Originally Posted by KIDZRMYBIZ:
I have a 1yo dcb here that the first-time parents have allowed a dangerous and strange (imo) habit to become quite engrained. When he was a little guy, he would use a binky, but started to deny it just as soon he was big enough to take it out of his mouth and put other things in.
They revealed that at home, they allow - and encourage - him to suck the corner of one of those little mini blanket things with a stuffed animal attached at nap and bedtime. DCM told me about it, and it cleared up for me why he usually had to cry it out for a minute at nap. And why now he pulls the edge of the pnp sheet (cushy fleece Eddie Bauer ones) up and try to suckle it. It annoyed me, but it seems like every kid has his or her own little quirks, so I just let it be. I let her know I cannot allow it at DC, as they are not allowed to have anything with them in the pnp, and I wouldn't anyway cuz that's just cray-cray (
not really, but I wanted to!).
But now, 6 months in, he is ruining the sheets by making little holes in them. I want DCM and DCD to replace them, but I would never tell them to.
And I'm starting to worry what will happen when I move him to a mat in a few months (he's 14mo now). Have any of you had a kiddo do this? If so, how did you help them break the habit?
I also have a 4mo DCG that the first-time parents still swaddle her and put her to sleep in a glider bassinet. I have told them, too, that I cannot do either of those things, but they don't seem to care or worried about it. Gah.
Lastly, I have a 5yo DCG that usually has her nails painted.
Then she picks/peels the polish off, leaving little brightly colored bits for the crawlers and toddlers to find and eat. Would it be strange to implement a "no polish" rule? It seems mean, but I cannot get her to leave them alone when they are painted!
I see nothing wrong with asking parents to supply you with a sheet. Share your problems with them and tell them you prefer not to have to buy new sheets so if they could please send two (tell them the size etc) to daycare, it will save you from having to replace them.
As for the child who sleeps in a glider.... I just experienced something similar and at first it was not a big deal as the baby was fairly young yet so no bad "habits" were impressed upon baby. I continued to tell mom that she could not allow baby to sleep in the swing (baby would routinely nap 3-4 hours in swing) because it was not something I could replicate here. Mom knew, agreed and apparently just never changed her behaviors.
Baby started having trouble staying asleep here. I would relay to mom at end of day....mom of course was glad baby wasnt sleeping much here because you know sheer exhaustion always lends to an easy bed time
Fat forward and baby is now 7 months and will often wake shortly after falling asleep (apparently looking for that swaying/rocking motion of the swing that has kept baby sleeping for several months now....
). Of course this does not mesh well in my daily routine and I simply refuse to keep a baby that is tired/crabby/cranky because they can't get decent sleep.
I also refuse to use CIO because even though the baby might be old enough, it's not the baby's fault these bad sleep foundations have been laid. This is baby #2 from this family so the family KNOWS my expectations very well.
What I decided to do to "fix" the situation was give the problem back to mom. I set up a guideline of actions....
I will attempt to nap baby at X time every day (same time)
I will attempt 3X. If nap is unsuccessful, baby goes home as soon as lack of sleep begins to show in behaviors/moods.
If baby goes to sleep but wakes and does not go back to sleep, I again send baby home.
Of course I consider other factors but spending all day every day with a baby allows you to "know" more about the baby than you could possibly be told...there are just some things you KNOW...kwim?
Anyways, baby was sent home 5 times in Dec. Mom didnt say much the first 2 times. She started to "vent" around the 3rd time.... I stopped her and reminded her that I warned her and she still choose to use the swing at home. Even admitted to allowing baby to sleep in the swing over night many times just so baby would sleep through the night.
By the 5th time, mom had more than likely had enough.
I noticed a change in baby right after Christmas vacation. Big sibling even told me mommy gave the baby swing to a friend so baby sibling doesnt get to swing anymore.
Baby goes to sleep and stays asleep fine for me now.
As for the kids with nail polish.... ANY time something causes a potential safety hazard for the child themselves and/or others the parent is asked to stop allowing it. I would have ZERO issue telling parents that child can not attend with nail polish. Explain exactly why.
HTH
