How to know if the daycare is okay for your baby

Hi my son started daycare at 4 months old and I would say this isn’t our experience at all!! Babies cry that’s normal but they also need to be soothed!! There is an adjustment period but our baby grew a bond with his teachers and was able to be soothed by them! It doesn’t hurt to look at other daycares nearby! I fell in love with our daycare so maybe you just need to keep looking since you kind of already have an odd feeling! Best of luck💛💛

thanks for the suggestion. I asked because I just wanted to be sure if i am not overthinking as a mom . I really wanted to like this daycare. But my mom instincts are always little off with the teacher being little rude . But I didn’t know if that’s okay

Stick with your instincts because that would send me over the edge and i would never let my baby stay there!!!

I would say follow your gut and mom’s intuition.
Here is my story: i am back to work at 6 mos and have enrolled my baby to the daycare back in a day when i was still pregnant with my baby.

This private home based family owned daycare came as a recommendation from a colleague of mine. I trusted her judgment. Well when Noelle attended this facility for just a week i already knew this will not work out. Unfortunately two tours i did here were after hours and i didnt see how the facility was operated when kids are here.

This is a mixed group of 10 toddlers and 2 infants where it is just a husband and a wife run it… 😭
I mean sometimes i feel overwhelmed when it is just me and my baby - i dont know how they do it just two of them.

To my shock when i came to pick up my baby the red flags were right away:
- toddlers running around in the same room where infants are. They can easily step on them or inadvertently hit a baby with a toy etc

Continuing…

- no one tales shoes off in this facility… and the second infant who is 10 mos old crawls on this dirty floor and puts everything in his mouth. I was so disgusted by this: imagine what we bring home on our shoes!!! Someone’s spit, dog’s shit, germs, bugs, etc.. and babies crawl on this dirty surface and then surely put their hands in the mouth. Not to mention that if they see a spider/inspect, they will be sure to grab it and put it in the mouth!!! 🤢
- when i was ablut to leave with Noelle the owner told me to be careful when i turn around so that i dont step on another baby. This 10 mos old boy. What?!!! This is horrible. Free for all.

I knew at that moment my baby doesn’t belong there!

Not to mention they were baffled when i asked them for daily reports on feedings, naps etc. apparently they are not used to doing that.

In addition i noticed that Noelle was wiped when i would pick her up and tried to still smile at me but she was exhausted. She didnt sleep there.

The kids all slept in the same tiny room all cramped up. And Noelle needs steady peaceful environment to sleep and rest. Obviously this is not the best scenario for a 6 mos old and she was the youngest there.

We lost money as we were supposed to give a 4 week. Screw the money as i dont mess around with my baby safety and wellbeing.

I then found a great home based alternative where it is like a shared nanny. This lady has a 9 month old son and she was looking for another same age baby. So i enrolled Noelle there. This home is pristine and super clean.

They dont wear shoes in the house and have the entire room equipped for playtime and baby proof.
She makes organic purees herself. She puts her down for a nap regularly and Noelle sleeps at least 60 min each time! And she has an actual cute crib for her and not a pack n play instead of a crib like the other facility.

I know we got super lucky and this a god send, but my point is - trust ur intuition and mom’s instincts

Definitely look around! But also try talking to them! If their behavior doesn’t change then I would definitely see if you can make a move.

The daycare should be going by your lead. I use a pacifier but I asked them to try their best to limit pacifier use to sleep time - but he wasn’t feeling well one week and I suggested pacifier more. Both times they listened and used it per my instructions.

Plus they don’t just let him cry, but don’t coddle him either. Sometimes he whines and they let him for a bit so he can try figuring things out or self soothing which is a good thing! But they 100% go pick him up or even rock him a little if he is having trouble sleeping. Both of which they talked to me about so we are on the same page.