Ben starting Montessori. ADVICE NEEDED!!!

[Ben'sMommy]

Hi all,

Ben is starting Montessori on Monday and I'm pretty much sorted but panicking a bit in case I've forgotten things.

I'm just wondering if those of you with toddlers and pre-schoolers who are in daycare or school could help me cover EVERYTHING that the Montessori will need.

He will only be there for 3 hours, 3 days a week initially. THis will eventually grow to 5 days if he's able for it. I have asked them to check his bg at 10:45 before their snack-time. I will be there for the first few weeks until everyone is settled in to show how to bolus, suspend, temp basal etc. We already shoed them how to check BG's.

Any advice would be very much appreciated. I AM SO NERVOUS.

:confused: :( :eek: :rolleyes:

[wendyc]

I would have a sheet such as the ADA emergency plan for the school. You can find it at: http://www.diabetes.org/uedocuments/DMMP-finalformatted.doc
While it may not be valid in the UK, it covers many important points. You can at least use it as a point of reference.
It covers just about every scenario. Also, don't forget glucagon training. If you have an expired one, bring it in so they can practice. Can you get an extra pump manual from the rep? Our school requested this as they were not familiar with ours (but of course every other:cwds: ). If not, I would at least print off the pump alarm page so they know what sound means what.
Hope everything is a success. I think by your going in and directing things is a big help. I did that with ours, and for the most part, things went smoothly.

[Mary Lou]

Hi! I hope you have a wonderful Montessori experience!! I've been a Montessori Mom for years and have taken my training and am now a certified teacher.

Like any school, train the staff. They need to know:

How to recognize the signs of low and high blood sugar

How to treat

As a teacher, we appreciate one-page summaries, in bullet form, that we can tape to the inside of a cupboard, or attach to our clipboards and carry with us for quick reference.

Think about each of the different types of activities, and how you want them managed -- snack, outdoor play, birthdays, dismissal -- and make a checklist for each.

For my own son, I used screen shots of the pump from the on-line training to make a "condensed" manual for the nurses at school that showed the basics, step-by-step (bolusing, temp basals for outdoor play).

Having a complete set of supplies at the school will make your child's transition from home to school easier. At school, we have glucose tabs, glucagon, quick carb snacks, carb + protein snacks, carb counting book, scale, meter, lancets, strips, sharps disposal, tylenol, water bottles, keytone strips. (You problably won't need keytone supplies for a morning program.)

I'm sure that once you start working with the staff, you will become more comfortable with leaving your little one. I know this is a stressful time for anyone (leaving their child with someone else) and so much more so for the parent of a child with diabetes. Best of luck!

[zimbie45]

hi
how exciting and nerve wraking for u both... last year charlize went to preschool/// 3.5 hours per day 3 days a week.... i trained the teacher, made easy to read refrence sheets on blood sugers and pump info, also gave them a carb book to cover what ifs... also in her monitor case i left the small referance pamphlets 4 the pump and monitor. t worked out great.

hope this helps

[Ben'sMommy]

Thank you ladies, you never disappoint!

I've developed a folder for the Montessori teachers which includes very condensed info in step by step form concerning:

hypo info;
hyper info;
how to treat both;
pump basics ie how to suspend, bolus; temp basal and block;
Carb content list;
A gazillion contact numbers;

I've also given them the info pamphlets for the meter and pump.
As well as a Glucagon + site changes, lancets, strips, novorapid, syringes, Ketone monitor + strips, Lots of juiceboxes for lows.

If anyone can think of anything I have left out please let me know! :confused:

Another wonderful development is that there is a doctors surgery moving in next door to the nursery and he is going to be the dedicated creche doctor! A pharmacy is also going in next door!!! (It's a new development). Isn't this perfect? Ben's ped endo has agred to send a letter and brief history to this doc to familiarise him with Ben and his medical history. It is going to be a big help.

