For All You Ladies Or Men Who Said You Won't Take Infants Anymore...

[melilley]

I now know why you have said that! I love, love, love babies, but I am quickly realizing that in the future after the 7 mo. old that I have now leaves, that I won't take any more children under 12 months! ( I do have my own son who is 8 months, but he is a super easy baby!) For me it just isn't working out! The baby I have cries a lot and it's hard with my mixed age group! Half of the time the older children who take a scheduled nap don't sleep very long because of the baby so there goes any kind of break. It was so easy when I worked in a center and had 6-12 babies in the room, but there were 2-3 teachers in the room! If I could have all babies then that would be great, but I can't. I rarely ever have any kind of break or down time! Not that I need a big one, just a few minutes please! So, I think that if this baby leaves in the summer, I will not take any more babies! I have a waiting list (well 2 babies), but I'm afraid I will have to tell them no. Ok, I think I'm done now! Thanks for listening!

By the way, for those of you who have mixed age groups with a baby or two, how do your days go?

[Heidi]

She's 7 months old...I'd have her on the same nap schedule as everyone else by now, with the addition of a morning nap. It would be something like 9-10 am for morning nap, then 12:30-3 pm nap. That would make your life so much easier!

The little one I have here is 3 months, and she is almost there...most days she sleeps the whole nap time.

[MNMum]

I'm there with ya! I also love, love, love babies. I'm a NICU nurse and have worked with them forever. It is too hard trying to meet their needs and the other kids. The baby ends up crying a lot and I can't stand it. I've decided I need to do the tough love thing and get him on a schedule. He napped 20 minutes this morning, hopefully he will sleep three hours this afternoon. I am due with my own baby in July, so I won't be taking any other infants for at least 18 mos to 2 years. I really do not know how providers do it with 2 infants...

[LK5kids]

I'm not taking babies under one after this wee one gets older either! It will be kids 1 yr and up. I barely get any break! My dcb is 3 1/2 mo. A real easy baby ( tho he only sleeps in 15 min. Or 1/2 hour increments), & a real sweetie! But I am done after this! He is really tired today, and fussy. He is so tired and keeps rubbing his eyes.

I have tried and tried getting him on a better sleep schedule, but nothing works. He just won't stay asleep. Soft sound cd, darkened room, sleep sack....15 min. To half hour cat naps. I put him down while awake, and he will gp to sleep on his own. That is one good thing!

[melilley]

I'm there with ya! I also love, love, love babies. I'm a NICU nurse and have worked with them forever. It is too hard trying to meet their needs and the other kids. The baby ends up crying a lot and I can't stand it. I've decided I need to do the tough love thing and get him on a schedule. He napped 20 minutes this morning, hopefully he will sleep three hours this afternoon. I am due with my own baby in July, so I won't be taking any other infants for at least 18 mos to 2 years. I really do not know how providers do it with 2 infants...

Awww, what a great job! It wouldn't be so bad if they were all infants! I do agree with You and Heidi to try and get the crying baby on a schedule, I have not thought of doing that! He does sleep in the morning, but then is up at nap. Maybe if I keep him up? I have 2 infants, but my son is the easiest baby ever. I'm not just saying that because he is mine, but he really is! Congratulations on your baby! My son was born July 20th-go July babies!

[melilley]

She's 7 months old...I'd have her on the same nap schedule as everyone else by now, with the addition of a morning nap. It would be something like 9-10 am for morning nap, then 12:30-3 pm nap. That would make your life so much easier!

The little one I have here is 3 months, and she is almost there...most days she sleeps the whole nap time.

I have not thought of doing that! I have always done the sleep on demand, but I may just have to get him on some schedule! He does sleep for a while in the morning, but maybe if I don't let him sleep as long, he will nap at 12:30 (that's my nap time too). Thanks!

[nannyde]

I love love love love love love babies. I wish I could do birth to two for a living.

[Blackcat31]

I love love love love love love babies. I wish I could do birth to two for a living.

Well then get up here....I'll take the 2 and up as soon as you're done with them.

You'll have to move here because we have more moose than you

Granted they are dying off, but we still have more than you

[NeedaVaca]

I made the decision starting out that I wouldn't take under 12 months. I really felt I would be pulled in too many directions. I wanted all the kids to be doing the same things and be on the same feeding & eating schedules. I love 12 month and up, it's what works for me

[cheerfuldom]

I dont do babies for daycare anymore. My youngest daycare kid right now is 2.5 and I dont take kids under 2. There are some babies that I like more than others but for the most part, all of them have crying and napping issues of some sort. Its just the nature of things when they are away from their moms all day. I personally think that the ideal of having mom and baby together is WAAAYYY better than daycare. I understand thats not a very popular idea for todays parents. I think baby with one caregiver, preferably a relative, that is very attached and tuned in with baby's needs is second option, again, way better than daycare.

