My son started day care (Turtlefuns in Woburn) 2 months ago in the infant room. My 3 yo started in the infant room when he was 10 mo and moved to T1 (toddler room) when he was 1 yo. That felt like a good time for a transition. Now the owner wants the 9 mo old to move up... next week! She is giving me the choice of moving up now or waiting until September 2011. She says the T1 room is more of an infant/toddler mix than before but my issue is that my 9 mo old will be expected to sleep on a mat, in a sleeping bag at 12:00. I think he's too young. On the weekends, he naps in his crib around 10:00/10:30 but they're trying to stretch him out and keep him up till 11:30. I think he's so overtired he ends up taking 45-60 min naps. He's exhausted by the time I pick him up; the poor little guy.
So, any advice? Should I keep him in the infant room even though he may be stuck there until he is 1.5 yo or move to T1? I think the "September threat" could be a bluff - they'll have to find space for him in T1 once he starts walking all over the new babies, but if it's not a bluff, he's stuck.
Thanks,
K.
I would keep him in the infant room. Have you looked over their guidlines that you are given when you sign them up? Many daycares are not supposed to move the children up until they have reached a specific age. I would look everywhere to see if they can even move him early. No way should they even consider putting a 9 month old in a sleeping bag! He should be in a crib where he is safe! If they push the issue, I would find a new daycare!
I own a childcare center and I can tell you I have NEVER put a nine month old in my toddler room. Most times I don't even take them out until around 13 or 14 months. First, to make sure they can handle the toddler schedule (nap time, and eating), are walking steady, etc. Second, state law in NJ states a child has to be in a crib or playpen until they are 12 months old. Check your state laws. It sounds to me like she needs the spot for another infant and doesn't want to turn them away so she is trying to move your son out. If the infant room is currently full them maybe I am right, if not I still don't understand moving a baby that young into a toddler room. The fact that she is giving you this choice or telling you that you will have to wait, isn't very professional to me and really isn't taking your child's individual needs into consideration. Sounds fishy to me!!!!
I have worked as a lead teacher for La Petite Academy in the Ones room and helped out in the infant room ( because I adore babies!!!) I have Never heard of having a child younger than one mixed in, at La Petite we had infants, One's room, Two's room etc and it was all based on AGE for a very good reason, they RARELY made exceptions and if they did it was usually for FINANCIAL reasons and NOT what was best for the child. I am actually pro center if you can believe it, but moms have to be advocates for their children, I would not do the move! I cannot even imagine with licensing how that is ok. When I worked there I did allow my 2 year old to be moved in with the 3's group early because they needed the space, but my son was advanced and the 3 yr Teacher was one of mt best friends so I was not worried, in fact I give Marnie all credit for potty training my son in a weeks time!
I do think she is bluffing, there is no way she can know that far in advance who will be at the center and as you said one cannot have a toddler climbing over the babies...one thing to think on, do you want your 9 month old being toddled on by older one year olds?
I say keep him in the infant room for now. I, too, think the Sept thing is a bluff. Anyhow, it would be better for your 9 month old to be stepping over the infants than the toddlers stepping on your 9 month old :-)
This is one of the drawbacks of a daycare center (and I am not against centers). They try to put the child on their routine, not on the child's routine. Our center let the infants in the infant room nap on their schedule. I would be upset about the mat sleeping. That doesn't seem safe for an infant that is just starting to crawl/walk. And a big difference between the infant and toddler rooms is the staffing. I say, if they give you the choice, wait to move him. Trust me, when you are ready, they will have him moved in a flash. Infant space is in hot demand and brings in more money, and they will want that spot, which is probably why they are trying to move you now.
Keep him in the infant room. He should be there until 15 months anyway, so 18 months wouldn't be terrible, even if it isn't a bluff. 9 months old is in no way a toddler. He can't appreciate any "curriculum" and do the things toddlers do. Good luck.
The move should be based on developmental readiness, not the center's needs.
Moving him up at 9 month is completely inappropriate. He should still be taking two naps a day in a crib. Also, he isn't as mobile as the older children are and there is a huge safety risk.
Keeping him in an infant room until he is 20 months old is also inappropriate. He should not need two naps a day, and he is entitled to the developmental challenges that are available in a toddler room. He'll be eating meals, won't be on formula or bottles, and his level of care is completely different. Finally, since he'll be more mobile (walking) he deserves access to appropriate gross motor opportunities that are not appropriate for crawlers, first steppers - and he would be a safety hazard to the other kids.
