How old was your child when you put them in daycare/kindy/occasional care?

[widdly]

I think that is a great plan

DS started childcare when he was 2.5years old for 2 days, he hated it, so i took him out til he was 3, then he loved it. I had big issues with my own separation anxiety too xx

[Cranky Kitten]

Definitely a good idea to let her go if she's ready - even if you're not sure that you are quite as ready as her.

I had a slightly different situation with my DD, she was in full time long daycare from when she was 4 months old as financially we couldn't survive with me not working. Having her in so young was really difficult, but we as a family gradually adjusted. We took her out for a while when she was around 18 months old as I became unemployed, making daycare no longer necessary.

When my ex and I broke up she was 2 and went back to daycare, she loved it. Daycare/kindy always had heaps of toys, lots of activities and the staff keep you really involved in what they're getting up to and how they're coming along. I'd go to drop her off and most days I'd just about be lucky to get a peck on the cheek goodbye before she was racing off to join her mates. I noticed her speech take off in leaps and bounds from when we had her at home to when she was in care, and whilst this could have been just an age thing, I think spending the day chattering to her daycare buddies had a fair bit to do with it as well.

I think spending time outside the home with kids their own age away from mum is important for kids as they get close to school age as it teaches them to listen to an adult who isn't their parents, as well as those vital social skills, settling and cooperation etc. They will eventually have to go to school and if they've been continually with mum the whole time prior it can come as a massive culture shock.