Please Help! I'm I Over Stepping Here?

[WImom]

(Long but wanted to explain)

I have a DCG that will be 5 in April. She has been with me since she is three. She has a blanket lovey that she is obsessed with. I mentioned to the parents about 3 weeks ago that we should try and wean her of this blanket since she is going to K5 next school year. I will mention that the blanket goes in her backpack when she gets here and she only gets it at nap. I thought switching to a stuffed animal would be a good trade off. She was on board but wanted to make it a pattern (She's into patterns lately) so she was bringing it one day and a stuffed animal another for a little over a week. Now she's decided she misses blanket and that fell apart.

Now I want to mention the BIGGEST issue with this blanket is that she chews on it!! I can hear her chewing and it gets soggy on the corner and to me is gross. I don't like it touching my floor, I've stepped on it (YUCK!), etc. I'm just done with this gross blanket!!! Lately my new issue is I have a few kids that have started chewing blankets here during tv time (We watch while I make lunch and they get their lovies and then put them on nap mats after). I tell them not too and they just say 'Well ____ is!"

Is it over stepping the parents if I make a new rule for her - Blanket goes in the mouth it gets put away! I figure for 5 minutes to start and extend the time. I will tell her she can snuggle with it or hold it but it can't go in the mouth. I don't really want to discuss with parents because they don't seem to follow through with stuff. (Dentist already told them it's messing up her teeth - that was 6 months ago)

[Unregistered]

You should just make the rule and not even talk to the parents about it.

Your house=your rules.

[MrsB]

I say your house. Your rules! I think your plan is a great one. You are right too, no sense in getting the parents too involved in what goes on in your house and it likely wont follow through at home.

I have a dcg here that just turned 3 and is very obstinate but has many issues the same know the type cant be separate from lovies at home, no lovies here. Still in diapers at home, completely potty trained here, Can walk just fine here, legs dont work and must be carried at home. Haha

[JenNJ]

I would simply put the blanket away on arrival and give it back when she leaves. Its unsanitary fro her to be pulling a saliva filled blanket around the house, its teaching others bad habits, and its causing MORE work for you (cleaning up after it and correcting the other kids). When "things" become problems for me, I eliminate them. My job is to care for kids, not their belongings.

[cheerfuldom]

I guess I am a meany....I wouldnt give it to her at all. But if you dont want her chewing, don't do lovies at all for TV time, just nap.

[CheekyChick]

Gross or not, I would let her chew/love on it... It may be bad for her teeth, but it gives her comfort. Making an issue of it will only stress her out and make her want it more.

[My3cents]

your house your rules.

It is in my policy/hand book- no outside toys from home. If they want to bring a lovey it has to stay here and I put it away until rest time.

I get the excuse that so and so could would not give it up. When the parent leaves, I put it away in the cubbie. This avoids any issues over the "home" toy.

When the parent comes back and ask, I tell them he did fine with out it. I put it in his cubbie. They know........they just try to push. I have plenty of toys here that outside toys are not needed. They cause issues.

I wouldn't want a blanket that is being dragged all around exposed to everyone- full of germs. Blankets here I can wash as needed.

[Soupyszoo]

I must be a meany too because I would take it away and not let her have it all. She'll survive. Soggy spit blankets are nasty

[Meyou]

I would just take it away until naptime and then put it away again afterwards. She's a big girl, she'll survive without it and it's really, really gross that she chews on it and it's around to step on. Ewwwwwww! I can just feel the squish and it's making me gag.

I don't let them have loveys around the house at all. They can bring them for naptime but that's it. I put them on their beds and they leave them there when they wake up for me to collect.

[Soupyszoo]

I would just take it away until naptime and then put it away again afterwards. She's a big girl, she'll survive without it and it's really, really gross that she chews on it and it's around to step on. Ewwwwwww! I can just feel the squish and it's making me gag.

I don't let them have loveys around the house at all. They can bring them for naptime but that's it. I put them on their beds and they leave them there when they wake up for me to collect.

I can imagine the squish too so gross! I have a dcb that comes in with a toy or something that they give him in the car to pacify him. And as soon as they leave he knows it goes in his backpack and stays there to be returned home.

[Meeko]

I have it in my handbook, that upon enrollment, parents are to bring a blanket that STAYS at day care. That way I can control them getting washed. I launder them weekly or more often if needed. They stay in cubbies (which are behind a closet door with a child lock on it) No blankets from home and they cannot drag their nap one around. It's unsanitary and it's a tripping hazard for me and the other kids.

[AnneCordelia]

If she were 2 I'd say let her have it at least at naptime. But she's 5. I would tell mom and dad that it goes in her bag before she comes in the door (or do it myself immediately upon arrival) and then I would leave it there for THEM to get out after they leave.

[daycare]

I have a DCP who fights me on everything. My rule is you bring in a blanket that stays here. NOt one that goes back and forth. I don't do any form of special at nap times. No lovies, no animals, no binkies, NOTHING. Sure, parents can bring them, but they will stay in their cubby.

THe one DCP that I speak of yesterday left work around 12pm when she realized that she left her daughters blanket in her car. She left work 30 min away and brought it to my house. I told her oh, well guess what, she didn't ask for it and does not use it when she is here. DCG was already fast asleep.

I tell the parents when they try to fight me on my rules is that I am teaching their child to self soothe and to leave home at home. Most of them don't fight me and some of them love that I do this. Especially the ones that are trying to fight the binky habit.

I would not even get the parents involved. You do what you have to do to make your day run smoothly....your house your rules....

[Crazy8]

I do allow lovies or blankies for nap time but they are ONLY for nap time - they are handed to the child AFTER the child is down on their mat and taken away the second they get up.

I am so tired of the parents who practically force the blankies on the kids - like the second they start to get upset about something they shove the blankie in their face. I see it all the time. I had one parent who was taking away blankie as punishment - ummm... child didn't care - they go 9 hours a day without the darn thing here.

[Francine]

As a rule here I only give "lovies" at nap time, actually right now I don't have any kids that are attached to one particular thing so it isn't an issue.

BUT my daughters are 17 and 23, the 23 year old is pregnant with my first grandchild!!! Both of my girls still to this day have blankies that are in their beds. Granted they aren't ****ing on them and dragging them around the house but they are in the beds. I can't see them at 5 ever going to sleep without them.