Ok, put your thinking caps on, I need help

J&H go to a NAEYC accredited daycare. They are allowed nothing in their crib. Right now, we send in a sleep sack for them. The problem we are having is that they fuss before they fall asleep so daycare, who doesn't want them to wake up the other babies, goes and gets them up. I think they would do better if they could have something in their crib. The past two nights I have watched them fall asleep and basically they babble to their stuffed animals (sometimes they wave those stuffed animals in the air) then go to sleep. Can anyone think of a way to circumvent the nothing in the crib rule? I was considering sewing a burp cloth to their sleep sacks, any other ideas?

 

Unfortunately the rule is likely due to the spread of germs, therefore you probably won't be able to fight it (as a mom I'd still try, though ). I like the idea of sewing something securely on their sleepsacks. How can they dispute that?

 

Have you seen Wubbanub's? Is it a pacifier or stuffed animal or is it whatever the daycare will allow?? :lol:

 

Absolutely positively no stuffed animals. Even the blankets with heads are forbidden (my friend is on the board of her daycare and she asked their director what the rules were). I understand the rule but it stinks I can't even give them a blanket to play with (yes, I know, sids).

 

Can you ask them to just remove the animals after the boys are asleep? We did that at home for a long time just for our comfort.

 

We tried and absolutely no to us even bringing in stuffed animals in the door. I swear, I love my center but there are sometimes I miss the sitter we had with my older son.

 

Can they have something on the crib like a soother??

 

Oooo thats hard, yes a crib side soother or a mobile may be a good idea, my last babe would have gone crazy without her bunny headed blanket!

 

No mobiles,no soothers. I swear, I've asked about everything. I need something that makes no noise that I can somehow attach to the babies. Thank goodness they have their hands to play with.

 

Can they wear a safe /clean bangle like thing? MY daughter had 1...she was not able to operate the lock mechanism..
but it was easy for me to remove it daily and run under water to clean it up ..

 

Unless they've changed the rules since my son was an infant, that is not an accrediation rule. My son was allowed one small blanket and one small stuffed animal in his crib, and he started daycare at 16 weeks. And his daycare was located in a federal government facility so they were required to maintain the highest of standards. I think it is most likely your daycare's rule and they probably do it due to SIDS risk (maybe they lost a child at one point?) Maybe they say it's an NYEAC rule because it keeps the parents from fighting back too much? (Or maybe the rules have changed, and I'm full of it! :laughing: )

What a tough situation though - do they ever rock the kids to sleep? Or is it their policy (or yours) that they be put down awake? I mean, it's a great theory that they can be put down awake with nothing in their cribs in complete silence and expect them to fall asleep, but that's a tall order! I don't have any advice, but hope you can work something out too. I'd definitely be considering the same things - sewing something onto their sleep sacks, etc. Good luck!

 

Mine is a government facility also. They can rock but that stimulates them more than puts them to sleep. I don't rock at home (i know that sounds harsh but it is how things turned out). I could have sworn that when my 5 year old went, they were allowed something. My guess is that the rules have changed. I will ask today if there is anything because you are right that putting them down to stay quiet is impossible.

 

I think I have seen sleep sacks with "taggies" sewn on them. Would something like that work?

 

you mentioned "only their hands to play with" this may sound crazy but could you paint their nails or put little nail stickers on them for them to look at? Ok probably not a good idea if they're boys and for when you take them out in public, just call me tired and chalk it up to that roflmbo! (seriously I tried to open a can this morning with 3 different can openers only to find out once I finally got it open that it was upside down and that's why no opener seemed to work right *blush* someone help me hahaha)

If it were me I might think about finding another daycare, it just sounds kinda mean to me although I know its "mean" for a reason. Like pp above said taggies may be a good idea.

 

I agree that I think your only option is to sew something on the sleep sacks. At least they would have something to soothe themselves then.

 

My neighbor did fight this and won! She understands how sleep is far more important than their "no paci" rule. This particular rule was more about her child being too old to have one in their opinion. She got a note from her Pedi saying why it was more important to get a good nap for her health, etc. than their rule. If you can find out "why" they have that rule and if you're willing to get a little tough about it you might try that...

 

I think I would look for another facility, maybe a home daycare. That rule sounds ridiculous. Couldn't they wash all of the lovies in the morning at the daycare if it is a cleanliness issue? I assume they wash the sheets on the crib mattresses, so they must have a washer. Do they change sheets in between babies? Also, if they are worried about the cleanliness of a lovey or stuffed animal, what about clothing? Clothing may not be clean either.

 

We have to change sheets every day and they have their own crib. I am going to look into the sleep sacks with taggies. I am trying to convince DH to switch to a home daycare (for more than just this reason) but right now he is stuck on staying here.