Disruptive PT Twin DCG's. Need Constructive Input

[Dstewart20]

I recently started a daycare in my home for children ages infant to age two. I started with 3 month old who cried only when hungry, sleepy or soiled. Enter twin 8 months olds who only come on Mondays and Wednesdays. They apparently stay either at home or with grandma the other 3 days. The problem is that they cry and scream incessantly for no apparent reason other than wanting to be held constantly. This continues even after feedings, changings, and naps. God forbid I actually pick them up and try to soothe them, as soon as I set them down again the screaming jumps into over drive. The younger baby that I am keeping is visibly stressed from all the constant screaming and cries during her bottle feedings. I have two new infants starting in May ( both will be 3 months old).

Has anyone else dealt with this situation before? If so, how did you handle it? I have one very large room where all activity takes place. There is no way to buffer the smaller babies from all the stressful noise. Any suggestions would be most helpful. Thank you!

[laundrymom]

I'm limited to three under
16 mo so adding the others wouldn't be an option for me.
If I were you I'd stay consistent. Pick them up when they are happy. Positive reinforcement. Over and over.

[Thriftylady]

Well being part time is going to make this harder. I would be consistent and possibly be open to replacements. Part time kiddos are harder to get on board, because it is already hard to be consistent.

[Blackcat31]

Well being part time is going to make this harder. I would be consistent and possibly be open to replacements. Part time kiddos are harder to get on board, because it is already hard to be consistent.

Yes, part time is sooo hard to get adjusted.

Plus if they are being held somewhere else, everything you do to teach them differently will always be erased when they go spend the 3 days somewhere else.

I would NOT last in that situation and would have to term.

[Dstewart20]

Disruptive PT twins

Thanks everyone for your input! Sigh. I've decided to hire a friend to help out on the two days the twins are here and to help as the new babies transition to their new surroundings. ( basically I'll make $0 by doing this) If the twins continue to have trouble acclimating then I will definitely terminate their enrollment. Anyone know a way to diplomatically let their mom know that this may be a possibility? I didn't want to take them originally but the woman practically stood on her head and begged me. Changed her work schedule and everything. This is a huge weight on my shoulders and I feel so uncomfortable with this situation.

[Blackcat31]

Thanks everyone for your input! Sigh. I've decided to hire a friend to help out on the two days the twins are here and to help as the new babies transition to their new surroundings. ( basically I'll make $0 by doing this) If the twins continue to have trouble acclimating then I will definitely terminate their enrollment. Anyone know a way to diplomatically let their mom know that this may be a possibility? I didn't want to take them originally but the woman practically stood on her head and begged me. Changed her work schedule and everything. This is a huge weight on my shoulders and I feel so uncomfortable with this situation.

Just be honest with the parents and let them know you are willing to "try" to accommodate the twin's need to be held constantly by having an additional staff person. I'd make sure to let them know that you are doing this out of pocket in hopes that things eventually change....

Let them know you are willing to keep this paid staff person on for X amount of days/weeks (set a time limit FOR SURE) and that if there is no significant improvement, you will need to term.

I would not "try" more than 4-6 weeks.

I would present this info to the parents as a bid for THEM to begin changing things at home/grandmas because like I said if you do all the work and they (and grandma) continue to do as they've always done, you will burn out, be left broke and stressed and they will have no disruption to their lives at all,...... that's a little too one sided for me.

Outline the issues (crying all the time, wanting to be held all the time, etc) and don't make it personal...just what services you can and can't provide. You cant possibly provide the care/attention these twins want or need while still caring for other babies... it would be unfair of the parents to expect that.

So set a time limit on how long you'll try to fix this
Outline what you would like to see the parents do
Use this time as a probationary period so if there is no change, the family won't be surprised if you end up having to term

HTH