I started Olivia on one day a week when she was 14 months, and she thrives at child care. She asks to go to "school" every day!! I started Charlie on one day a week when he was 12 months, and he too loves it, and claps his hands and laughs when we park outside the centre.

I feel totally comfortable with the centre we have chosen, and both Olivia and Charlie are very fond of their carers. (Two of them have now become family friends and they babysit for us at home too, on occasion.)

It is an absolute godsend for me. It keeps me sane. I love dropping them off, knowing they will be happy, knowing that I can have a day with just Lexie. (Often Lexie and I get back from dropping them off and then we indulge in just smooching together all day!) Or as Sammi says, it gives me a toddler free day to get tricky stuff done.

It is also handy for me to feel secure ion the knowledge that I have established a good relationship with the centre, so that I can use them in emergencies. For example, I had to attend a funeral interstate last week and was away for 4 days. DH couldn't get out of work for one of the days, so I called our childcare centre and of course they accomodated so that Olivia and Charlie were taken care of, which really put my mind at rest.