I am not an infant teacher, but I can share what the lead infant teacher at my center says. She says that any parent, especially one who may be feeling guilt about leaving an infant at childcare, will be resistant to anything that feels like diminishes the intimacy between their child and them - like not holding their baby while their baby sleeps. Or if they're tired when they come home from work, they will be resistant to things that make bedtime stressful. They might tell you they tried it, but ... what I've seen her successfully do is gradually teach the infant to self soothe, to be comfortable not being held by introducing them to the positive sensory experiences in the world. Do they like singing, or having their back scratched, or their ear lobes rubbed? Do they like the sound machine of a heart beat? Infants will sometimes learn that they can fall asleep in arms with this person and not with this person, although this isn't always the case. I hope this helps.
------------------------------
Casey Lalonde
Director
The Evergreen State College
Olympia WA
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 06-22-2020 12:11 PM
From: Ashleigh Goldberg
Subject: Napping Infant at Daycare
I have an infant who is in a program who has been in the program for a month and a half. She is the first baby for mom and dad. Mom and Dad hold her when she falls asleep and also sleeps with her at night. Whenever she sleeps at home it is in the arms of Mom and Dad. Since she has started at the program she is unable to sleep without being held. This is difficult because we want the baby to be able to sleep but also have other infants o get to care for and are unble to hold her for long periods of time for her to get a proper nap. We have tried to discuss the importance of joining home and daycare napping routines like trying to not hold during napping at home. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas, experience, or advice for this situation.
Thank you so much!
------------------------------
Ashleigh Goldberg
------------------------------