i personally prefer day care centres over FDCs. You just never know who's going to be at the house of a FDCer... most have the right heart but I am a worrier!! I had a look at a few and they just didn't sit right with me. I had that same feeling at a few day care centres until I found my dream centre which had a 16 week waiting period but was well worth the wait! Cloth nappies, buying local fresh produce to feed the kids, etc.

My DD started going to creche at 15-16 months old for 1-1.5 hours at the gym a few times a week so I could have a break and occasionally (like every 3 months) she would be babysat by my mum for a few hours. She started at daycare last week at 18 months old and no tears at all (we had LOTS of playdates at the centre though for 10-30 minutes at a time). I have only kept her there for a few hours and will increase this as I feel more ready (I miss her). I also go to a TAFE playgroup starting this year twice a week and I leave her with the students for 20 minutes while I go outside with the other parents and have morning tea. So this is another opportunity for her to be used to being with other people.

While pregnant I planned to go back to work January 2009 hahahaha so don't think too far ahead...