Hi!
This is super common in group care and always a challenge to staff and other children.
Infants have limited coping mechanisms. Crying when not held is clever when you think about it. It is a new person stating " i can't figure this group care thing out !"
Here is my suggestion...... hold when it is practical and verbally reassure the child.
When they must be unheld, have staff state " I am placing you here while I _______".
If possible, have staff be eye level to speak to the child, even when the child is prone on the ground. Many a time i have been holding one child when kneeling down to say to another " I hear you. i must help Jane go to sleep right now, and then feed Jack a bottle. Try to calm down and look around while i am busy and I will hold you when I am done with them"
You know, of course this infant will develop new coping skills over time and staff and other infants are learning about each other while it develops.
It makes for a noisy, challenging day for sure.
------------------------------
Mari
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 02-07-2018 08:47 AM
From: Liane Rousseau
Subject: baby wants to be held all the time
I work in a mixed age infant and toddler room. Recently a 3 month old started at the center. We are having a hard time putting her down. She cries if we put her down. We can't even lay her in her crib without her waking up and crying uncontrollably. We definitely have to let her cry while we tend to the other children, mostly this is during transition time. Her excessive crying sometimes upsets the other babies and they begin to cry too. I'm not sure if she is held all the time at home. Any ideas on how we can break this habit?
------------------------------
Liane Rousseau
Peterborough NH
------------------------------