If you have or had your baby in daycare, what tips or advise can you give me.?

Question

My son will be starting at a day care center 3 days a week soon. He'll be 7 months old.

I'd love to hear from moms and dads who have used day care.

Thanks

Answer 1

Best advice I can give you is to go and visit with your child at least 2 or 3 times, for an hour each time, at different times of the day, to get him used to it. 7 months old is a good age.

Then, if you're doing 3 days a week, they should be consecutive days. This poor little girl in my daughter's daycare had the worst time getting used to it because she only went Mon-Wed-Fri, and for half days. She was so scared and hated it! She cried all the time!

If you put your child in daycare full time, they usually adjust within a few days. I was petrified to leave my baby in daycare the first time. I cried for weeks leading up to it, and the first time, I only left her there for 15 minutes. I gradually increased it over a week, until she was there all day.

She loved it! Within a week, she was having a good old time. She was 4 months old when she started.

Answer 2

Basically make sure that you talk to all the teachers or aides that are going to be dealing with your son. Most importantly let them all know what you expect from them and in how they care for your child. For example: some daycares only change a child's diaper every two hours unless the child smells,I wanted my son checked more then that because to me if I provide the diapers which I did I don't care how many you go through but I didn't want my child to get a rash. Just like I made it clear that I better never pick up my son and him be dirty, I always provided enough bibs and plenty of extra clothes in case of anything so there was no reason for it. Nothing would irritate me more when I would pick him up and he would have dried boogers on his face. The way I saw it was I want them to treat and take care of my child the way I treat and take care of him. I know it's not an easy job because I did it for 5 years before doing what I do now, but they charge a lot at daycares especially for babies and I want my baby taken care of. If there's something you don't like that's being done or if you see something you don't like speak up don't just ignore it, you have a right as a parent to say something!! Good Luck!!

Answer 3

I worked in the infant room at a daycare for 5 years, my advice is check it out before you enroll, go in unannounced, even after enrollment, and above all else, trust your instincts!
Don't let them make you feel like a burden, it's YOUR child, you can show up unannounced, call five times a day and be the most neurotic mother on the earth, a good daycare center will understand your worries and concerns, and will always try to put them at ease. My experience is that most kids grow to love being in daycare, they love socializing with other kids their own age, they love learning, getting messy,and all that good stuff, and don't worry, your child will not forget that you are the mother and the others who take care of him are not.
(that was the number one concern by the way) Good Luck

Answer 4

What I learned immediately when we used day care was the truth of the NICHD research that shows children under 3 are severely damaged intellectually, emotionally, physically, and socially by more than 10 hours a week separation from mommy.

The research shows such separation makes dad less approving, mom less attached, baby less attached, baby more aggressive, divorce more likely, child more depressed, child more anxious, and on and on. It's really not a pretty picture.

And, you are talking about putting him in day care just as separation anxiety is about to hit. This is very poor planning. Day care before the first year is over is the very worst choice, as you will destroy your son's ability to trust.

It's not my opinion, it's what 50 years of research by Bowlby, Ainsworth, and now the NICHD has demonstrated over and over again.

Answer 5

One thing i would do is turn up unexpected a couple of times once your son gets started there - good way of checking them out.......