My daughter is 2.5 and has been in (the same) daycare since 8 months old, just two days a week. She used to cry hysterically when I dropped her off, lasted a few months, then settled back down. Recently, in the last few months particularly, she has been hysterical again at drop off. When I pick her up she is happy and loves to show me all of the amazing things she's created and done throughout the day, but the mornings are just horrible! I am also 6 months pregnant and wondering if this could be contributing. Other mothers have told me that by the time they are there she is happy and running around the playground and rarely see her still upset! Can anyone offer any suggestions on how I can calm her at drop off to make her morning less upsetting (and mine!) Im driving away on daycare mornings with tears running down my face and my heart is breaking.
Daycare Dropoff - Very upsetting for mum & daughter
Tuesday, 3 December 2013 - 09:49
Daycare Dropoff - Very upsetting for mum & daughter
Posted in:
Parenthood Guilt, Baby & Toddler
3 Replies
It is horrible. Have you had any other major changes (moved houses, moved to the next room at childcare, etc.?) Is there always someone she knows there? Maybe give her something special she can take with her? I know my son has gone through stages on and off and after a break it is always hard, but I give him something to look forward to after her has been and something to take and he is usually good.
Good luck x
Ohhh Lauren! HUGS! It's so hard isn't it!!! I was talking to the kindy teacher the other day (because my 3 year old daughter seemed to settle really quickly!) and she was saying some of them start off fantastic. Then a few weeks into it, just lose it and become really difficult to leave there. Especially when there are changes in routine etc. Maybe she is picking up on the pregnancy? I'm not sure. But the kindy teacher assured me that 9 times out of 10, as soon as us mummies are out the door and they can't see us, they'll turn around and start playing and laughing as if nothing were wrong! Sneeky little things aren't they lol And I promise if your child was seriously upset and uncontrollable, they wouldn't let her suffer, they would ring you straight away. My 5 year old daughter went 2 days a week since she was 3. And every few months or so, she would crack up at drop off. Just completely out of the blue? The only way we dealt with it was to not buy into it, so to speak. And to not hang around cuddling her. (apparently that is the pet peeve of kindy teachers and makes it harder for them lol I did not know this!). So it's a quick cuddle and kiss and a "you'll be ok! see you this afternoon" and just keep making the point that you'll be back later! also, I always talk kindy up! We even have our own song (pretty sad I know lol) but we sing it every kindy morning! Even Miss 5 helps sing it! Basically just make kindy as exciting as possible and it's soooo fantastic and never let them see you upset LOL The minute they see you reacting to them crying, its game over!!! And then the best part is, you'll get them loving kindy. Then first day of prep comes and they're a mess! lol
I feel for you and know your pain! It's awful!! My now 6 1/2 yo cried nearly every day even in prep. It's only now she can do stop drop and go that we don't have tears, but if I walk her into class she still starts to get upset, but at least I can leave without a big fuss.....heartbreaking! On the flip side, I do family day care and have had many a child carry on like it's the end of the world when mum leaves only to stop, completely and with no signs of distress all day within a minute (most of the time before her car has left). I call it guilt tears (because as a mum there is never enough guilt, right?). I was always told my daughter stopped quickly and got on with her day and trusted that was the case, especially when I would sneak a peak at her after pretending to go and seeing how happy she was at pick up. No real suggestions on what to do because nothing I tried worked, just trust that she is happy and that you are just that damn awesome she can't get enough of you xoxo