My baby won't eat, drink or sleep at daycare

My 14m old just started daycare 2 days a week and she refuses to eat, drink water or milk and won't sleep. I picked her up early on both days and she looked absolutely exhausted. She immediately pointed to food and her water bottle and sculled her water and milk. My heart is breaking and I can't bare to leave her there again. Has anyone else experienced this? I'm rethinking our entire family work arrangements now 😭

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I work in perinatal mental health so I see a lot of families through this transition. I tell them all to expect their toddlers sleep, eating/drinking and/or behaviour will be tricky through this time. Some toddlers not but most people I support it happens for a few of these. When we thinking about toddlers they have v little control in their life so when big changes happen and they feel anxious/stressed they show that through some of the few ways they are able to do so which is above list. Most toddlers settle in and these behaviours dissipate. If you can do short days/early days that’s great. Also look after yourself through this transition it’s massive for parents too and can be really stressful. It’s a big thing you’re doing try to be kind to yourself. Lastly don’t ignore your mum instincts, if it’s not getting better in next few weeks or so then it might be wrong daycare/might be something else I remember both my kids went through similar stuff and it is to a lot. Take care x

Oh god it’s so hard. This has definitely been my experience. We went through this with my boy and it really took him a few weeks to settle and really eat and sleep properly at daycare. He started in August last year when he was 11 months old and by the end of the year he had some days where he even ran to hug his favourite educators at drop off. Even on days where he was upset at drop off he still was laughing and playing happily in photos and videos. Now he’s started at a new centre (because the first one shut down) and it’s not as bad but still hard.

I found my Bub did the same thing;however she is picky about who feeds her etc. I also found that I wasn’t quite happy with facility and the lack of attentiveness and persistence by staff to feed her or acknowledge the consequences of such, so I changed facilities and my child eats and sleeps and is much happier. Not saying that this is the case for you, but it’s a big, psychological adjustment for them and some kids can take weeks to fully settle in.