Vent - Baby Zone

[2ndFamilyDC]

So after reading on here about "baby Zones" I decided to use one. In 22

years of doing childcare in my home I had never done this. But in recent

years I realized that the youngest group of mobile kids was the most

stressful for me and realized why. They dump buckets of toys, and their are

toys I couldn't have out for the older kids because did not want the

older infant or toddler to get them. And of course let's not forget how

that age knocks over what ever the older kids are doing, grabs at it

relentlessly, it is a never ending battle.

So 3 weeks ago I set up a baby zone and put my 12 mth old in there.

She is not walking yet, just a fast crawler. :: She hates it. She just

stands at the gate screaming/crying for whatever time she is in there.

I feel so mean and have guilt for putting her in there. She has toys, she can

see the kids and me, but she wants out. I am tired of sacraficing the

happiness of 7 kids for the happiness of 1, makes no sense.

Do you think she will ever adjust?

[cheerfuldom]

yes I do think she will adjust. baby zones are a must have for kids like her that terrorize the big kids. just hang in there. you can make pockets of time where she can come out during the day but never bring her out when she is screaming for that otherwise she will associate crying long and hard enough to getting taken out of baby zone.

[2ndFamilyDC]

yes I do think she will adjust. baby zones are a must have for kids like her that terrorize the big kids. just hang in there. you can make pockets of time where she can come out during the day but never bring her out when she is screaming for that otherwise she will associate crying long and hard enough to getting taken out of baby zone.

Good advice, thanks very much.

[Heidi]

Yes, I do. I think this is the worst age to introduce it, but it is what it is. If she'd been used to it since she was littler, she'd be fine.. Of course, you can't change that.

Nanny would probably disagree, but I would say sit down with her in their for short periods each day, when she is first put in. The first few times, interact with her and play with her. Each day, gradually reduce your interactions so that she is entertaining herself, but you are still in there.

Taper this down to standing in there, but not interacting at all. Talk to the other kids, etc, but don't engage her. Only talk to her, engage her while she is in the toddler zone, and you are out. IF you have to leave, don't sneak out, just tell her "I am going to help so-and-so, or I am going to the bathroom," etc

Whatever you do, DONT take her out if she is screaming. If you want to take her out (to eat or whatever), then tell her you will take her out when she STOPS crying, and then wait until she does. Or, you could try doing something silly and distracting her to stop crying, then take her out, but I prefer the honest method. I hate tricking kids into complying myself.

I have had to do this with my twins, as they were always screaming when they woke up. I would sit there and say that in a soothing voice until they stopped. Then I would get them out. They caught on fairly quickly that screaming is not necessary.

Those are my ideas...good luck! I still think you are better off with the baby zone than having everyone else's work demolished constantly....

[Cat Herder]

She will adjust . I have been using my infant playrooms for most of the time I have been opened.

Usually at 12 months I start integrating them to the main area for several play periods a day. Once they are walking well they spend more and more time with the group each day.

Yes, It would have been easier if she had been born into her "room" as the DCK's are here. It gives them a safe area while still being able to see everything.


My older DCK's still ask to go into theirs to play independently (like building/reading). I must keep extras set up year round for this.

[dEHmom]

what would you say the age group for the baby zones is????

i find that the 1-2 yrs stage is the hardest because they are into everything, can reach the toys higher up, pull every book off the shelf and dump every bin out.

[laundrymom]

I don't use ' baby zones'. My kids co play.

[Cat Herder]

what would you say the age group for the baby zones is????

i find that the 1-2 yrs stage is the hardest because they are into everything, can reach the toys higher up, pull every book off the shelf and dump every bin out.

IMHO, It depends on how big your zone is . Mine are 6ftx6ft, each, and made of wooden framed half walls. Baby-gates never worked for me...too unstable.

If needed I can re-arrange the room to 4 distinct zones. One set up for each particular age group. It is how I keep my sanity. ::

I move furniture, toys, and shelving in and out as necessary to accommodate the age group I currently have, YKWIM? :confused:

Others may do it completely different and still have the same great results. My group is 12 months-2 years, currently.

[nannyde]

The babies in the play yard want to be on the one/two year old side of the playroom.

The kids on the one/two year old side of the playroom want to be on the preschool (3-5 year old) side of the room.

The preschoolers want to be in the upstairs playroom.

The kids in the upstairs playroom want to be outside.

The kids outside want to go to the park.

The kids at the park want to go to the McDonalds play place.

The kids at the McDonalds play place want to go to Chucky Cheese

The kids at Chucky Cheese want to go to Disneyland.

I don't take into consideration WHERE the kids want to be. I know that whatever I offer them they would always prefer more, different, more exciting, more adult, more freedom... just more.

So I put them where "I" want them to be. I make sure that where they are is safe, managable, loaded with age appropriate toys. I makes sure that where they are works for the group.

