Daycare worries

First day of daycare before I go back to work. I called, she said they were fine but she did not feed them the full amounts they were supposed to eat for two feedings in a row. I had written her a whole sheet on how much they should eat and how often. After she told me they only at an ounce or two int he morning and Nikola ate 4 ounces later (he should have 4.5 and he usually has the whole bottle) I told her the pediatrician said they should eat a minimum of 4-4.5 ounces and they usually have the whole bottle. I am really worried. My boys were doing so well and what if she won't feed them enough?

What do I do? Do I need to find a new daycare provider? I don't want my boys to starve, and I don't want them to go back to cluster feeding in the middle of the night.... we JUST got them to STTN....

 

How old are you babies? It might just be that they're trying to get comfortable/adjust in a different environment. I would monitor their eating habits at home [to see if they change] and also call the pedi just to make sure.

 

QUOTE(Suzy! @ Jan 23 2009, 04:48 PM) [snapback]1159424[/snapback]
How old are you babies? It might just be that they're trying to get comfortable/adjust in a different environment. I would monitor their eating habits at home [to see if they change] and also call the pedi just to make sure.



They are twelve weeks old and almost, never, every don't down their whole bottle. Sometimes they get sleepy, but with putting the nipple back in their mouth they take the whole bottle. They've never had problems with strangers feeding them- my sister they've never met, etc.

 

QUOTE(Suzy! @ Jan 23 2009, 01:48 PM) [snapback]1159424[/snapback]
How old are you babies? It might just be that they're trying to get comfortable/adjust in a different environment. I would monitor their eating habits at home [to see if they change] and also call the pedi just to make sure.


First, as a disclaimer, after the first week or two, we never paid very close to attention to how much the kids ate. We let them eat until they were done, sometimes they ate a whole bottle, sometimes they didn't. So, only eating a few ounces vs. the whole bottle doesnt' really phase me.

Second, take a deep breath, babies eat when they are hungry. I agree with Suzy, although I would probably give it a day or two before I call the pedi. I think your babies are 3-4 months old? Daycare will be very overwhelming for them at first, but they will adjust!

 

I would suggest talking regularly with the daycare, just like you are. Also, I would suggest giving the babies a couple of weeks to get used to a new environment :hug:.

 

QUOTE(akameme @ Jan 23 2009, 01:53 PM) [snapback]1159436[/snapback]
First, as a disclaimer, after the first week or two, we never paid very close to attention to how much the kids ate. We let them eat until they were done, sometimes they ate a whole bottle, sometimes they didn't. So, only eating a few ounces vs. the whole bottle doesnt' really phase me.

Second, take a deep breath, babies eat when they are hungry. I agree with Suzy, although I would probably give it a day or two before I call the pedi. I think your babies are 3-4 months old? Daycare will be very overwhelming for them at first, but they will adjust!



I have to agree! That being said, if they aren't getting enough, they will wake you up to eat (unless you ignore them). 12 weeks is still very little.

 

QUOTE(SweetGirl @ Jan 23 2009, 05:11 PM) [snapback]1159531[/snapback]
I would suggest talking regularly with the daycare, just like you are. Also, I would suggest giving the babies a couple of weeks to get used to a new environment :hug:.

I agree. THey might eat different for different people. This is new to them and they will need to adjust. Keep an open line of communication with the day care providers and be flexible. :hug: I know this is hard.

 

I was always kind of strict about tracking how much they ate too, and I'd freak out if they didn't do what they normally did. My babies always guzzled their bottles, almost always finishing them. When they wouldn't, I would freak out that it would affect their night waking. So I understand how you're feeling. A lot of times we had issues with others feeding ours. A family member, or friend, etc. The baby would become distracted and slow down or stop. The person would assume they were done, would give me the bottle back less than half gone and say "I guess they weren't hungry." I used to get so annoyed, even though it was no one's fault. But I'd always give the baby a few minutes, hold them myself and finish feeding them. Most of the time they would finish no problem for me. Could you maybe have a talk with the daycare provider to sort some things out and be on the same page. Maybe you can give some guidelines on how to feed them. Like don't give up right away, maybe take a little break and come back in 5 minutes and try again. Or feed the babies in areas of less distraction? I'm sure the new environment is probably grabbing their attention away. Maybe once they get used to it they'll be back to eating like usual. And often times when they slack on a bottle or two, they'll more than make up for it the next time. So maybe they'll eat really good for you before bed, maybe even offer an extra ounce if they're interested.

 

QUOTE(JicJac @ Jan 23 2009, 11:34 PM) [snapback]1159556[/snapback]
I agree. THey might eat different for different people. This is new to them and they will need to adjust. Keep an open line of communication with the day care providers and be flexible.


Great advice. :hug: Hang in there.

 

I would agree, it might be that they need to adjust but I would definitely keep the line of communication open with the daycare and if you feel it's necessary, then call your pedi if you are concerned. I think once they get adjusted, they'll do great! Good luck!

 

Hate to say it, but I think that's just par for the course. When the boys first started daycare they didn't eat particularly well (less than normal, not at the same times, etc.). I wrote out a whole "How to feed my babies" kind of thing and talked to them daily. I am sure they were rolling their eyes the second I left, but after a week or so while I was desperately contemplating how I could quit my job or convince my mom to relocate 600 miles, quit her job and take care of the babies the babies and the daycare folks got in the groove. Definately talk to them about your expecatations. And if they don't get it, don't be afraid to have the same conversation for the 2nd, or 3rd time. It is your babies, and you are their advocat.

As other posters said there are far more distractions at daycare than what the babies have been accustomed to. I really do think it is a bit of sensory overload. I think my babies were much more interested in the whole new world around them than food. We also had nap/sleep issues at school. They [gasp] rocked my babies to sleep for the first few days. Something I never did and was quite adamant that I didn't want done because they had never needed it before and I didn't want them to get into the habit of requiring it to go to sleep. Knock on wood they kept right on STTN, though. And even now when they go on nap strike and sleep 30 minutes total all day they still snooze well at night.

After a few deep breaths, and mantra repetition that no one is going to take care of them the exact same way I do, I reminded myself I picked this place for a reason and that I just needed to give it a little time. And it all worked out just fine.

 

:hug: My girls went thru this too when they started daycare. There was just so much to look at they didn't want to waste a minute drinking. I also wrote up an extensive how-to on taking care of my girls and checked in with the daycare often (actually the first couple of days I went there to help feed them since it was 2 minutes from my office). After a week the girls got used to the teachers and the teachers got used to the girls (and me). I hope that everything works out. :hug: :hug: :hug: though- I totally know how you are feeling right now.

 

My girls did the same thing when they started daycare. Eventually they got used to someone different and the different environment. Our daycare teacher even told us that a lot of babies eat a little differently at first. They did it again earlier this month when they switched rooms. Like others have said, keep an eye on it and if it becomes an ongoing thing then call your pedi. Also, talking frequently with the teacher like you're doing is good.