My almost 9-month-old son (my first) has received child care in our home (where both my husband and I work) since I went back to work. Our current sitter isn't exactly working out, and our best option--and the one we're most comfortable with--is to send him to a woman who watches other children in her home. I'm wondering if it might be a GOOD thing to expose him to others by sending him to a childcare facility outside of our house. I guess we really won't know until we try, but I'm wondering if any of you have opinion as to when a good age is for sending a child to daycare? One of my friends wished she would have sent her son earlier than she did. What do you think?
I believe that it depends on the child and on the daycare facility.
Try to find a (licensed) daycare that mimicks your household and a daycare provider that has a similar parenting style as you.
I have been doing in home daycare for years and I have seen 2 year olds have a hard time adjusting and I have seen 6 month olds adjust right away.
Both of my sons have gone to a childcare in someones home with other kids. My youngest son started at 3 months because I had to go back to work. He has no problem going and he is learning to share with others and be around other kids. If you get a good in home daycare where the kids feel loved your son would not be too young. My son runs in everyday and hugs his daycare provider so I know he likes it there
I would have to say as soon as possible. We started my son at a daycare facility when he was six months old, he is now 2. He goes two days one week and 3 days the other and simply adores the ladies that take care of him. On his days off he talks about them all the time and really looks forward to going to daycare. We are fortunate that he is never upset when I drop him off in the morning, he runs in to give everyone hugs. I believe this is because he has known all of these ladies basically his whole life and started young enough where he didn't really realize my husband and I were not there.
Our challenge on some days is getting him to leave, I have literally chased him around the room a couple times because he did not want to leave and my husband has had to take him home crying because he wants to stay and play.
Good luck, it is a very personal thing, but our experience starting him early has paid off!
Any age is a good age to send your child. It all depends on when your ready. I am a licence daycare provider. If your in kent county I would call the 4c program for kent county the number is 1-800-448-6995. If your not in kent county I would still call and ask for the number of 4c's in your county. When you call 4c's they will send you a list of licence daycare providers in your area and their contact phone numbers.
If you would like to ask any questions about how to interview a provider please feel free to email me at ____@____.com luck
Well, I have two children (2yrs old and 9 months). My oldest son started childcare when he was 15 months old. The childcare was provided in a women's home where she kept her two children (ages 2 and 4) and three other children a few months older than mine at the time. And I was very pleased with my son starting at that age. Personally, I didn't want him in childcare until he was able to walk and really showed an interest in other children. I was afraid of him falling down or being stepped over (typical scarey mom..lol). So when he was about 15 months he was walking good, running, and interested in playing with other children. My 9 month old will probably start day care around that same age. He plays well with his older brother, but he's not walking and I just wouldn't feel comfy putting him in another's environment. But it's all about how you feel. If you feel your child is ready for an outside-of-home care. Best of luck!
it really depends on the child.. some kids start day care centers at 6 weeks old.. it is the only life they know.. and they do fine.
I personally worked in a day care and it seemed like the kids that were 1-2 years old often had a very hard time adjusting to the day care. But of course some kids did great on the first day. But by age 1 or 2 the kid knows what they want but may not be able to tell anyone yet.
I have my 16 month old daughter at home with a nanny. I thought it was important for her to be home for the first winter- so she wouldnt be sick all the ime... but now it is spring and she is walking and starting to talk so I would be fine with her going to day care at this age.
I would think a home day care with 6 children or less would be a good transition for your child rather than an large commercial center with 100 kids.
