Sometime back I posted on the thought of bring charlotte to IFC... I managed to find a IFC near my mum place and signed up immediately... A center of max 10 babies... though the set up dun look impressive but the teachers look caring...
We got to pay for 12 days of trial and Charlotte started her 1st day last Friday. We were there for half a day... The center had full 10 babies on Friday, of which 1 boy of 16 months was crying non stop from 8 to 12noon... Charlotte was initially fine with the place... while she was busy exploring, I sneaked out the place... I peep through the window, she seems to be doing fine... the teacher manage to pat her to sleep... I went in and a while later she woke up... and is damn sticky to me.. I think she is worried that I might sneaked away again.
On her 1st day at IFC, she is practically a terror.... she snatch a boy's tutu and put into her mouth... the boy is having flu!!! Then she push another boy of her age (accidentally) and she pull other babies hair (intentionally).... I wanna faint.... I cannot imagine how the teacher is going to keep an eye on her given that she is so active!
We went back in the rain but Charlotte seems happy about it... because as I was getting ready to go, packing her bag and stuff (she is on the floor)... she thought I am going to leave her there, she burst into tears! The min I secured her on her stroller, put on the cover and left in the rain... the feeling is a bit like running from war...hahahhah... Maybe Mummy is also stressed lar... cos I see the whole morning, the teachers are really like fire fighting... 1 min change diaper, bath, 1 min feed milk and pat babies to sleep, another min start rushing to feed lunch and change diaper again... then with the babies crying... really can me madness! The bigger ones are already quite independent... they can hold their milk bottle and sleep on their own... But it also means they are very smart! They fight the chair during meal time... cos the one who get the seat get to eat first! During feeding, some babies were strapped to their bouncer or get to roam around... that is where small accident happen here and there... I saw a baby falling off the bouncer head on the floor, another one get push and head back on the floor...
I really not very comfortable to put Charlotte through this... but since we already signed up for 12 days... decided to just go ahead for the rest of the week... Sat she fall sick from flu and fever... Our conclusion is.... her immune system is really not ready for this... We have exposed her to other babies during her swimming, play with other babies in gym class... but was not as bad as this kind of direct contact (the tutu case and toys)...
Today I bring Charlotte to half day school again.... notice 3 kids not in the school... things were less hectic... actually the student teacher ratio of the school is good... but still teachers cannot always keep an eye on everything... I wanted to let Charlotte try to get used to the teachers since we have the thought of putting her through the rest of the week... obviously she is aware that I might sneak out... she refuse to sleep and keep close to me... though there are times her curiosity made her crawl for toys.... but it lasted for a while and she is searching frantically for me... The teacher tried to make her sleep by carrying her into another room... she cried for a good 30 min.... and fall asleep for a while...
I noticed the teacher face not looking very good after a few phone call... one of the babies who did not turned up today got HFMD... he is about 9 mths old... I rem the teacher told me, the week b4 we went, they got 1 case of HFMD also... all the toys and stuff were cleaned... Today another case... Next thing is the pails of dettol.... then I realised got an indian boy was kept in the food preparation all the time... the mum appeared to bring him back... I ask the teacher what happen. She say the boy has red spots on his hand and feet... so they worried might be HFMD... they initally admitted him in the morning because the mum claimed that his rashes were due to the medication....
It was quite scary lar.... The teachers start checking on every kids for the hands, feet and tongue... hahhaha.... We went back during noon time... On our way back... Charlotte is very quiet... and when we are in the lift with another auntie (Charlotte in the pram facing inside) the auntie just smile at her, she cried! Alamak.. she is usually not like this... I think she got phobia.....
Immediately call Nick and told him what happen about the HFMD... he say better dun go to the school liao... later suay suay ganna then jia liat... We decided to pull her out from the IFC... I guess till later date.... when she is ready for childcare.... I feel that if possible and also within our means... I would want to pamper my ger more... giving her the comfort of being at home...
Just tonight, while putting Charlotte to bed... she cry the min I walk away... When I am there, she is ok.... Nick say maybe the 2 days of trauma in IFC made her realize who her mummy is! hahhahah
