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

[LoveKnowsNoBounds]

I am trying to work out what age I would feel comfortable with putting my DS into childcare. I am thinking about 2, but would love to go back to work from when he was 18 months. I am thinking one day to start off with, then two days once he got the hang of it. I am very worried about how I will feel about it all and the guilt factor. Thus my question, was it better or worse than what you expected? how did your little one react? how old were they? I am very jittery about it and hate the unhelpful loaded comments I get from people I know, so anything that you say will be a tremendous help.

[visitor1]

DD1 started at 6 months old...and to this day cant miss day care for the world....enjoys it so much!!

[Boo Boo]

Rylee started at 18 months - only goes once a week but from day one hasn't shed a tear.....comes home telling me all about her little friends she is making. I did feel guilty but I can see she enjoys it and I get a day off (my husband is away for 6 weeks at a time) so it works out for everyone.

Good luck.
Laurin

[~Amy~]

Mya started at about 18 or 19 months..........just b4 Bodhi was born. She started going only 1 day a week. She loved every minute of it. As she got older & moved into the older classes i thought she would benefit from an extra day. Having her there that extra day has really helped her behaviour & her attitude around other kids.
Every know & then she still gets a bit teary when i drop her off, it never lasts tho & when i go to pick her up she doesnt want to leave
Having her there 2 days a week is great for her & for me. She has turned into quite the social butterfly, when she used to be quite shy. Plus it gives me 1 on 1 time with Bodhi.

I think u really need to find a daycare that is right for u. Have a look around & do ur homework on them cause they are not all the same.

Good luck with it all

[MantaRay]

Definitely better. Both times! They both loved it and I found that meant I didn't feel as bad leaving them as I was expecting. I have also seen that sometimes it is harder when they start later, as changes become harder for them as they get to a certain age (different for all kids). So 18 months might be easier for your DS than 2. I know my DS took longer to adjust to a new day care at 19 months, then to his first one at 7 months. This totally surprised me, but I also found that other changes started to upset him too, that hadn't phased him before that. I think this is just a normal thing that happens as their cognitive ability develops.

Do allow some time for him to settle in too. My boys both settled in really well, but other kids take a while. As with any change, kids can take time to adjust, so don't panic and get upset if he isn't the life of the party on the first day.

Just one other thing - often they are better off starting 2 days a week from the beginning as once a week is more disruptive for them. I found with my boys that they settled in more quickly when they were there 2 days than when they were there 1 (and the carers tell me this is normal).

[Visitor7]

I too would suggest starting with 2 days rather than 1. At least with 2 days, they become more familiar with the centre, and quicker. I started taking Nina 2 days a week from around 6 months, and like Kimbaz's DD, she couldn't miss a day now! She loves it. The morning she's due to do, I tell her she's going to 'school' and we pack her bag together. And the whole car trip to the centre, she's squealing with excitement in the car!
A friend of mine has recently started taking her DS to daycare, one day a week, and he's just turned 2. He hasn't settled well at the centre yet, but he's gone from being home by himself all the time, with only adults around, to suddenly being in a very different environment.
Good luck with it. There will be times when they shed a tear or two, and you feel very guilty about leaving them there, but then when you pick them up at the end of the day, you find out that they've had a great day!

[SugarDust]

Was it better or worse than what you expected? Better, it gave them both a new idependance!

How did your little one react? They both love/d it!

How old were they? Jason was 2.5 and marcus was 1

Both my boys love it they jump out of bed get dressed and we go!

[Liviam]

Hi Jan,
Olivia started at childcare when she was 9 months old and went anything up to four days a week. She absolutely loves it!!!!! When I carry her down the hallway to her room she claps and squeals. When we go in her room she slaps me in the face and pushes off me until I put her down and off she crawls.
I must admit that even though she loves it so much some days I still get the mummy guilts, especially when other mums make you feel like a bad mum for working and being a stay at home mum. Or the days she isn't feeling the greatest but she has to go anyway. Those days are hard but they are far out weighed by the great days.
She does paintings, drawings, plays in water, with playdough and gets social interaction.
The decision is so hard so best of luck with it.

[LoveKnowsNoBounds]

Thanks so much ladies. It is such a hard decision! I know that my in laws won't be happy when I do make a decision as they have a policy of no childcare until age 3. I personally think that is abit late. So I know I will be condenmed when I do put him in on tops of my mummy guilts already. Why do i care what people think? I must be crazy!