[morgan24]

I did a reverse baby zone for the big kids. I set up my play yard next to a wall and put the smaller toys in it for the older kids. They can move in and out of it on their own and it keeps the little ones out of their what ever they are playing with. It solved a lot of griping about the little kids tearing their games apart and gave me a place to put the smaller toys that is away for the little ones.

[Heidi]

The babies in the play yard want to be on the one/two year old side of the playroom.

The kids on the one/two year old side of the playroom want to be on the preschool (3-5 year old) side of the room.

The preschoolers want to be in the upstairs playroom.

The kids in the upstairs playroom want to be outside.

The kids outside want to go to the park.

The kids at the park want to go to the McDonalds play place.

The kids at the McDonalds play place want to go to Chucky Cheese

The kids at Chucky Cheese want to go to Disneyland.

I don't take into consideration WHERE the kids want to be. I know that whatever I offer them they would always prefer more, different, more exciting, more adult, more freedom... just more.

So I put them where "I" want them to be. I make sure that where they are is safe, managable, loaded with age appropriate toys. I makes sure that where they are works for the group.

AND IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE.......::

[2ndFamilyDC]

what would you say the age group for the baby zones is????

i find that the 1-2 yrs stage is the hardest because they are into everything, can reach the toys higher up, pull every book off the shelf and dump every bin out.

Exactly, that is the hardest age for me to have in the general play area.

[2ndFamilyDC]

The babies in the play yard want to be on the one/two year old side of the playroom.

The kids on the one/two year old side of the playroom want to be on the preschool (3-5 year old) side of the room.

The preschoolers want to be in the upstairs playroom.

The kids in the upstairs playroom want to be outside.

The kids outside want to go to the park.

The kids at the park want to go to the McDonalds play place.

The kids at the McDonalds play place want to go to Chucky Cheese

The kids at Chucky Cheese want to go to Disneyland.

I don't take into consideration WHERE the kids want to be. I know that whatever I offer them they would always prefer more, different, more exciting, more adult, more freedom... just more.

So I put them where "I" want them to be. I make sure that where they are is safe, managable, loaded with age appropriate toys. I makes sure that where they are works for the group.

:: Yep, so true. It is just my guilt eating at me with her.

[Cat Herder]

The babies in the play yard want to be on the one/two year old side of the playroom.

The kids on the one/two year old side of the playroom want to be on the preschool (3-5 year old) side of the room.

The preschoolers want to be in the upstairs playroom.

The kids in the upstairs playroom want to be outside.

The kids outside want to go to the park.

The kids at the park want to go to the McDonalds play place.

The kids at the McDonalds play place want to go to Chucky Cheese

The kids at Chucky Cheese want to go to Disneyland.

...and I want to be at the beach.

Awesome post...::::::

Honestly, for me, it is about keeping the older kids from injuring the younger kids. Cut and dry. The rest is gravy.

I have heard of way too many femur fractures from older kids tripping over babies thigh and falling knee first into it. I have also read about several older toddlers spinning infants in a exersaucer and fracturing BOTH femurs.

Just too many hazards in keeping infants in the same free-play space as older DCK's for my taste. Maybe I am over-protective.

[Blackcat31]

I don't use ' baby zones'. My kids co play.

That is what mine currently do as well, buuuuuuut, lately I have been feeling a bit like 2ndFamilyDC and think that since my group is really young right now they (well me actually ) might really benefit from zones or age-specific areas.

IMHO, It depends on how big your zone is . Mine are 6ftx6ft, each, and made of wooden framed half walls. Baby-gates never worked for me...too unstable. .

So I have one entire room that is 9 ft x 9.5 ft. How many kids ages 12 mos to 22 months can comfortably play in there without seeming to crowded?

In that space now I have a Little Tikes cube climber (the small one) and a table and chairs and the bins and shelves of toddler toys. Everything can be moved, removed and/or rearranged as needed.

I have 3 kids (2 boys and 1 girl) who are 18 months old and one dcb who is 13 months.


I have been thinking about doing this during free play time since my littles are doing nothing but dump, destroy, repeat.... Normally, they are pretty good about putting things aways but the real problem is a 2.5 year old boy I have who will act like the older kids when in their presence but in the presence of his sister (18 months) he is awful....talking baby talk, dumping things, refusing to pick up, "pretend crying" etc..... If available, he will stick to her like glue and it is starting to wear on not only me but her as well. She is a very independent kid and pretty quick for her age, but I think her brother has figured out that if you act like the baby, you will get the attention he feels the baby sister is getting.

I really want him to integrate with the older boys I have who are 3 and 4. I know he can do it because the days his sister is absent, he is a dream kid but as soon as she is back, he regresses.

Any one have any advice about this?

OP, I don't mean to hijack your thread but I feel EXACTLY like you lately and would love to hear more from providers who use baby/toddler zones.