I REALLY appreciate all the advice.
I'm so conflicted about sending him on Monday. All my friends and family think I'm way over-reacting. (Which I am to a degree I guess).

I just pray that these women are as competent and intelligent as they seem! :eek:

[BrendaK]

That's so great Ben is going to school!! My only advice would be to not give the school TOO much information. Our endo wants the school to do as little "button pushing" on the pump as possible. I showed them how to give a basic bolus, but that was all. And they were very nervous about learning that. (But they did great!!) The school calls me every day to tell me his blood sugar before snack time -- and if he needs a bolus, I will walk them through it over the phone. I just don't want them pushing a lot of buttons on the pump without my knowledge!!

If Ben needed a temp basal, site change or anything major -- I'm sure you would want to go to the school yourself to make sure he's okay!! Especially since he's only 2 and going 1/2 day.

Of course, showing them glucagon, blood sugar checks, treating lows, carb counts is all great and necessary!!

Great job in preparing the school!!! How are they taking everything? I hope Ben does great this year!!!

[coni]

Carol (Ben's Mommy) - My daughter attends a Montessori school. When it comes to diabetes care, I think the Montessori method will be very supportive of your child personally. I hope it works out well for you and Ben. It sounds like you've prepared well. Let us know how it goes!

[EmmasMom]

Hi Carol,
I have no great advice, but wanted to see how things are going and wish you and Ben the very best!! I cant wait to hear how it's going!
It's so great to learn how others handle all of these big steps, hopefully when the time comes for Emma to enter preschool I'll be prepared!:)

[Ben'sMommy]

Hi all. Thanks for the advice and kind words.

Yesterday Ben was put into Montessori but I was horrified to see all the other kids were 3 and 4 years old. And he was expected to sit for most of the class and have structured play and take turns etc!!! :eek:
My little baby doesn't sit still! He's only 2!!!!

So today I asked that he go into junior pre-school where they are all between 2 and 3 years old and he had a blast!!! It was much more fun and more relaxed! He had such a great time! And I feel so good about it all today.

I had a mini breakdown last night after he went to bed. :o I was so angry and I cursed God for giving Ben diabetes and cried until I was too exhausted to keep crying! But I needed to get it out. This was a very big step for both of us and in a way another milestone.

As for D care, the staff are very good and are learning very quickly but I will stay in the building for another while (maybe a few weeks) until I'm sure they are competent and comfortable.
(Tomorrow I'm bringing a book and will plant myself at reception with a mug of coffee.....:rolleyes: ).

Thanks again for caring.

[Ben'sMommy]

Finally after 2 weeks, I was able to drop Ben off in pre-school and go home for awhile!!! :D (We live literally 2 minutes away.)

I spent the whole 3 hours crying and panicking but all was well.:rolleyes:

The staff are FANTASTIC and are doing a wonderful job. Already 4 of them are well able to do finger pokes and 2 of them can count his carbs, bolus, suspend , temp basal etc. (After consulting me of course!)
All the staff are very interested and have asked us to hold another meeting to give them more info. I'm so pleased!!!

This morning I dropped him off at 9am, he was 7.7 (138).
I asked them to check him at 10am - he was 6.1 (109).
He had lunch at 11am - he was 6.9 (124).
He ate lunch and had his bolus.
When I picked him up at 12pm he was 8.1 (145).

I was astonished! I was expecting his levels to be crazy. But they were brilliant. :)
I hope it stays this way...

[jeep_bluetj]

I was astonished! I was expecting his levels to be crazy. But they were brilliant. :)
I hope it stays this way...

Sounds like you're doing great. There are days we coudn't get one reading in that range let alone a whole series of them.

Enjoy your time to yourself. As you said, you're not very far away if something does happen. So worry less. Enjoy yourself. Your son will be happier with a happier mum.

[Tamara Gamble]

That is so awesome! Take some time out for yourself. You have done a great job mom!

God Bless! Tami