Early Arriving Children

[momma2girls]

Up, changed and ready for the day- I start at 7:30 am- I do have pajama days once per month though.

[Abigail]

Our first arrival is a few minutes after 6 am. This child arrives in pjs and goes back to bed on a sleeping mat until 8 or so. This child is almost 5 and has a bag to bring the clothes for the day in and changes in the bathroom. All the other early arrivals usually lay down on the couch or sit in the foam chairs for a bit. One young 2 year old always wants to sleep so he gets set down when he arrives and he sticks his butt up in the air and is fast asleep. He's a good nap sleeper after lunch too, it's wonderful!

For the OP, it would make me happy to know a parent really likes what I have to offer. You could consider raising your rates or having the parent help out more in other areas like donations of household things for crafts or something.

[PitterPatter]

I don't accept early arrivals. My 1st is at 8:00am. Even if I did have early arrivals I would keep my rules the same. Please bring your child dressed and ready for the day. If they needed to go back to sleep and it was super early I would allow it of course but the rules must be the same for every child in my daycare.

[squareone]

I open at 7 and I require that the children arrive dressed for the day and ready to play.

[Mom_of_two]

Dressed and ready. I open at 7, earliest right now is about 720. I won't open earlier than that so don't have to worry about it.

[NiNi.R.]

Thanks for all the input. Doing it different never really crossed my mind until I heard what this other daycare did...so it made me curious to find out what others did. For the most part I really don't mind them coming in their jammies. I only do that for the kids that come before 7. Everyone else must come dressed and ready for the day.

[NiNi.R.]

I don't accept early arrivals. My 1st is at 8:00am. Even if I did have early arrivals I would keep my rules the same. Please bring your child dressed and ready for the day. If they needed to go back to sleep and it was super early I would allow it of course but the rules must be the same for every child in my daycare.

Opening at 8a.m. sounds like heaven::...that's near in possible to do in my community. We live in such a small town most people have to travel out of town for work and in most cases means they have to leave pretty early.

[sharlan]

It doesn't matter to me if they come in jammies or dressed. I would have my parents bring a bag with the week's clothes on Monday. Then on Fri I would send back the jammies, sometimes washed, sometimes not. I enjoy brushing little girls' hair as long as they're not screamers about it.

[Former Teacher]

I have 3 girls and 1 boy that show up in between 6 and 6:30am. All 3 girls show up in their jammies and usually go back to sleep as soon as they get here. Between the 3 DCG and my own daughter I spend a good chunk of time helping dress them and doing their hair for the day. I thought it was reasonable for parents to expect me to do this for children that are pulled out of bed so early until I was on maternity leave recently and one of the moms told me that their back up Daycare required all the children to come dressed and hair done for the day. She went on and on how it was such a hassle for her to pull the girls out of bed even earlier in the morning than normal to get this done and was glad that I was back to work so she didn't have to do that anymore.

Just curious what the policies are that you have for your early arrivals?

Sorry but IMO...that is just pure laziness. Parents pass enough things on to us providers when it concerns their children as it is. Next thing it will be...oh I didn't have time to change little Johnny's diaper. Or...oh I didn't have time last night to give a bath. So on and so on.

At my former center the only ones allowed in their jammies were the infants. Everyone else was up and ready. Even the ones that came at 6:30. No more back to bed ::

[youretooloud]

Just curious what the policies are that you have for your early arrivals?

I'm like you.. I'd rather they come in, sleep and wake up a little later, but happier.. I'd also rather do their hair (they could dress themselves somewhat)

ALL of my kids undress themselves at naptime anyway, so I still have to dress the entire group every after noon. I'm so used to it, I guess I never gave it much thought.

[nannyde]

ALL of my kids undress themselves at naptime anyway, so I still have to dress the entire group every after noon. I'm so used to it, I guess I never gave it much thought.

They take their clothes off during nap?

Oh lawdy that would cost me a fortune in staff time.

If they start messing with their clothes I put a pair of backwards footed jammies OVER their clothes during nap.

I don't want anyone undressing and I don't want any diaper diving or removing their diaper. I worry about kids being able to remove their clothing and wrap it around their necks.

[cheerfuldom]

I don't accept anyone earlier than 7:30. Early arrivals are a pain. ALL of the parents try it though. Everyone comes ready for the day.

[daycare]

I used to do 6-6 and had kids come in pjs and go right back to sleep. I didn't care, they learned to change their own clothes. Some needed help but it's a great skill to teach them. Parents are wowed by their independence at such a young age. All the girls in my care have craZy messy hair and I redo it before meals if necessary or before going home.
When your open that early I think it should be ok.

[youretooloud]

They take their clothes off during nap?

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Yep.. even the littlest ones will only sleep in skivvies. I think it's Southwest thing, because all of my friend's kids do the same thing.

[Candyland]

I have 3 girls and 1 boy that show up in between 6 and 6:30am. All 3 girls show up in their jammies and usually go back to sleep as soon as they get here. Between the 3 DCG and my own daughter I spend a good chunk of time helping dress them and doing their hair for the day. I thought it was reasonable for parents to expect me to do this for children that are pulled out of bed so early until I was on maternity leave recently and one of the moms told me that their back up Daycare required all the children to come dressed and hair done for the day. She went on and on how it was such a hassle for her to pull the girls out of bed even earlier in the morning than normal to get this done and was glad that I was back to work so she didn't have to do that anymore.

Just curious what the policies are that you have for your early arrivals?

I see nothing absolutely wrong with them coming in their jammies and going back to sleep. Obviously, you've got their needs in priority. Don't feel bad about that at all.