OK tomorrow I am going to humor myself and try child care in the gym. I didn't formally join yet--getting a 7 day free trial--because I doubt DD will deal with child care. She's been home with me for six months and with the exception of being around kids in our moms group, is solely with me most of the time.
I am braced for being called in after 10 minutes. But again I want to just try.
If you belong to a gym, what has your experience been with child care. DD is two.
Three of my four kids left me with a don't let the door hit you in the butt attitude and had a blast. One cried but I think it was just to let me know he loved me because apparently the minute I was gone he too didn't miss me.
I just finally joined the YMCA. Before this I was using punchcards and going in the evening when my husband was home. So in the last 6 weeks I have been able to go during the day and I bring my 2 year old daughter to the child care there. She had never been to child care before and it took her 2 weeks to get used to it. I talked up the main woman in charge at home...about how "Mary" is SO NICE and how she is our friend. And when I'd drop her off I would stay and play with her for a bit. When I left I would remind her she could go to Mary to get hugs or held. I'd stay afterwards and talk to Mary a lot too. Anyway, she did cry every time for 2 weeks but they never had to come get me. I could hear her stop crying after about 5 minutes. Mary would hold her and talk to her and try to distract her with toys. Now she just LOVES going and asks to go. She loves loves loves Mary and talks about her like she is a good friend. It is so cute! She tells me I need to go to my Yoga class so she can see Miss Mary. Aw! I'm so glad she likes it so much. She somehow bonded with the main woman...who is a very nice person and is really good at making the kids feel happy. Good luck with your daughter! I think for my daughter it took a bit of time before she really KNEW I would always come back and then she started just enjoying herself there.
My daughter loved the gym at Bally's. She was a bit older though - like 4. There were other kids there and they had a jungle gym climby thing and she had a blast. I would have to give her "when mommy's done we are leaving without a fit or we don't go back" talks before hand.
But they had GREAT staff who interacted with the kids.
I've heard people talk about gyms their kid hated.... and how the staff would just sit and the counter and not interact with the kids. So, make sure you like the child care staff.
Start them at 6 weeks or they won't get used to it.
My 3 kids that did, love it.
My first, I started at 1 year and I was paged, never came back.
(and at 11-24 months a bit of tears when you leave is fine) Mine always stopped after I left, right away.
But once they were 2, they don''t tend to stop so I didn't push it when my toddler went through a clingy month. Closer to age 3, he's fine again.
My 2 year old loves child care at the gym. He walks in like he owns the place and gets busy playing. He went through a phase where he cried but the staff was very patient . I think depending on how the staff handles the situation and what instructions you give , regarding how long you're comfortable with her being upset, will depend on the success.
We started at about six months with 45 minutes. There wereq some drop off tears the first several times. I said a quick goodbye and out thw door. The first one or two times someonene had to hold him the whole time and he was happy within a coupleof minutes of.me leaving. He has his favorite workers and they are all wonderful with the kids. Now he is ready to go and has a great time. Just keep in mind it may take a few visits to get used to it and start with a couple of short ones. At our gym the teachers are great and there are a couple that usually take the new and young kids under their wing.
My little guy now is all over the place and they usually have something to tell me about his time.
