It looks like I am one of the very few, but you did ask so I am just going to jump right in & answer!!

Personally (& it is SUCH a personal choice honey, so no matter what anyone says here you HAVE to do what you feel is right...), I wouldn't put my DD in childcare if I didn't have to. The thought actually makes me quite anxious but that is my hang up lol. I'm not sure if I can put my feelings as to why down here as clearly as I would like, but the main "issues" I would have are the sickness thing (she's not been sick at all yet, touch wood) and just that I would miss her & worry that she wasn't being looked after the same way as I would IYKWIM. She is going to be little for such a short amount of time & I want to enjoy it, enjoy her, nuture her as much as I can & all that jazz lol. Luckily, I don't have to work right now, we aren't rich but we aren't starving either & I am so lucky that I don't have to make that CC choice, like I said, it makes me anxious just to think about.

As for the 'socialising' side of things, I am pretty sure that babies don't actually actively socialise until around 2? I have 'The Science of Parenting' around here somewhere, that's where I read it, will try to hunt it out to tell you what it says exactly, but again, if you feel that your DD loves playing with other kids then your DD loves playing with other kids!

As for having or wanting 'me' time, I am happy for DP to watch Punky when he gets home so I can have a nice long shower (shhhhhhhhhhh!) or leave her with him for an hour or two on his day off while I go for an outing to the shops, doesn't take much to make me happy & I miss her when I'm out anyway.

I'm with Mel - you tell us if you get any hate mail (the very thought! on MY BB!! ) & we'll sort 'em out! *cracks knuckles*