upset daycare boy

[Unregistered]

I just recently obtained a 16 month old boy in my daycare. His last "babysitter" was a young girl who gave him a bottle all day long, did not feed him, and rode him around in the car all day. His mom was not happy with that.

He has been with me for a week and at drop off he does not cry, but gets right to business of playing. After about 15 min from drop off he starts crying (without tears) and whines almost all day long. He eats and does takes breaks from crying to play every now and then.

He has this nasty little blanket he carries around with him that drags the floor causing him to trip and all. If another child touches it he will SCREAM!

He cries when I ask him to sit down to eat and drink and not carry food or drinks around the daycare room. ( License regulations)

My daycare is set up in a large family room and the kids do not have the run of the house. He will stand at the gate and cry so he can wonder throughout the house.

He LOVES outside and gives up his blanket and crying for a trip to the playground. He does not cry at all outside.

He cries for a bottle too. His mom has asked me not to give him a bottle due to the doctor telling her it was bad for his teeth. I agreed he is too old for a bottle.

The child will cry for up to 6 hours at a time till nap. At nap he passes out (without a bottle) and sleep for 1.5 hours. Then he is up and crying and whinnying again.

I am thinking it is adjusting issues due to not being use to rules and regulations nor is he use to being told NO. I have to admit today is one week and he is crying less and still with no tears.

I tried to distract him with painting, coloring, story time, even the bad TV but still he still cries.

Any suggestions or comments?

Pamela

[Play Care]

I think with consistency he will "get" it.

In my day care that blankie would be confined to a certain quiet area to start and then just for napping as he adjusted - i do no allow kids to walk around with "lovies" from home (for many of the reasons you mentioned)

Depending on what I observe of the child would depend on how I handle the whining/crying. Some kids just need some extra TLC those first couple of weeks (and you will notice that it's less and less "extra" attention each day) Others do better when they have a quiet spot to themselves to be sad and then join the group when ready. I would continue offering the same basic activities you do - don't allow extra tv or whatever to try to get him to stop crying. You don't want to set that precedent (crying gets you x,y, or z)

The biggest issue here will be if mom is being truthful - because if she's giving him bottles or allowing him to run the show, it may be harder to get him acclimated.

[Meyou]

He sounds over tired to me. I would try putting him right back to bed for a short nap when he arrives. I would also take the blanket away since it's a focus for his unhappiness. If it was a comforting item he should be comforted by it IMO.

I also agree with playcare that he needs some time to adjust. If you don't see an improvement after a couple of weeks of consistency I would consider terming.

[laloolee]

Everyone wants to bring their blankies from home. It is a contagious thing. I allow this but I tuck them away and let them know they can use their blankets at naptime only. When they arrive they ask me to fold it up for them and I tell them it is a good idea to keep it safely away from the others. To get around them tripping on them I fold the blanket in half and roll it up like a sleeping bag. Then I tie a ribbon around it and it is easier for them to tote back on home. I have also seen where parents will put a big knot in the threadbare thin blankies to avoid falling on them.

Since he seems to enjoy outside time, perhaps take a brief extra walk with the kids around the time he usually gets cranky? I am sure he will grow out of the whiny behavior once you are consistent about no bottle for a week or two. I feel your pain with this as with pacifiers they are often still sneaked in there here and there by parents at home.

[Blackcat31]

We have just been instructed by licensing to stop allowing blankets to be brought back and forth to daycare and require parents to leave on at the daycare that we (providers lander ourselves).

Why?

BED BUGS!!!


So now, ALL kids are required to leave a blanket here and are not allowed to bring ANYTHING but themselves to care on a daily basis.

[hope]

We have just been instructed by licensing to stop allowing blankets to be brought back and forth to daycare and require parents to leave on at the daycare that we (providers lander ourselves).

Why?

BED BUGS!!!


So now, ALL kids are required to leave a blanket here and are not allowed to bring ANYTHING but themselves to care on a daily basis.

Ew! Ugh, my least favorite part about dc is the critters we can be exposed to. Bed bugs, lice...blugh. I have no problem changing poopy diapers or cleaning spit up. I just can't do bugs in my home and jumping on people.

[SignMeUp]

We have just been instructed by licensing to stop allowing blankets to be brought back and forth to daycare and require parents to leave on at the daycare that we (providers lander ourselves).

Why?

BED BUGS!!!


So now, ALL kids are required to leave a blanket here and are not allowed to bring ANYTHING but themselves to care on a daily basis.

I haven't gotten this info. Though my county thinks we should be receiving info telepathically ::

[blueskiesbutterflies]

Update

yes, the blanket is NOT used for comfort. He chews on it and if anyone touches it he will smack them. It is dirty and full of spit! I did allow him to have it at nap but it is really gross. He will not allow me to give him comfort. Anyone who tried to hold him or comfort him gets a dirty look and he will say EWWWW.

I have come to the conclusion that he is spoiled and wants everything his way. He will play and be good if he is getting his way, but the second someone does not give him what he wants, when he wants it, and how he wants it he will look you dead in the face and SCREAM. Not cry, no tears, but scream.

Like yesterday, he keeps climbing on the daycare table and standing up. I remind him feet on the floor. He just looks at me. I give him till 3 and he does not move. So, I go to physically pick him up to remove from the table top (VERY UNSAFE) and he will make his body stiff and scream! Now, he is drawing back to hit me when I remove him. I dont hit you so you dont hit me! Well, Prince is going to follow the rules all day just like the other kids or he can be unhappy and scream all day...jmo