totally paranoid about putting DD in daycare fulltime!

[tattoo_mama]

Im going to TAFE to study nursing and its a full time 18 month course. DD is currently 9 months old and the course either has a mid yr 2010 intake or start of 2011.

If i choose mid yr DD will be 14 months old when entering daycare, if i wait til jan next yr she will be 20 months old... what do you think is a better age?


im absolutely paranoid that they will stuff up her routine and ill come home from studying to have her up all night, or that something terrible will happen to her at daycare, or they will leave her to scream.

looks like she will be in daycare 4 or 5 days a week as XP will *hopefully* have a job by then.

Im inclined more towards FDC as her routine changes daily depending on what time she wakes up, and is also doing baby-led solids.

im really confused and scared to the point im considering not studying at all cause im so worried they will stuff her up or neglect her!!! please help !

[mrscricket]

TM - While I can't speak from personal experience about full time care, I can tell you about how I felt about DS's daycare although he is older than your DD. He originally went in the Nov/Dec of 2008 so he was about 18 months. He coped really well with it. His room was lovely - a nice mix of littles that didn't interact with each other that much but had a great time playing with all the toys etc. I had the hard time leaving him because I felt like he was just so little and like you, if something happened, how would he make it be known or stand up for himself etc.
Due to my work hours changing, he then didn't go back to daycare again until Dec 2009, so 2 and a half. This time it was a bit of role reversal - I felt better at leaving him there - he was more independant, eating well, and felt that he needed time with other kids besides our mum's group. He was more hesitant at being left - although now he has fitted in well and has lots of stories to tell when he comes home

I'm not sure that there is a 'better' age for the child, maybe just a 'better age' for mummy. It is fantastic that you are starting a course! You probably need to decide how you feel about the course - do you want to jump right into it or are you ok with waiting?

Children are adaptable in most situations. If it was me, I would probably try to start her a few weeks before you start your course just to give her time to adjust and setle in.It is inevitable that she will go to daycare so you can do the course, so you need to find the right FDC or centre for you. We pay these people to care for our child so issues of her being neglected should never come into it iykwim. I am totally confortable with DS's centre - I know the girls love him and have a great routine. I had a friend who recently decided that FDC was for them, but they met with 4 different families before they met the one that 'felt right'. I strongly encourage you to look around and find a great fit so you don't have to worry, and feel at ease while you are at school. Ask heaps of questions etc. I sent DS to daycare with a huge list on what he liked, the routine I wanted etc. Initally I was worried I was being a overbearing mother but it made me feel better. I'd rather they had too much information on what makes him happy, rather than not enough. My daycare is good too - each day they write down what was eaten, times they slept, how many dirty nappies etc and I love that because then I know what happened during his day!

Good luck with your course and the decision that you make

[tattoo_mama]

thanks hun, only i cant afford to send her earlier (thru JET i will get free day care as i will be a single mum studying) so i dont have the luxury of sending her to 'test the waters' (i dont even have enough spare to try her out one day a week)

[onthefly]

Are you looking around already for the right place? One of the most important things is feeling really comfortable and happy with the day care place and with the staff there.
The good ones have long waiting lists too, so it's worth planning well in advance.

Age-wise, it really depends on the child. I know at 15 months DS was not ready, but some seem to be fine at that age.

As much as possible they will follow your routines and respect your parenting preferences. If you are able to spend some time at the centre before leaving your DD it'll give you a chance to see the staff in action and reassure you that they will care for her in a way you're happy with.

[Floweryfields]

Just so you know, it won't be totally free - jet parents contribute a set amount an hour, I think it's only about 10cents or something like that. I have a jet parent who pays about $8.50 for two children to attend 4 days a week. It's not much, but you will have to contribute something. Also if you are a single mum, you should be elligable for 100% - which means it would only cost you about $10 for a day of care, maybe less if you wanted to do one day a week to get her settled.

[tattoo_mama]

ausgirl - i thought i could only get free (well yes apart from the 10c per hour) daycare if im studying...so to have her in for a week to try it out would cost me full fees?

and yeah i thiiink i can afford $5 a week to have her in daycare lol

[tattoo_mama]

i did the centrelink online calc thingy, and if i were to take her to try it out before studying it looks like i get child care benefit but not CCR...so id be paying half the normal 'full' fees... so even a day a week at $40 which is half fees i cant afford