When your child started childcare was it better or worse than what you expected?

[~breeze~]

My DD started when she was 15 months old & was going 5 days a week at that stage as I was a single mum & going to tafe full time. Looks like mine is the only one here so far that screamed & screamed for the first few weeks when I dropped her off. The carers assured me it was normal & the best thing to do is to say bye & reassure DD I'd be back soon to pick her up then leave straight away, don't drag it out.

After about 3 or so weeks there were no more tears & haven't been since.

I'm now back with my hubby & she is going to a different daycare 2 days a week, she's been going to this one for a year now & loves it.

It was only the initial weeks that were hard (harder for me than her because she stopped crying within 5-10 mins after me dropping her off, I was feeling guilty all day & would call the centre in my breaks to find out how she was doing LOL) I even thought about dropping my course & staying home with her because I hated seeing her cry but I'm so glad I gave her the time to settle in as not only does she absolutely LOVE daycare but I also NEED the 2 days a week for myself (& the housework LOL)

She is always talking about kindy & has made some great friends. I think it's great for kids to attend daycare if possible.

I hope my story of how DD started off with crying etc hasn't put you off. Apparently it's normal, all of my friends kids went through it aswell, obvioulsy some took longer than others to adjust & it also depends on the age I think, I know DD was very clingy to me when I started sending her so I think that made it harder than if it was perhaps 6 months earlier or 6 months later??? I just wanted you to know if your little one does cry for the first week or so that you're not alone & it is quite common, although seeing all the other posts in here you wouldn't think so LOL Others here must have been the lucky percent whose children adjust to big changes easily.

Good luck, I hope you're in the percent mentioned above (easily adjust) & I know your little one will absolutely LOVE it (even if it does take a while).

[~Kim~]

You're welcome babe! Good luck.

[MantaRay]

Jan, I think the reason that 2 days a week works better is because for a littlie, 7 days between kindy days is a long, long time. So it doesn't feel like such a regular thing, and there is so much time in between they don't remember the routines etc so well. Twice a week just gives them a bit more familiarity in the new environment so they get used to it more quickly. Mind you, one a day a week is probably easier on the mummy LOL!!

[Karina]

Claire started when she was 12 months old. She goes 3 days a week - mon, tues and wed. We use family day care. I went a few times and stayed an hour or two with her and we played together and with the other kids there, jst so that she could get used to it while I was there too. Our carer said that Claire has always been quite happy when I am not there. She still usually gets grumpy when I leave, but she is happy by the time I am walking out the gate. She has lots of fun, she is happy when we pick her up, she eats and sleeps well. I did feel guilty for the first few weeks and sometimes I still do feel bad about leaving her there. But I think its good for her - she has the chance to play with other kids which she doesnt really have at home.
The thing that was really hard at the beginning though was trying to get DH to help me. We use FDC and are required to provide food and nappies for her. Due to my stupid work and our FDC lady being on jury duty directly before Claire started, she only had one week of going to FDC before I went back to work, which meant things were really rushed. Being back at work, I was super tired and was falling asleep at like 7pm. I'd ask DH if he couild pack Claires bag and lunchbox for the next day and he'd say OK. I'd wake up later and find he hadnt because he "didnt know what she needed" (he lacks initiative and is lazy) which meant I was wasting time in the morning (and dropping off Claire late and getting to work late) because I was having to do it all at the last minute. So make sure you involve your DH so he knows whats going on and what has to happen and how to help you out too.

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

My DS started at 12m old. I was happy with that as I had NO time off before DS was 11m old, not even to have a shower. Then DH had him for 2 hours on a Friday for a month to get used to having DS half a day a week.

The first childcare was rubbish. Absolutely awful. After a month I put DS in another nursery and he loved it - still does. He tries to get himself dressed on nursery days: watching him put his socks on is just too funny! So I did feel bad leaving him at the first centre, but I had to - otherwise how do we eat or pay the mortgage? I don't feel at all bad leaving him now, in fact he cries when we leave the centre these days!

As for your in-laws: tell them they can pay your mortgage and you'll stay at home then. If my PiL had come out with that I'd have really laid into them. Even older people who now "don't understand what has changed so that you have to work" I explain that thanks to feminism women are expected to work, so food, house prices and basic amenities such as electricity are more expensive as companies are used to two wages covering this.

DH was in both nurseries twice a week at first (then once at the old and twice at the new), 3 times a week at the new one now (in-laws can't/won't provide childcare) and within 2 weeks at the new place was settled and loving it. Seriously, he has come on so much and enjoys it a lot. Get a good nursery and you'll have piece of mind too.