[kalhayd2]

Kenzie starts daycare tomorrow! This is the first time I've left her for more than an hour or so(other than when I had surgery). She typically does quite well with friends/family watching her, but she glued herself to my leg when we were touring her current center. She did let go to "explore" but ran like the wind when she thought I was leaving.
Tomorrow DH is taking her since he can go into work later than me(her center opens at 7, I have to be at work by to attempt to give her some time before we leave her(and she's WAY more clingy to me than him). But Wednesday I'm taking her with hopes that I won't feel AS guilty leaving her since she should be a bit familiar with the surroundings.

Any tips to make her more comfortable? She's shy and reserved- and a total Mama's girl. I just don't want her to think we abandoned her. Probably more heartbreaking for me than her. In a perfect world she'd wave goodbye to me and play independently until we got back.

[ruthann8]

Make the goodbye short and sweet.


Ellamae cries worse when I leave her with dh than with the sitter! With dh she sobs but with the sitter just a little fussing. But they assure me she is as happy as can be as soon as I leave. I usually bring her in and put her by some toys and play with her for a couple minutes. Then I give her a kiss & hug, say goodbye and leave right away. Going back for just one more hug or one more kiss just makes it worse. GL

[Magic_Mikki]

I agree with Ruthann to make the goodbyes short and sweet. The longer the goodbyes take, the longer the saddness drags on. My daycare person said that all kids she's ever had in her daycare always stop crying almost immediately after mom or dad leaves! So it might be sad to leave her at first but just know that she is going to be well taken care of (hopefully!!) and that she doesn't really miss you "that much" when you leave! The providers are so good with distracting them after you leave. Another thing I always to when I drop Alex off is to make sure I tell her that I will be back soon. I always try to remember to tell her that I will be back, and at first she had no idea what I was saying, but now that she's older she knows what I'm saying and what it means.

[DivasMomma]

From working in a day care i agree with everyone else...just kiss her and hug her, put her down and go. Believe me when I say they will call you if she doesnt calm down after a while, but in my experiences, even the clingiest child will calm down after 10 mins of watching other kids play And you are very right about it being more heart breaking for you!

[kalhayd2]

Today was the BIG day..

I came home from work w/ a major migrane(staring a computers ALL day) and had to take my meds and lay in a dark room for a few hours. Felt guilty as I planned on spending lots of time with Kenzie, but I was hugging the toilet instead.
I started crying from the second I had to wake her up until I got to work(managed to stay dry eyed for the actual drop off, but was crying bucket loads by the time I got to the car).
She screamed and cried when I left, but her teacher carried her and comforted her. I let her have her paci and blankey as I left, too(normally nap/bedtime only things). I checked on her at lunch and she was "fast asleep" apparently, rocked by her teacher and layed on her mat for 2 hours according to her daily report card.
She also ate most of her snacks/lunch and enjoyed her outdoor play. SHe did cry when I came and got her. One last ditch effort to tell me she was mad at me.
All and all a great day for both of us(Especially after hearing she was doing well at lunch)!
Hopefully, tomorrrow will go well(with less tears on both ends)!

[Labhaoise]

s
Sounds like you made it throught the day nearly unscathed. Hope that tomorrow is better, with no migraines!

[punkepooh]

I did daycare/preschool for a few years and I agree with what is said, I was going to say I good teacher will take her under her wing until she adjusts to the routine, she may cry for awhile at drop off but as she becomes more comfortable it will subside, I have had children who do well after a few days some it takes weeks, but it sounds like she has a great teacher and you have nothing to worry about!!

[purelegance]

izzy cried and clung to me for about a week, then she just clung to me, by the 3rd or 4th week as soon as we got to the sitter's she was telling me "bye!" and shutting the door before i could even put her diaper bag down! i did pretty good until she started closing the door in my face lol! hope everything goes well!

[momonline]

Accept that it will take some time for her to adjust to the new arrangement.

Try to keep your goodbye routine the same each day and pick her up at the same time each day. This makes things more predictable and she will adjust faster.

Good luck and I hope she settles in soon.