Should I Push for My Son to Move to the 15 Month Room?

As a past childcare provider fro 11+ years/3.5 as a director, you have every right to be "that" mom if you feel the childcare staff is not meeting the needs of your child.

However; if your center is following the legal DCFS requirements your child is not considered a "toddler" by DCFS standards until he is 15 months old. Legally, if the center were to move him up to the other room they would be required to drop their ratio from 1:5 to 1:4 and include in the room all of the special equipment and materials needed in the infant room into the toddler room. Because DCFS licenses room based on the age of the youngest child in the room. So, unfortunately, legally your center is obligated to wait until he is 15 months old.

Likewise, your child will not be able to move into the 2 year old room until he is two because, again, it is a ratio issue with DCFS, if he were put in the two-year old room at age 22 months, the teacher to child ration would legally again drop to 1:5 instead of 1:8.

It is unfortunate that DCFS policies, though designed with the intention of keeping all children safe and well cared for, are black and white, with no room for exceptional children to receive breaks or concessions.

Your center's director may agree to move your child, but remember, that they would no longer be DCFS compliant if they did and if caught the center could face legal repercussions.

I know that isn't what you wanted to hear, but you bring up a valid concern many parents face, and unfortunately, most center's are bound by DCFS as much as they are the needs of the children and the parents.

Hi!
It couldn't help to ask, but with DCFS ratios I don't if they could do it legally. I would ask to see and so that he would be first to move once he turns 15 months and there is space!

If you do it in a nice way you won't be labeled "that" mom!

L.

the major issue I have with moving him is that in the 15 mos old room they usually only have ONE nap a day and I have found that kids under 18 mos really need at least 2 solid naps a day in order for brain function to work the best and develop properly. So if you could work out with the staff to still have him nap twice then I think it would be ok to move him up.

Yes, I would! He should be put in the environment that is developmentally appropriate, to his stage of development! My daughter is 11 months, she has been walking since 9mons as well. I went through this same situation with my older daughter,(now 4years old) she walked at 9months, I insisted she be moved to the 1 year old room. It was better, but I am a teacher, and have a masters in Child Psy, so by nature I am that mom!

Eventually I took her out of childcare all together! One of the best decisions I have made in motherhood!

Do what's best for him and worry about others opinions secondary!! Hope this helps

I know how difficult it is to plan for each child's developmental level in an infant room.

Could you start this process by asking the teachers to begin to transition him to the toddler room? Maybe when their numbers are low they could come and get him to play outside or in the large motor room. Also, he could have a snack with them once in a while. Keep in mind, though, that licensing standards require the ratio to be 1 teacher to 4 children, so they would need to have few enough children or another teacher to do this. Also, their toddler room might not be licensed for infants, so it might not even be possible for children under 15 months to attend that room.

Children sometimes go back to crawling to imitate other children. Don't worry too much about that, it is good for muscle and brain development to crawl. The alternating arms and legs help develop both sides of the brain. (So does bicycling).

I know I'm late in posting an answer, but I had almost the opposite problem in my daycare. My daughter was on total table food by 8 months so they considered her 'advanced'. When she turned 11 months they began to push to transition her to the toddler room by her birthday. So..against my wishes, they stopped her second nap and the week she turned one she was in the toddler room. Along with that, she could no longer have a bottle, only sippy cups and only THEIR cup. She hated it, still does. She drinks a total of about 4 ounces from 8am-4pm. Yes, its a licensed daycare, supposed to operate by DCFS standards, so I THOUGHT they couldn't move her till she was 15 months...I guess they showed me.

No, you don't want to be that overactive and micromanaging mom (Linda's right - by being pushy you will be labeled as 'that mom'). Waiting a few months for him to move to the age-appropriate room is not going to hamper his growth and set him back to just 'average'. Is he capable of sitting still for story time? Is he mobile enough that a 2 year old (who has no spatial awareness whatsoever) won't plow him over?

There could be many reasons why your child isn't being moved up that could have very little to do with his development. If the room is at capacity plus your kid isn't the 'right age' then they're not going to send one kid back or move a kid forward prematurely just to fit the needs of your son. Of course, it cannot hurt to make a special meeting with the director to discuss your concerns.

Be patient - he's 1! And you're right; it's only 2 more months in the older infant room which is probably just the right amount of time for him to move into the toddler room and be king over there.