please help with demanding 1yr old! - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

elmosgirl167 · 07-22-2007, 10:30 PM

hi everyone,
so I work in a day care facility: in the infant room and one little girl constantly cries and screams unless being held or placed in a swing. Since shes "overgrown" the swing and we can't exactly keep her in there all day nothing gets done because she insists on being held.

I feel horrible neglecting the other babies.

But then I can't stand to her Stephanie in such misery. I've tried to let her cry it out, but nothing I do seems to console her. Her parents seem noncholant about the issue and they also seem to "forget" I have other children I have to tend to as well.

Any suggestion? Anywhere? Has anyone been through similar experiences? Stephanie's twin sister is perfectly well behaved (the complete opposite) so I'm fairly sure the girls aren't being spoileed at home. Honestly anything you could give me would be really helpful.

Thanks a bunch
Amanda

KeltoKel · 07-23-2007, 06:26 AM

Hmmmmm...I think the director of the daycare should be talking with the parents about this. Perhaps the baby has a medical condition? One year old seems too big to be carrying around all the time. You think she would be content playing with the toys and other children. I feel bad for her, poor thing! (and for you! - that must be exhausting!) How long have they been at the daycare?

km7503 · 07-23-2007, 06:39 AM

Well, I'm a twin and I think the issue may lie with wanting the attention seperate from her sister. She may not enjoy doing the very same things as her sister and is showing this defiance or "acting out" to get some individual treatment. Although I don't have too much experience with one year olds (I only have a 3 month old at home), I would try to give her special attention (seperate from her sister). For example, you can pick her to be a special helper (for very small tasks that she can handle of course!). Another idea would be to ask if there is anything different going on at home. Some younger children don't react that well to a change in the routine. If you can pinpoint the reasons behind her behavior, it may help solve the problem. Good luck!

Brooke85 · 07-24-2007, 11:43 PM

That sounds a little like my DD at a year. At daycare she always wanted to be held (this was more my fault as I spoiled her and held her a lot at home). She was (and still is) a very independent child who always played alone. I agree with the last poster about giving her small tasks that she is able to do or maybe getting her into small activities with another child. Is she walking good yet? Sometimes it gets easier when they are good walkers & want to explore other things. I understand it is hard not to hold them when they want you to as that is what my daycare providers were going through with DD. Eventually she was walking all over the place and she is 17 mo. & still likes to be held but is even more independent now than she was before.

elmosgirl167 · 07-25-2007, 11:06 AM

Thanks for the advice guys. Stephs behavior has somewhat improved over the last couple of days. I brought in a bubble machine she seems to find incredible. And with the good weather we've been having lately I've been taking the kids for a lot of walks to see the "cow" farm across the street which they also find interesting.

Thanks again.
Amanda.