For Those Of You With Babies

[Oneluckymom]

I wanted to know what you all do with the baby (if its not asleep of course) when you are preparing lunch or snack for the older children. How do you manage performing other tasks with the baby?

[Nellie]

I think most of the providers on here would say that I maybe coddle to much. If a baby will be good on the floor while I do things I try to do that, but I've had some pretty needy babies. I guess I always thought that they weren't suppose to cry and many others say that if there needs are met they need to self sooth. So for the most part I hold. While I read a book the baby sits on my lap, I wear the baby in a front backpack while doing other things, and I'll use a jumperoo or swing while cooking. I have found some that will do quite well in a bouncy seat, but not on the floor so while I cook I will have the baby in there. When the kids are doing crafts or an activity that I may need to help out with I hold the baby and have the seat right there so I can put the baby down and help. Sometimes these things work out; sometimes they don't. If the baby has all of its needs met and I have to help out a child in the bathroom the baby will just have to cry on the floor.

[CheekyChick]

We have eight babies here nearly every day and the little ones (under 5 months) get held most of the day. It's hard, but once they hit 5 months, they start being a bit more independent.

[queenbee]

It's all about rotation for me.

My babies spend 20 minute intervels in each area - bouncer/rocker, floor play, bumbo, tummy time, exersaucer, activity mat and swing.....and back around again. They're busy, busy babies.

I prepare lunch when my infants are sitting in exersaucers/rockers/swings. They are in a safe position and area, and I have 20 minutes to prepare and set up lunch while my babies are playing and having the time of their lives. I make lunch to the sounds of them happily slapping and spinning the toys on the saucers or bouncer or cooing at the mobile dangling above the swing.

I can't hold my babies much during the day. My assistant and I are constantly on the move changing diapers, assisting in the bathroom, greeting kids who are arriving/departing, doing Arts & Crafts, cleaning toys, redirecting, doing Arts & Crafts, doing Storytime, Circle Time and Preschool Time.

We love on our babies when we are doing feedings and give them good doses of hugs and snuggles so they can play the rest of the day knowing we love them

[mommiesherie]

Bounce seat, swing or walker or something. I use to kill myself holding babies constantly making sure they were never upset and not crying for any reason. I did that with my own children as well as children I was caring for. I did it for many years. I thought that was the only was and allowing a baby to cry was terrible even abuse. I have lived and learned since then. Taken many child development classes and became friends with a couple pediatricians. Creating children who are super needy and no idea how to self sooth at all is not a great idea. Now, holding and loving babies is very important. Constantly holding is doing them no favor. They need to develop muscle use by tummy time and such. Plus they need to be able to explore and play some. So this long anwer to your question is .... I use the swing or bumbo or tummy time if other kids are not around them. I also use my livingroom carpet as a boundary on occasion for 2 and up kids. Get a play bucket and take it to the carpet. That helps keep them in one place when I need to get something accompllished like lunch

[awestbrook713]

My son is the only baby I have for the moment but soon I will have two. For my son he plays on the floor, or I sit him in his jumper when the kids play with smaller toys or building with blocks, when I am preparing meals I either let him play on the floor or sit him in his highchair and put him next to me.

[youretooloud]

I wear them if they don't want to play on the floor or walker.

If I'm using the stove, I only wear them on my back though.

[Christian Mother]

Right now I just have one baby and she is on schedule for a nap at around 9:30am til 10:30am and then when she gets up we change her diaper and she has free plan on her tummy for 15 min and then I make a bottle. I will put her in her jumper while I fix the kids lunch. I normally have it completely ready to go the night before so that all I have to do is nook it or put in oven. Then I feed baby. By the time baby is done lunch is ready for the other kids. She goes into swing or back in to her jumper to watch everyone. She likes to have everyone around her to watch. She is such a good easy baby!! I need to get a swing to carry her in on my stomach as I would love that for when my new baby comes to me in Jan. I love carrying my babies around!!