I know a very rare few ladies, like Nan, that enjoy babies (I am taking about the under 1 crowd) but the vast majority of home daycare providers do not take babies, or take them but wish they didnt have to. I can think of about 6 local providers right now that I know that take babies and do not enjoy it at all.

all this to say, you are not alone OP! I do think some routine is best for babies but there is only so much you can do. Some kids really do need a lot more attention and you just cant get that at daycare. Either you term or you just deal with the disruption that some kids bring. we cant solve everything.

[Starburst]

My favorite age groups are infants and preschoolers. If I could I would start with all young babies from the beginning and try to keep the same group until they age out at 12 years old because I like the idea of having children grow with my program and being able to be a constant teacher/ caregiver in their early childhood to ealry adolecence. But in a perfect world they would stay babies the whole time , I start losing patience when they get to school age but I wouldnt mind having them for a only a few hours a day (3 hours) espesually if they have infant siblings- I think it would be easier if the child has been in my care since they were a baby than if they just came from another program or never been to daycare.

I plan on advertising for infants that are at least 6 months only because I am terrified of SIDS and there is a lower risk at that age, though if an enrolled family had another baby I would probably take them at a younger age, if they requested me too and if I had room- I'm a ****er for babies.

[Heidi]

I thought going back to daycare two years ago that I would not want young babies because the SIDS thing scared me a little. I have to say, though, that I've really enjoyed getting this one at 6 weeks. I think if I had my way, I'd get them all at 6 weeks and full-time. I'm not sure that I'd argue that's what's best for the baby and mama, but it's what's best for me . I didn't have any bad habits to break, so it's been pretty smooth sailing with this little girl, other than a 2-day glitch last week. She sleeps, she drinks, she gets fresh diapers, she gets cuddles, and she plays..and plays...and plays.

[Lyss]

I love babies but as my group gets older I really don't want to go back to the under 12mos age BUT I've got a new infant starting next month at just under 3 months I'm starting to worry what I have gotten myself into! ::

I love being able to be mobile with my group, field trips are so much fun with them and I have memberships up the wahzoo (sp?) to local places (museums, zoo, indoor playgrounds...) and I'm not looking forward to the infant in tow or having to avoid them because of the infant.

But I LOVE this family, their older DD aged out of my program about a year ago and mom has had this spot reserved since I got notice my difficult DCP was leaving. They are amazing DCPs; Pay on time & very friendly/respectful!!

[Blackcat31]

My favorite age groups are infants and preschoolers. If I could I would start with all young babies from the beginning and try to keep the same group until they age out at 12 years old because I like the idea of having children grow with my program and being able to be a constant teacher/ caregiver in their early childhood to ealry adolecence. But in a perfect world they would stay babies the whole time , I start losing patience when they get to school age but I wouldnt mind having them for a only a few hours a day (3 hours) espesually if they have infant siblings- I think it would be easier if the child has been in my care since they were a baby than if they just came from another program or never been to daycare.

I plan on advertising for infants that are at least 6 months only because I am terrified of SIDS and there is a lower risk at that age, though if an enrolled family had another baby I would probably take them at a younger age, if they requested me too and if I had room- I'm a ****er for babies.

The idea is a good one but actually caring for a mixed age group from birth to age 12 is a whole 'nother ball game.

It IS easier to care for a child you have had since birth as you are able to manage their routines much easier, however having a span of 12 years of kids to care for is really not that easy.

The space between the developmental milestones from birth to age 12 years is so wide that you will find that is the sole reason that most providers try to limit the ages they accept into care.

[Lyss]

The idea is a good one but actually caring for a mixed age group from birth to age 12 is a whole 'nother ball game.

It IS easier to care for a child you have had since birth as you are able to manage their routines much easier, however having a span of 12 years of kids to care for is really not that easy.

The space between the developmental milestones from birth to age 12 years is so wide that you will find that is the sole reason that most providers try to limit the ages they accept into care .

Sounds scary to me!! Dealing with infants and entertaining SA at the same time?! Especially when I think of the 8-12 range! Starburst has the patience that I don't! ::

I could be wrong (sorry if I am) but I think she had something about having different rooms so maybe it would be more in a center type atmosphere she is meaning. That I can totally see but one home with that mixed of ages would drive me batty!