I do think it depends on your child's personality. I tried putting DS into daycare at 10 months and it was awful. He wouldn't sleep for them or eat for them and was very anxious and clingy for days afterward around me at home. I actually decided not to return to work because of his reaction to daycare, fortunately I was in a position to be able to do this.

He experienced childcare again at 18 months when he was participating in a language study for RCH. The first week he was perfect (much to my surprise), the second week not so much and by the third week he was crying hysterically before I turned the car off in the parking lot (confirming my original opinion that he still wasn't ready for childcare) so I completed the rest of the course with him on my lap (he was incredibly well behaved). The carers did say this was fairly common, once the initial novelty wears off, some kids realise Mummy is leaving again. Once again, it took him 2 or 3 days to get over just a couple of hours of childcare. Very anxious if I left the room, panicking if he didn't know where I was.

He will be 3 next week and I am going to try again next year, but this time I know within myself he is ready to be away from me for a bit and he wants to play with other kids. He just seems to need Mummy that bit more than most other kids. I was telling one daycare teacher about this and she said she herself had a little boy like that...it does happen.

I should also add that it has really only been in the last 6 months or so I have been able to leave the house without DS (say to go to the shops) and actually say goodbye to him (and him being okay with that), instead of sneaking out while DH or somebody distracted him. Before that, if he busted me leaving he would cry and insist on coming with me.

My best friend could never understand, I think she thought I pandered too much to DS because her DD took to daycare like a duck to water.

My DD on the other hand...she is now the same age as DS was when I first attempted daycare and she is so different to her brother...if I were to try putting her in daycare I am pretty sure she would be just fine.

Mind you I do think my DS is an exceptional case...but that's just the way he has always been...he just doesn't do anything the "normal" way! DD is very textbook.