I have started looking after a little girl (9 months old) and the first morning (9.30 till 1pm) she was an angel , no tears even after a nap and seemed very at home and very smiley. It was school holidays so my 2 DD's were here and she loved watching them play and crawling over to join in.
The 2nd visit (following week, same times) she was more unsettled so I decided to take them all to the library. She hated the car (cried all the 10 minute journey) and settled when put in the buggy, nodding off to sleep etc but cried all the way home too.
This week was the 3rd week and she came 2 mornings (mon and today). Monday was an inset day and she arrived at 7.30 and cried for 30 minutes till breakfast, sat and happilly munched breakfast but got anxious as soon as she finished. I had a play date organised with another minder and she still didn't really settle even though there was a lot more going on and today, unless I was holding her, she was asleep or eating, she was crying. I feel awful telling her mum (who's lovely!) so today I really played it down saying it would take time to settle her into a new routine. My question is how do I begin to help her feel more at home here? I realise it's VERY early days and she's used to 1-1 attention from mummy. I was going to get her used to me and my DD2 (25 months) before venturing out to playgroups and things but I'm wondering if she'll benefit from more active surroundings. She's not interested in toys and will just cry if I try to put her on the floor to play. I managed to get her to look at a book this morning for about 3 minutes but then she started again I only manged to clear the breakfast things away while she was having a 50 min nap before lunch!
All help greatly appreciated please so I can plan for monday! x I will only have her and my DD.
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