DD1 has been to childcare since she was 12 months and settled in well from the beginning. She demonstrated social skills very early but that could just be her. She went through phases of not wanting to go (especially when I was heavily pregnant and on maternity leave).

I have found the main benefits to be that they do things that I wouldn't think to do with her at home eg. some of the messy painting things and they do group activities which obviously you can't do with just one child. She has also developed trusting relationships with other adults and knows that there are other adults who care about her. She also has developed some really strong friendships - as have I, with the children's parents.

She has been pretty healthy and only caught a few things but then she also got the flu from DP who brought it home from work and gastro from me so the worst things haven't been from childcare.