[Jenniferdawn]

We have it kind of difficult here in California. We aren't allowed to use any type of bouncer, exersaucer, walker, jump-a-roo, etc. Makes it difficult to care for babies. My Moby wrap and my bjorn are my two best friends. I couldn't do it without being able to wear the baby while getting snack ready etc.

[Lilbutterflie]

It's all about rotation for me.

My babies spend 20 minute intervels in each area - bouncer/rocker, floor play, bumbo, tummy time, exersaucer, activity mat and swing.....and back around again. They're busy, busy babies.


I can't hold my babies much during the day. My assistant and I are constantly on the move changing diapers, assisting in the bathroom, greeting kids who are arriving/departing, doing Arts & Crafts, cleaning toys, redirecting, doing Arts & Crafts, doing Storytime, Circle Time and Preschool Time.

We love on our babies when we are doing feedings and give them good doses of hugs and snuggles so they can play the rest of the day knowing we love them

This is my set up exactly. I am a firm believer in "baby stations". Even before I was a home daycare provider; people who visited my home when I had my own baby would comment on how many stations I had. The key is rotation, and usually they never fuss as they never get bored.

I believe that if you are constantly holding a baby as old as 3-5 months, you are creating a very needy child. And at this age, they need their tummy time, back time, time to explore, and develop those muscles they need to start using to grab things, roll over, sit up, etc... They don't get that muscle development if they are being held all day!!

[mismatchedsocks]

Same as above, rotate with equipment. If you cannot use equipment can you put in play pen near kitchen. That way the baby is safe.

During the day, when I am not tending to food, potty, or things like that the babies are on the floor in the baby room, near me in circle time, etc.

[mac60]

We have it kind of difficult here in California. We aren't allowed to use any type of bouncer, exersaucer, walker, jump-a-roo, etc. Makes it difficult to care for babies. My Moby wrap and my bjorn are my two best friends. I couldn't do it without being able to wear the baby while getting snack ready etc.

Wow, seems quite rediculous to me. Just what are providers supposed to do with an infant. It is not realistic to carry them all the time, and putting on the floor is not safe if other children in care, just seems like an assinine rule.

[youretooloud]

Wow, seems quite rediculous to me. Just what are providers supposed to do with an infant. It is not realistic to carry them all the time, and putting on the floor is not safe if other children in care, just seems like an assinine rule.

I agree. I probably wouldn't want infants with those rules.

[mommiesherie]

Wow, seems quite rediculous to me. Just what are providers supposed to do with an infant. It is not realistic to carry them all the time, and putting on the floor is not safe if other children in care, just seems like an assinine rule.

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I agree its not a rule that someone who has day care experience would make up. Most of the people making up these regulations are not in touch with what its currently like to work in child care. In our state they are allowed to be in a walker, bouncy, or swing for 15 minutes at a time. Even if they fall asleep in swing they must be moved. The state does frown on using these type things but does not prohibit them. In a home day care where you have mixed age groups not using them would be hard and even unsafe at times. A baby in the floor with toddlers and preschoolers running around would not be safe at all. I have worked in day care centers where the baby room had onlu infants. I can see how you would do it there. The floor was those play mats and they could be placed in floor safely. I thing the whole idea of them not allowing the use of swings and such in those states is not to promote carrying them around all day. Its more than likely to promote tummy time and back time and such. Just my opinion so take it for what its worth. Probably 2 cents. Haha

[nannyde]

Wow, seems quite rediculous to me. Just what are providers supposed to do with an infant. It is not realistic to carry them all the time, and putting on the floor is not safe if other children in care, just seems like an assinine rule.

I know I couldn't manage that. They did it because babies were dying or getting severely injured in the equipment.

Fortunately my state doesn't get THAT far into our businesses. We do rotational grazing here too....... bouncy seat, play yard, stroller, high chair, boppy, bumbo, etc... depending on their age.