Call their bluff. It sounds like they're wanting to kick your son out to make room for an infant - which, from a business perspective makes more sense because the teacher to infant ratio is lower, thus they can charge more. If he were borderline and close to the age where he could go to the toddler room, then I'd say yeah go ahead and do it. Unfortunately it does not sound like this is the case. They need to make a decision that is best for your child and it doesn't sound like this is it.
K.,
I have twin boys in daycare.This happened to us. They told us all the signs werre there for them to move up (with the checklist) but my boys were at least 1. We moved them and I dunno if they were still premature developmentally but they were getting hurt every day to the point where we asked them to be moved back to the infant room. At one point the owner actually said something to me about having another baby waiting to come in to the daycare in which case I called her on that and said "well thats not my problem is it?". You are just asking opinions here I know, but I would not move your son up already. But I can understand why the thought of having him in the infant room until 1.5 really stinks too. It's really disappointing to think daycare owners would play on our emotions like that to make a buck, but I guarantee she has a new baby who wants to come in now which would guarantee another year at that higher rate...when yoru son moves out in 2 months, she doesn't have a guaranteed baby backup for the infant room. I think if it were us, looking back now, we would have left our boys in there and ignored their "recommendations" but we didn't know any better. I think the answer she doesn't want is that you are keeping your son in the infant room. I would tell her you are disappointed she is putting you in this position but you decided you think it's best that he stay. Let's be honest, if in 4 months another happy couple walk in with an infant, she will make you the offer to move again. She'll figuire it out. In the end, I've sadly realized it's about the $ not the child. It's a really hard place to be, but either way you will make the right decision. One other thing if you are stil unsure is to ask her to tell you how many children are in that next room and what the age ranges really are and what the youngest in the class is and that you would like to see the room again so you can see how baby proofed it is for a 9 month old. Depending on her answer you may feel more comfortable moving him up. See I'm even confused now! Good luck!
.
If I were you, I would move my kids from this daycare unless you truly love this place in all other aspects. As the post below said children should not be moved according the center's needs but based on the child's development. I have a 9 month old who just moved in to the older infants room(9-12) this week and the daycare that he goes to has a transition room(12-18) before they are moved to the toddler room. There are developmental changes/steps they need to go through at each stage of transition so moving a 9 month old to a toddler room is as disruptive as allowing a 1.5 year old to remain in the infant room.
You are paying this place to provide good care for your child so hold your ground and I hope there are plenty of other quality care centers in your area, if it comes to that. All the Best to you!
Just about any child care center will start an infant sleeping on a cot around 10 months so when they move up to the toddler room they are used to it. That way the transition is much easier, especially at nap time. They should also be making sure the baby is getting to the point of only one nap a day. That is not a valid reason for not wanting a child moved.
Also, you said it is an infant/toddler room. What are the teacher ratios. In Oklahoma a baby room has 1 teacher for 4 infants. In the toddler room it is 1 teacher for 6 toddlers. If a child that is not yet 1 moves up they have to have no more than 2 babies in that group or they are out of teacher/child ratio. I would ask specifically about the ratio and ages of children in the group.
It sounds like they are doing the right thing, especially if they have a lot of calls for infants needing child care. Having a class of mixed babies and toddlers is not a bad idea. This is what they usually call a transition room. It helps the babies get used to sitting in a high chair, feeding themselves, cruising and walking, etc...they should be moved out of this room when they are ready for sitting at a table and doing stuff like easy crafts, painting, coloring, etc...
I cannot imagine why they would not be planning on moving your child to the toddler room anyway at age 1, that throws off their ratios in the baby room. Baby rooms are for 6 weeks up to, at most,1 year old, the toddler room is for kids up to age 2. Then the kids start a regular curriculum based class much like preschool in the 2, 3, and 4 year old classrooms then start Kindergarten.
BTW, your cost should go down since the baby will be classified as a toddler. At the very least on his birthday it should go down quite a bit.
It sounds a little early to me. I haven't done daycare in a looong time but when my son went they had certain milestones they had to pass before going to the next room. At 9 months your son probably isn't even walking yet, whereas the older kids would be. And what about eating, is he in a high chair in the infant room, where/how would he be fed in the toddler room. I would just keep him in the infant room.
