I have heard a lot of complaints about daycare and I used to think - it cannot be that bad its the parents who think their child is special....
But my expereinces have started to make me think that they might not be so wrong.
The daycare always complained what a cry baby and attention seeker our child is. We thought with time it will get better and it needs sometime for adjustment - for child for the new environment and for the carers to get know the child. It did not get better and we asked for suggestions around and our paediatrician and parent's consultant asked us to wait and see for few months.
Few days ago the daycare called us and asked to pick up child because she would not stop crying. I went there and four her strapped on buggy.... They complained that she is crying the whole time and do not like to sit in buggy and is big attention seeker and need to learn to play by herself.
I did not know what to say, only thought how can a no-brainer could work as baby sitter. Why? Firstly a small toddler who have just discovered to crawl and stand up would not like to be tied in a buggy for hours without toys and when not going for walk.... I wanted to ask her would she like to be bound in chair without anything for few hours.
She also complained that our child is an attention seeker.... are not toddlers who is not independent an attention seeker. Up to two years old they have short attention span and are clingy to caretakers. I can find that information everywhere how not a lady who took child-caring course not know that.
She complained he cannot have one-to-one attention because there are 10 other kids. But she is not alone there to look after all 10 (there are 4 other carers). Small babies/toddlers are not easy to handle and thats why government have strict rules how many babies under 18 months they are allowed to have. In ours its 12 child per day and only 2 should be below 18 months. Why do they think the government makes such rules if they are as easy to handle as above 18 months.
I know all carers are not like that but I have to say the one we have got really needs to learn more before she is allowed to handle babies. She is not there to but babies in buggies and then to be doing whatsapp all the time....( I saw here doing it couple of times)
I would now. First I was giving time to adapt- to baby and the carer.
Anyways we have to give notice three months in advance. I cannot take her out immediately and place in a new one as I cannot afford to pay two daycares parallel for three months. Its not cheap.... it costs 2500/month for 4 days/week, which might not be a lot for some of expats but for me is a substantial amount. So I still need to deal with them for few more months.
their behaviour is shocking. Absolutely appalling and shocking behaviour. I would speak with the manager or owner about this as well as check with other parents as to how their children are being treated.
I would be pushing them to excuse you from your notice period as it's crystal clear they are not capable of caring for your child. Push push push - don't back down. It would be in their best interest to let you leave sooner rather than later.
Poor thing, babies that young need to feel safe and be comforted. Not strapped to a buggy all day
The scenario you described is not only shocking but also completely unacceptable. There are a few professionals in this group who will agree with me here. Now you could do few things:
· Take this issue to the management, list your concerns and she what they propose and make a plan to resolve issues.
· Take a couple of days off and sit down in the day care to monitor the routine and see where things are not as they should be. (maybe agree with the management if they can be ad hoc)
· If you are absolutely not for this, check if you can negotiate with the management for an early termination but then you need an alternate arrangement.
Once the trust is broken, it is very difficult for a parent to be at peace knowing that your child is not treated the way they should be. If this is the case find an alternate day care/sitter ASAP.
I know the day care scenario is not the easiest in Zurich, and though there are clear guidelines by the govt. it is also ultimately the nature/attitude of the care giver. This is where get lucky or unlucky.
In general the caregivers are nice but the expectation seems to be that the baby eats, sleeps on schedule and fall into the template. Every baby and the baby's needs are different and it takes a sensitive caregiver to understand and treat them different.
I have also noticed that though the rule is 1:2 for babies below 18 months , it not strictly adhered to (my observation).
Thanks a lot for all your suggestions. I know all carer are not like that and I/baby had luck. I have contacted the leader "leiter" for an appointment and she will let me know soon.
I used to think people who choose child caring as profession must be a caring, patient and full of empathy but I realised its not true for all. Some lacks simple common sense and only thing they know how do properly is fill in chart how many times a baby made poo, slept and ate.
I stayed there for an hour last time when called me to pick it up because she would not stop crying. I had told them that she could crawl and they should be careful they say she is too young and is dangerous for child . I was told at parents consulting there is wide range of normal and it can start from 6 to 11 months. They might have thought its safer to bind them than let her crawl....
