Mom Confession: I Don't Trust My Child's Daycare

on February 5, 2010 at 11:00 AM

Photo by Ddpool

It's time for a Mom Confession -- because, let's face it, we're real mothers and sometimes it doesn't work the way the parenting books say it should.

This Week's Confession:

I have a gut feeling that the educator in my child's daycare is not telling the truth when I ask questions like: How much did my child eat? How much did he sleep? How long did he cry for?...I hate when people try to protect my feelings by lying to me. Or maybe they try to protect their business...

(cont.)

...I know that kids act differently at daycare than at home with the parents. But still somehow their answers don't mesh with what I know about my child. This is a highly recommended daycare/educational center and quite expensive compared to regular daycare centers, and I thought they would provide good care.

We all have secrets -- so thanks to this brave mom for sharing her honest thoughts, and thank you for keeping this conversation non-judgmental!

Do you have a Mom Confession you want to share? PM me. We can share your confession with your CafeMom screenname or anonymously.

Past Confessions:

I Don't Think I Like My Child...

I Let My Toddler Throw Toys

I Throw Away Their Toys and Lie About It

I Don't Let My Kids Eat Junk Food Even Though I Do

I Put My Child to Bed Late so She Wakes Up Late

I Accidentally Left My Toddler

I Skip Bathtime If I'm Too Tired

I Let My Toddler Watch Too Much TV

I've Given My Child Benadryl for Early Bedtime

My Kids Sleep Alone in the Car

I'm Afraid My Husband is Going to Die

I Don't Like Being a Stay-at-Home Mom

I Have a Family, But I'm Lonely

I Lie and Say I'm "Working" to Avoid Playing

I Let My Son Fall Asleep to DVDs

I Don't Shield My Kids' Eyes from Nudity

I Use Housecleaning to Avoid Playing With My Kids

I Am Not a Fun Mom

I Don't Set Up Play Dates for My Kids

I Wish I Had a Fulfilling Career Outside the Home

I Use My Kid's Flushable Toilet Wipes

I'm Going to Disney Without My Children

I Bribe My Children

I Hate Reading Children's Books

I Sleep Naked With My Toddler

I Hate My Neighbor's Kid

I Don't Like to Play

I Sleep While My Kid Is Up

My Kid Watches TV Up Close

I Let My Toddler Play Outside Alone

I Turn My Kids Over to A Mom I Just Met

My Toddler Wears Crude T-Shirts

I Let My Toddlers Climb Play Equipment Unassisted

My Kids Go to Sleep After Midnight

I Let My Toddlers Go Naked in Public

I Throw Away My Kid's Artwork

I Paid $22 for My Son's Haircut

My Toddlers Eat Pizza for Breakfast

I'm Dying My Toddler's Hair

I Leave My Toddler Alone in the Bath

Our Children Aren't Invited to Our Wedding

I Scold Other People's Kids

I'm on Vacation, But My Kid Is Still Going to Day Care

I Favor My Older Child

I Let My Toddler Eat Food Before Paying for It

I Find Excuses to Send My Kids to Bed Early

About the author Kim Conte

has shoes that make people stop her on the street and ask "Where did you get those?" but it doesn't work for taxi cabs as she was hit by one ... and lived to tell the tale. She has more freckles than Lohan but way less attitude. And she's a fierce cook with tons of recipes to share -- and wishes she could share some with Bourdain.

Filed Under: child care, confessions

Comments (8)

pagirl71

on Feb 5, 2010 at 12:58 PM

if you don't trust them start looking for a new one. Do not settle.

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Loveplusmama

on Feb 5, 2010 at 3:19 PM

I have never, ever had to think twice about leaving my child at daycare. He's happy, the teachers communicate with me and I fully trust them.

Lynette

on Feb 5, 2010 at 6:58 PM

listen to your gut. if they make u feel uneasy find a new care giver

Colie68

on Feb 5, 2010 at 7:30 PM

I voted other because the first daycare I had my DD in I didn't trust. Things just didn't seem right so I changed daycares and I know she is getting the attention and care she needs now. You gotta trust your gut when it comes to your babies.

RanaAurora

on Feb 6, 2010 at 9:15 PM

I'm fortunately enough to never have needed daycare. I can say, though, if I didn't trust my child's daycare, I'd do everything in my power to put them somewhere I felt comfortable with. It's your CHILD - there's nothing more important.

MybabyKisses

on Feb 7, 2010 at 11:07 AM

I have to agree with everyone else...if you dont trust the daycare then find another one. You should always trust your instincts when it comes to your children. Just because it is highly recommended and expensive doesnt mean they are the best in your book.

tally3731

on Feb 8, 2010 at 11:41 PM

I make sure that i talked to my kids teacher everyday. And my child receives a daily report. I don't let the teachers tell me anything and i believe it, I keep asking questions until i am satisfied. I don't like putting my children in daycare . I do believe that if the daycare is good, it works really well for social interaction. My kids need to interact with other kids. My son is doing so much better since he started daycare.

lstrzyzy

on Feb 19, 2010 at 7:41 PM

All I can say is trust your gut. It could be something as simple as they have to many children and so they aren't paying attention to yours (not a good thing, but understandable in SOME circumstances) or something much worse. My mother left my brother and me at a day care when he was under six months old. She didn't trust the woman, but didn't trust her instincts either. I got a dislocated shoulder from her lifting me up by my arms and my mother found out she left my brother without any food or anything to drink, in a dirty diaper in his high chair for 8 hours a day. The woman lost her license and ended up in jail, but my mom didn't know until another mother filed a complaint and an investigation happened. Please trust your gut.