How Do You Know When Your Child Is Ready for the Toddler Program?

I too, transitioned my daughter from a bottle to sippy cups at around 14 months. She still took a bottle at bedtime for a few months after that but only a cup in daycare. What my daycare did to help prepare her for transition to the toddler room was get her on a one nap shedule in advance of her move. Once she was used to that, she moved to the new room. I was worried about the transition from crib to mat for nap but it was a total non-issue. She never had any trouble. There is an element of wanting to do what the other kids are doing. If you have daycare providers who are willing to give her some extra help, I think she will be fine

Definately follow your gut feeling, not theirs. However, If you know that you are a person who is resistant to change yourself you may want to reevaluate a little to be sure that it's her that you feel is not ready, instead of you.(just a thought, as I know some friends that are more hesistant to transition when the kids are fine with it) My daycare usually spends a few months "in transition" where the little kiddies will spend just the morning in the toddler room and then it's back to the comfort of their crib for naptime and the afternoon. It's all in how much you trust your daycare, if you're kinda knew there maybe you haven't had time to really know how they are and gain that sort of "you know how to do this" trust. I remember feeling reluctant myself (with just a hint of excitement) about the toddler room, and I would chuckle "you think you're going to get him to sleep on a cot, gooooood luck with that" but they did, day one!! yahoooo it made the transition at home that much easier!! So, at 15 months out of nowhere --- Perfect, I"m going to like this I thought. And though he was still on two naps most days - nap times at home were getting pretty eratic, yes two of them but I never knew when or how long, so the switch to one nap was not so horrible, he adjusted really well, and finally slept the same time EVERY day, with an even easier early bedtime. Things were much easier to plan around because thanks to daycare routine, he had a routine to follow day in and day out I stuck to it at home whenever possible. Good Luck with what you decide. Oooh ya,, i also remember sippy cup craziness, i went thru soo many brands til i found one he would use, it had a really soft top "like" a bottle then I gradually went from one cup to another as he got use to it. I took all his bottles away on his 12 mos. birthday, he didn't care once I found the sippy cup he liked.

Sounds to me like they are rushing her for convenience. I would go with your gut. If she is happy now...stick with that until she seems unhappy. Day care can be about the provider's needs not the child's.

Hi A.,

Well it is a transition time..and all kids may take longer or shorter to do things so keep that in mind. I know for my daughter I transitioned her off the bottle at about 15 months with the help of my daycare. It wasn't easy at first and it took about 2 weeks but it did work. Sippy cups are just the next stage and I felt it was right for my daughter at the time. My day care also started her sleeping on a cot from time to time and she took to it fine. My daughter will be two next month and that is when they transition into the toddler room. She has already been going over for morning groups and activites. She actually enjoys it more than being with the little babies. Your daughter will adjust to the nap time schedule. It might be one longer nap than two little naps. As long as you feel comfortable with her progress and the daycare she is at, she should have no problem. If you feel they are moving her up too soon, maybe you could say something to the director. Transitions can be hard at times, but we all go through them. She will be okay. Good luck.

Hmm..I want to know first of all how a day care is going to tell you when to take the bottle away from your daughter? That should be your decision, and when it's right, it's right. My daughter transitioned into the toddler room around 18months of age. She was still drinking maybe 2 bottles a day. Now, she's 19 months, and still takes one bottle of milk but only at bed time. She isn't interested in the bottle during the day but I think it's becuase she doesn't see any of the other toddlers drinking from one. Also, it was the same thing for us at home when it came to nap time...usually two a day, BUT at day care they take only one nap for 2 hours and 45 minutes, after lunch. I was worried about that also, but they tell me she sleeps almost as long as the other toddlers and again, she sees everyone laying down on there mats so she does it too. At home, my daughter is in her crib. I say try it out. But if you feel it isn't working, then ask to have her brought back into what I'm assuming is the infant room. I feel for you, as I went through the same thoughts and feelings with my daughter and she was older than your daughter. All I know is that these kids tend to follow what all the other kids are doing, so maybe your daugter will do just that and be just fine. Also at our day care they take the toddlers outside 2 times a day to play on their playground. Naturally when I first heard that they take 2 hours and 45 minute naps in one shot my first reaction what "oh my gosh, she'll never go to bed at night." But because they go outside and do that physical activity 2x a day she is exausted at night, and goes to bed the earleist she's ever gone to bed, and that's between 7 and 8pm. So like I said, give a shot. Personally, I feel that day care makes or kids grow up too fast. but I bet that if I was lucky enough to stay home I baby her too much.

Hello,
I am a mom of a 3 year old and an occupational therapist. I don't think you should rush her into a program and if she is not ready to take the bottle away that is ok too. My daughter didn't get off of hers till 2 and she was weaned and the pacifier till 2 1/2 and she is fine. I started sending her to school at 2 1/2 because I work at preschool , but the first month was rough. good luck

I had the same concerns with my first son, now 3, when his daycare told me they were transitioning him from the infant room to the Toddler room around 12 months old. I was afraid he was not ready. One of the key factors was that he was getting bored in the infant room and would try to "escape" to the toddler room. My daycare brought a cot into the infant room until he adjusted to napping on the cot, and they split his day between the infant and toddler rooms. Once he was fully trasitioned I realized it was the right move for him.