Needing Help with Adjusting to Daycare.

Hi A.! I currently am a full-time Stay at home Mom, but when my middle daughter was 2 (She's now 7), i went back to work full time out of necessity. She had a hard rime of it also. It does feel horrible walking out the door as your child/children are crying for you! My babysittter also was a very good, trustworthy person...so i knew it was'nt because of the care she gave why she cried...it was separation anxiety. That too, is normal, because she was used to a pattern of spending everyday with Mom or grandma. Much like your kids! What i did, after two weeks of this, was to make a special photo album just for her. I put it in a kid-proof album, and placed pictures of everyone she knew and loved in it. Lots of pictures of Mommy and Daddy, Pics of grandparents, pics of her big sister, etc.etc...It worked wonders! Her daycare provider said that everytime she got sad or started in as i was leaving, she'd show her the album. My daughter was so engrossed in the photos that she did'nt cry. She learned that Mom was 'there' in a way. Plus, i think she liked the fact that that was her own "Special" book. She was free to take it out whenever she wanted to look at it. She enjoyed pointing us out to her daycare provider and little friends. I think it's worth a shot for you! Either get one album together, or make double prints and make two...one for each of your girls to have. I think it will work. Kids enjoy looking at pictures and colors, and like to have something "special" to call their own. Good luck!

Hi A.. I am also an A.. I have a 4 1/2 year old and one who is 14 months. When my older one was little, her daddy and I switched off our schedules so one of us was there with her most all of the time-- filled in occassionally with a sitter but for the most part just tried to be one of us. It was very hard when she was 19 months and had to start at a day care center even though she only went 3 or 4 days. One thing you could try is having a few favorite play items that you only have at the sitter's house. The theory being they would get excited to see those things they like to play with and they know they don't have them at home. I was able to spend 2 weeks a couple of hours at the care center with my older girl-- that helped but it was still hard. We did the photo album item too-- that definitely helped. Ultimately-- if you can try your best to help transition-- but then once it is time to go-- you give hugs and kisses and lots of eye contact while you tell them you will be back soon-- and then actually leave-- it is a little easier on everyone. When you linger after you have decided to leave, it may make them feel like you could change your mind about leaving. I hope this helps-- this is so hard!! I am about to begin leaving my 14 month old at a care center-- I have been home with her the whole time until now-- and I dread it too- I know the tears will come (probably more from me then her- hee hee).

You may try weaning your daughters into spending time with your child care provider. Like reading a book to them together with your provider, and gradually let her do more. So they get used to her. So eventually you can just sneak out. There are some more tips in Parenting Magazine this called "How to Stop Worrying about Childcare," as a child care provider, I found it really helpful.

Hi i am 13 years old i have been babysitting fro 2 years. I babysitted in a daycare before to. I am very experienced and i love kids. You can contact me on my cell at ###-###-#### and i can give u references thanks

A. b i had a hard time sending my son to a daycare. my mom watched him is first year of life. then she would not watch him anymore and i was scared of daycared. but now our son is 3 1/2 and he has been going and we love his daycare. they do so many activities with him. our daycare let us call anytime we wanted to and check to see how he is doing. im sure your little ones has friends their and they are fine. just call them sometimes to see how they are doing. our son goes to daycare everyday. good luck. A.

I found that when I went back to work and had to start my son in daycare and yes he did cry for me, in time it well get better they just have to have time to ajust to it. I went throw this with my son for about 2 months

You aren't mentioning the age of the children which can have a lot to do with their reaction to your leaving them at the child care providers.
Grandparents are familiar beings. They know what to expect, what they can do, and still have basically undivided attention from these loving souls.
Hard as it is for the children and for you, they will adjust. It would have been easier for all of you if they had a serious and constant schedule. They thrive better on a consistant situation and you all ready mentioned that they have not gone to the sitters on two Mondays in a row. The territory isn't familiar, the person is not familiar, and there may be other children they have to adapt to as well. This phase will pass and they will be fine.