Gym Child Watch...

*BabyMaMa* · #1 September 22nd, 2011, 11:50 AM

So Leah's been going to the child watch (nursery) at our Y since she was about 5 months old. It was hard at first bc she would cry a bit, but then she started to LOVE going. She would play with the other kids, and not even cry when I left her there. Well...fast forward to the past month...she has been crying incessantly. Today they even had to pull me out of Zumba after 30 min because she was so worked up. When I went to pick her up, her eyes were so puffy and swollen, and she had snot running down her face bc she was crying so hard. So...what do I do?!? I want to keep working out, but I don't want LO to be miserable every time I take her. Do you think this is just a phase?

sfarrow3 · #2 September 22nd, 2011, 11:55 AM

Separation anxiety maybe, which is a phase. OMG!! I can't handle that her eyes were all puffy..

Maybe some of the others have better advice, but for me It would be VERY hard to take her back and I know she would be crying the WHOLE time. What did the staff say? I'm not familiar with Gym daycares so I don't know but did they try to console her?

Jule'sMomInOR · #3 September 22nd, 2011, 01:10 PM

I would be really mad if they let her cry for 30 minutes straight before letting me know. This is my greatest fear with Juliana going there and why I have such a hard time taking her to the gym daycare.

Could you start jogging with Leah in the stroller for a while? I do this once per week, occasionally twice. Could you maybe work out in the weight room and check on her every 10-15 minutes in between sets? Look at it as an opportunity to change up your workouts for a while as she goes through this phase. I'm guessing it will pass in a month or two.

starrsgirl · #4 September 23rd, 2011, 05:38 AM

I think it totally is a phase...we go back and forth with E on that even though I go 4 times per week. I would maybe give the girls that watch her some parameters....maybe say get you in 5 to 10 mins if she is crying. Go a bit early so you can talk to the girls and they know your face. (my secret tip is i work really hard to learn their names too). Explain what you want them to do. I honestly would keep going and push through. I bet next week will be better but I know it's hard!

*BabyMaMa* · #5 September 23rd, 2011, 07:30 AM

Ok...I'm going to try again today. It's raining horribly, so I can't run outside. I really want her to get comfortable again, but I won't force it on her. Thanks for the advice, Liz. Also, Mariah I was livid that she had been crying for so long. They told me that most moms get so upset when they come and get them from their workouts. The moms would rather just have their LOs cry

Jule'sMomInOR · #6 September 23rd, 2011, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *BabyMaMa*

Ok...I'm going to try again today. It's raining horribly, so I can't run outside. I really want her to get comfortable again, but I won't force it on her. Thanks for the advice, Liz. Also, Mariah I was livid that she had been crying for so long. They told me that most moms get so upset when they come and get them from their workouts. The moms would rather just have their LOs cry

Yeah, I figured that so every time I go in there I tell them emphatically "I want you to come get me if she's even a little bit upset". She's been upset (granted, only once that I know of) and they didn't come get me. I can understand their position, though. They can't read every mom's mind so I guess we have to give them some guidelines (X # of minutes crying or whatever). For me, X = about 1, but I'm lucky that Juliana typically doesn't mind being at the gym daycare.

Karlie · #7 September 24th, 2011, 04:24 AM

I think it's just a phase and it will pass and they have to learn somehow that when mummy says goodbye she always comes back. And I think every mum deserves some time out! When I first started at the gym Luca would cry for 20 -30 minutes until the ladies come and got me out of a class, now he only occasionally cries when I leave but for less than a minute. Noah is 3 and he sometimes decides to be weird and cries when I leave! It's so hard leaving when they're upset but I think it's really important to stick with it. I think the gym ladies try not to disturb you because they know you've managed to get your baby and yourself ready, get in the car and get there and leaving without having done a workout would really suck. If you let them know what you're comfortable with (5 minutes of crying, or 20) I'm sure they would be happy to work with you ( as if they want to look after a screaming baby if they had the choice anyway!)

*BabyMaMa* · #8 September 27th, 2011, 08:06 AM

Ok...I have an update. I took Leah to the gym yesterday, and she didn't cry not one bit. I was sooo happy. One of the ladies in the nursery (whose been with Leah since she started coming) advised me to bring her at about 12 when there weren't many kids there. She said she thought when it got too crowded, Leah got a little anxious/scared bc there were a lot of crying kids and such. So 12 will be our new time of going to the gym. I won't be able to go to Zumba anymore bc it starts at 11:30

Jule'sMomInOR · #9 September 27th, 2011, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *BabyMaMa*

Ok...I have an update. I took Leah to the gym yesterday, and she didn't cry not one bit. I was sooo happy. One of the ladies in the nursery (whose been with Leah since she started coming) advised me to bring her at about 12 when there weren't many kids there. She said she thought when it got too crowded, Leah got a little anxious/scared bc there were a lot of crying kids and such. So 12 will be our new time of going to the gym. I won't be able to go to Zumba anymore bc it starts at 11:30

This is why I have no issues taking Juliana on Saturday mornings, but I struggle with evenings. It sucks that you have to miss your class. Maybe in a few weeks it will be worth another try?

starrsgirl · #10 September 28th, 2011, 09:30 PM

Great job! Keep bringing her regularly and I bet someday you will be able to go back to Zumba.

Jule'sMomInOR · #11 September 29th, 2011, 08:34 AM

I finally took Juliana and went to a class at the semi-busy time (5:15-6:15, although I heard 6:30-7:30 is the busiest) and she did great! She didn't even want to leave at the end of the hour! She was so enthralled with the other kids. There were four other kids and they were all bigger and they played with her. I am going to make this my regular routine for Tuesdays and Thursdays, and it already was on Saturdays to go to the weight room. Plus, she's been much better about letting me run in the stroller on Sundays and the occasional Wednesday, so I've managed to work out 6 days per week for the last 2 weeks. It's amazing how much more relaxed I feel.

Sorry to go off on a tangent in your thread!!