their bellies and putting objects in front to them so they would reach for them and learn to move on their own.

I did have to talk to one teacher because she became very attached to Joseph and would hold him all of the time. I told her I thought it was great that she loved him so much, but I need him to be able to play on his own at home and he has to develop his muscles.

Re: Working moms with babies in daycare centers

My child is not in a daycare center...however I work for one, and my child is taken care of by my mom, and mil during the day...so I can def. make some comparisons for you!


At my center.... YOU the parent set the schedule for your baby, time the eat, sleep, what the eat. etc...every baby is on a different schedule(this changes when your child reaches a toddler age...then its more of a structured classroom setting)

Obviously due to NYS ratios..there is about 8 babies and 2 teachers, so these babies are not being held all day long... (which to me is a def. plus) they rotate...swing, excersaucer, belly/floor time, bouncy chairs, and some rocking chair one on one time... The babies become very independent, and alot of the time...learn to self soothe, and self entertain... (again in my eyes a def. plus)

This vs.
..
My son who is taken care of by Grandma's..

I do not make the rules, or schedule while he is there..... It dosent matter how much I implement it...they for the most part do what they want...

He is held, and cuddled alot of the time...thats wonderful..but then when him and I are home, or even out...he expect to be held, and entertained by me the whole entire time...which can be rough....

But he is also getting alot more one on one time..which is special...and the greatest bonus its saving me much $$$$$


People tend to think...because a baby is in a daycare center..its bad because of germs, and such....Truthfully being exposed is very good for them, for it helps to build there immune system..eventually a child will be exposed to germs, and a older child who has hardly any immunities...can get hit pretty badly in kindegarten!


There are pro and cons for both... and being a mom who is all for daycare, and a mom who has a child in home care...I cant decide which I like better...

Ryan will prob be joining me at work this summer, just 2 days a week...(the bigger the discount for the greater amount of years youve been there, and my anniversary is in June) By then he'll be able to interact somewhat with the other babies, and toys...and I think he'll really like it!

Even if I didnt work...my child or children will be in daycare 2 pt days... I think a good center ill teach a child sooo much... I see these tow yr. old... counting in english and spanish, there lang skills are amazing...and by the time there 3/4 some are reading site words!!!

Message edited 1/26/2006 2:53:19 PM.

Re: Working moms with babies in daycare centers

Andrew is in the infant, not newborn room, so he's mixed in with 18+ month olds. They have scheduled nap time at noon -- put in the cribs whether they're sleepy or not and he tends to fall asleep for a good hour/hour and a half. They have music, reading, buggy rides, snack time (2 times a day).

They do arts and crafts type things also. He's not ready for a lot of what they do, but I think he gets a kick out of the interaction with other babies. For his first 10 months he was home with me and then DH...

Re: Working moms with babies in daycare centers

Thanks everyone and especially you Marissa. I didn't even know it, but you were the perfect person to answer my question since you know what both sides of the story are like.

I'm the same as you - since it's "family" that's watching the baby, I can make all the demands I want, but I can never really be sure they are being followed, because to a certain extent, they will do what THEY want and what THEY think is right since (one of them) raised ME! But he does get more attention and he is being exposed to both spanish & english early on, and I can fully trust that they would never hurt him.

Like you said, both situations have pros and cons...and no situation is perfect unless you (the mommy) can be home with them.

Re: Working moms with babies in daycare centers

Molly has always had a great time in daycare. I personally feel that family might not take as much time out for learning or projects..not always, but I feel the majority do more "stay home and hang-out" stuff. Here is Molly's day at school (as we call it)
Project time..which is tons of various art projects

Circle time: a book is read, songs are sung, ABCs, counting to 20 and colors

Snack

Gym play or outdoor play - depending on weather

Lunch
Nap

Reading time

Free play till Mommy comes

If Molly was home with one of my mothers or my MIL it would be more like TV, snack, TV, snack, toys, snack, Lunch, nap, shopping..

NO situation is perfect...even some SAHMs are not happy about being home.

Re: Working moms with babies in daycare centers

Anytime!!!!

Im struggling with this right now....not as much with my mom (cuz she just knows how I am) but with my mil. She dosent believe in sched. and def. not CIO. and there are things Im strongly trying to enforce.