I do not know but for me many things there were strange. The daycare opens till 6:30 pm but when I was few times around 6:15 pm the carer is ready to leave and also baby is already packed up and both are waiting for me in the corridor as if I am already too late. I did not feel comfortable so I started to pick her up before 6 pm.
When she was completely on milk. I had few occasions when I had to give her bottle on the way home because she was crying so much because she did not even drink 200 ml whole day when she normally drinks more than 440 ml.
I tried to ignore these things thinking I should not act like over protective mother "complainer" mother. But last incident being tied up in stroller and calling me 4 times in work complaining she is attention seeker and does not like to sit in stroller was my limit.
You do not sound like an over complaining mother, more like one whose spidey senses have been triggered and you *know* something is not right. Keep us informed with how you get on please.
Oh and 7 months is not too young to crawl, my son was also crawling at this age.
I'm sorry, I might be an over emotional/sensitive pregnant mother of 1, but if this was my child, she would not spend another day in this krippe and I would not be paying their fee next month for sure and I'd be filing a complaint with the city of zürich or whatever the service is that supervises these krippes. Especially as this is not the first incident (the not feeding her enough milk, not taking into account her need for movement and play at 7 months, saying she is a cry baby when she doesn't seem to be difficult with you, the mom? You know your child best, so you know what is her normal behaviour or not...)
I would not wait 24hours to see the krippeleiterin, I would demand an appointment tonight and I'd take tomorrow off work (say your child is sick, then say you are sick and then it's the weekend).
Where do you live? I'm sure our krippe in Witikon has places for at least some days. You can PM me for the name if you want.
Yes, I said I'm emotional....
EDIT: PS I don't mean to make you feel guilty saying you should take her out of there if you choose not to. Your choice 100% of course, I respect that!
I'm a non-pregnant (maybe slightly less emotional?) father and I'll fully agree with Pernilleskokken.
Look for an alternative ASAP
Tell (don't ask) the manger that you are removing your child immediately due to inacceptably poor care
Refuse to pay the remaining fees
Threaten to take it to the Ciy authorities and push for a revokation of their licence
Ask for a full refund of the current month and compensation to cover any additional costs and time off related to switching care providers. Tell them they are lucky that you are not claiming compensation for dmaaging your child's development
Depending on the result you get from the above - if there is the slightest hint they don't take you seriously and don't back down immediately then post the name of the care provider on as many public places as possible(mumsnet, twitter, facebook etc.)
that sounds like a horror story from a 3rd world orphanage. And what's even more shocking is that the persons responsible seem to think that this is all fine and normal. I have a baby too and of course he would cry if I strapped him in the buggy and left there, or didn't feed him enough. You are not a complainer mother!
Thanks a lot for your suggestion. As for now, my husbands parent have offered to look after her until we find a another solution. I am happy to know that I am not the one freaking out and the situation is not normal.
This is my first child and I do not have experience with day cares.
I would list all the things you have noted here, and any others, onto a letter of complaint requesting immediate mutual termination of the childcare contract.
If the carers find the child that intense to care for (which is not at all your fault!) then they should be willing to release the contract so you and they can move on and enrol another child.
You should definitely not get trapped into paying any sort of notice period when the staff have made it quite clear that they are unable or unwilling to meet your child's needs.
Good quality childcare centres usually have waiting lists, so filling the place should be no big issue for them, and normally double-booking/double-charging is not how it is done so if they fill the place they should release you from the contract.
My daughter started daycare at 4mo, and the place had a separate areas for babies like her, with playmats on the floor and plenty of soft toys and arches to keep them busy. Babies were encouraged to discover the world as much as possible.
The only time they would be in a stroller was when they were taking them for a walk.
So, your child had motion restrained for hours, was underfed, called names and you were harassed by them at work. I'm glad you withdrew your baby from there. Write an official report, signed by both parents, send to the centre for childcare in your commune. They need this information, just state the facts. I'd send it after you terminate your contract and get out of the notice period obligation. Make sure your little one gets a lot of extra attention and tlc now, bonding times.