r/breakingmom • u/bookish0378 • 10h ago
in crisis đ¨ Growing concern over daycare
Our son started in March at a long standing daycare with a good reputation in our area. My son is now 8 months old. He started in the âbaby 1â room and will be moving to âbaby 2â next week.
He had two teachers which made the ratio 1:4 which is state law. Found out three weeks ago one teacher was moving out of state, they quickly hired a new teacher.
We noticed the week before Memorial Day that the veteran teacher seemed to be the only person at pick up and drop off times. On Friday before Memorial Day weekend my husband went to pick up our son and the veteran teacher was alone in the room with the babies and crying. She informed him that she had just been told by management that they were moving her to a toddler room (she had been in that baby room for two years) and keeping the new hire in the baby room. This was happening because they were apparently not getting along?
After Memorial Day, last week, things have fallen apart fast. And my husband and I are growing concerned.
Day after Memorial Day there was a new teacher in the room. New hire nowhere to be seen. So if youâre following this is a third NEW face to us and my son since March and in the last two weeks. Zero communication from management on what is happening and who this third teacher is and where the new hire is.
Our son has always consumed 4, 4 oz bottles of breast milk plus a purĂŠe. Suddenly he is only eating three, 3 oz bottles. They were sending an unconsumed bottle home each day last week. They have a policy where any milk not consumed in a feeding needs to be dumped. So 3 oz has been going down the drain.
On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday all babies were screaming in the room at pick up. Including our son. I could tell he was way over stimulated when we got him in the car those days which is not his normal self. Tears streaming down his face and face bright red. Before last week my husband and I always noted how quiet and happy the babies were at the end of the day. The difference is jarring.
On Friday my husband picked up our son and asked this teacher if she was all alone with 8 babiesâŚ. She looked panicked and answered no. We think this is a lie. My husband noted there was poop stains on the outside of our sonâs clothing when we got him home, we took pictures. We have no idea how long our son sat in soiled clothes.
Ok so fuck Iâm typing all this out and think we need to call the daycare. Am I overreacting? Last night I couldnât sleep from intrusive thoughts of his safety being jeopardized and being anxious about sending him today.
My husband wants to give it another day or two to see if anything changes but I donât know.
I know our son is moving to another room next week but Iâm concerned this is an internal problem and maybe not a room issue.
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u/404Usernameno 8h ago
Yea that sounds concerning.
My daughter started from about 3m (one day, then later 3 days). Frequently one baby starts crying and the rest follows suit. That can happen. Also the 1:4 ratio is the same here, but sometimes one walks out to do something or take a short break. Also on opening and closing they don't necessarily keep the ratio because the kids are coming in/leaving and so do the teachers except one.
But they would never leave a child in soiled clothes and every new person was communicated about upfront (regularly placement for students, too, but those also sent intro letter). The teachers that are in that day have photos and names next to the group door. There were no personnel surprises, ever.