I think alot of my night time trouble, is because he sleeps in there arms at times, and is rocked to sleep. He has no set nap time, and although they dont wake him...they enjoy playing with him...so dont "put" him to sleep...Then he comes home at noon, and I try to put him down for a nap, and getting a sched. for eating...and its just all a mess...

Im hoping eventually...he'll know his sched. and will just follow on his own...


The days my MIL has him he gets dropped off in my office for the last half hour I work.. When my day is over, I always take him to visit the baby room... all the other children, the colorful enrichments, and different toys and or pics on the wall...


Would I send my child to infant daycare the same way I would send my toddler (meaning if I was home all day) No.... but I still think its great for the child...

Re: Working moms with babies in daycare centers

Just wanted to add, our daycare doesn't believe in using swings or exercausers... the woman who runs the center calls them "neglectoswings and negletosaucers". She says they prefer to interact with the babies on one one... that's part of the reason why I chose the place

Re: Working moms with babies in daycare centers

Posted by Bxgell2

Just wanted to add, our daycare doesn't believe in using swings or exercausers... the woman who runs the center calls them "neglectoswings and negletosaucers". She says they prefer to interact with the babies on one one... that's part of the reason why I chose the place

Re: Working moms with babies in daycare centers

Posted by BabyAvocado

Posted by Bxgell2

Just wanted to add, our daycare doesn't believe in using swings or exercausers... the woman who runs the center calls them "neglectoswings and negletosaucers". She says they prefer to interact with the babies on one one... that's part of the reason why I chose the place

That sounds good but do they have a ratio of 1 caregiver to 1 child? If they do, that's wonderful. But if not, what are the other babies doing while one baby is getting the one-on-one attention?

Re: Working moms with babies in daycare centers

Re: Working moms with babies in daycare centers

Sandra...she lives in PA...

Here in NY the ratio HAS TO BE 1:4 in the infant room...

Re: Working moms with babies in daycare centers

Re: Working moms with babies in daycare centers

NY State law says a baby cannot sleep in a swing...but Molly only slept in the swing so they allowed her too.

Re: Working moms with babies in daycare centers

Re: Working moms with babies in daycare centers

NYS - 4 babies to 1 care taker. You can go to the Child Care Council of your County and they will give you a list of do's and don'ts.

I work full time - thankfully I can work 2 days from home, so my daughter only has to go to care 3 days a week.
This was my experience with a daycare center - I'm glad to hear that other mother's had better experiences than we did.

I went back to work this past Monday - My husband dropped my DD off at daycare (visited and thought was good - especially because it is directly across the street from where my DH works & came recommended) - Well my husband went to visit Emma on his lunch break and found her laying in her crib, in her own spit up, wet diaper, and crying hysterically - So that's what happens when the 3 other babies are being cared for before your child. I'm obviously still upset about what happened... I'm sure that there are daycare center's out there that are excellent - This is just my experience.

That being said we had to find someone to watch our DD - So we are paying a family member what we were paying the daycare center just so that we can have peace of mind - and know that she will care for Emma - and pay her well enough so that she won't want to find another, better paying job. lol

Child care is so difficult...

Re: Working moms with babies in daycare centers

JRG71 - What daycare place was it? I'm nervous to hear that since we are planning on using daycare in Sept. FM if you want. Thx

Re: Working moms with babies in daycare centers

Re: Working moms with babies in daycare centers

I am now starting to consider daycares too. A home babysitter was set up and ready to go for Monday. She called me back lastnight to tellme she will only doit for 500 a week! And my hours are not 9-5 they are teacher hours. I have to go pick uphis stuff tonight....

Re: Working moms with babies in daycare centers

Andrew's ratio is 4 caregivers to the 12 infants, which is the mandate I see. I did worry about what if he was always 4th in line for his need, especially if he was upset. That's why we waited until he was 11 months old. The first time I went to check out a center I left there in hysterics thinking I could never leave Andrew there.

Now I'm finding that while it's certainly not ideal, it is good for him in some aspects, especially knowing that typical needs are being met (changing every 2 hours, meals and snacks) which DH used to have trouble with.

Good luck with your decision!

Re: Working moms with babies in daycare centers