Overwhelmed and scared, Jacob bursts into tears. The daycare worker holding him coos gently, resting Jacob on one shoulder and stroking his back. The attempts to calm him down are in vain, however. Jacob continues to cry.
“Aw, I think someone might need a nap,” the daycare worker says. Fear jolts through Jacob at the idea of being put down for a nap. That fear, unfortunately, manifests as a fresh batch of sobs. “Poor little guy.” The daycare worker carries Jacob over to a line of cribs and sets him down in one.
Jacob immediately gets to his feet, clutching the bars of the crib, continuing to wail. The daycare worker strokes his hair.
“It’s okay, buddy. I know, you’re scared and tired and a lot’s going on. Go to sleep. When you wake up, everything will be better. Here. Have a paci.” The daycare worker pops a pacifier into Jacob’s mouth. He sucks on it instinctively. The action soothes him and he sits down in the crib. “Good boy.” The daycare worker walks away.
Jacob wasn’t tired before entering the daycare, but his short meltdown has thoroughly exhausted him. Lulled by the repetitive motion of suckling on a pacifier, he lays down and drifts off to sleep.