How did you get over putting your baby in day care?

Lexi - posted on 04/23/2010

i dont know if im the only one but i am scared to put my son in daycare. i know there are good people out there but i really prefer to have someone i know or a relative watch him. if his dad has to work when i do to we can usually find someone to take care of him, then whoever gets done first picks him up. dont be afraid to ask for help from family and friends. most of them love when i ask.

September - posted on 04/23/2010

You get over it pretty fast when you take into consideration that going to work is something that has to be done in order to support your child. It was hard at first and after a year of our son going to daycare I still have days where I find it hard but I do what I have to do for my family and it feels great to know that I'm providing a wonderful life for our son :) As far as firsts go don't worry even if she does a "first" at daycare she'll do it again for you at home so you will see her first :) I love the fact that my daycare provider teaches my son new things, I look at it as yet another learning experience for my son, and we all know you can never have too many of those. Everything will be fine :) Good luck!

Samantha - posted on 04/23/2010

My daughter started part time in day home around 11 months old. She went full time when I went back to work just before she was 1. It was harder on me than my daughter. I was lingering around the first time I dropped her off just for a few hours. She crawled away from me never looking back =) I liked easing into the process. I would take her a few hours a few days a week and that worked for us. My first day back at work was hard, again just on me. I was in tears driving to work. My daughter was fine. It's nice when I get home she is quite happy to see me. Her day home provider is very good and corresponding with me. My husband picks and drops her off and I felt like he was never asking enough things like what she did or ate that day. The day home started keeping a log book for each child so the parents could see the days activities and write messages back and forth in there. I love it. I would recommend something like that. It will help you feel more involved with what is going on. Honestly, it's hard but sometimes it's the only way. My daughter loves being with the other children and I think that is really important for children to have that social experience. If you really feel like you need to be there for those wonderful learning experiences you could try running your own day home. I'm expecting my second in a few months and after my maternity leave is up (we get 1 year here in Canada) than I plan on starting a day home. I'll be able to make some money and I will be able to be with my children at the same time.

Heather - posted on 04/23/2010

you just have to look around til you find a place that makes you feel OK with leaving her there for a few hours at a time.... or hjowever long you need to. as much as you dont want to hear it, daycare places (at least in my opinion) "teach" things that cant really be taught.. like socialization, independence (from the parents..=) ) the most important thing is to find a place that you trust..... and they should treat your child like you do! right now my youngest is in a preschool / childcare center while i am taking college courses and i would trust any of the teachers implicitly because i know that they love my daughter (and all the kids ) and would never let anything bad happen and have only their best interests at heart

Summer - posted on 04/23/2010

I stayed home with my daughter for 6 months,so it was tough for me to take her to daycare..But I dont know how close you can get a daycare to your work..But luckily I found one 2 minutes away from my job so for the first 2 months on my lunch break I would go check on her and spend a little time with her in the day..But if you cant do that they have some daycares that have video cameras and they give you a secure website so you can go watch the video feed threw out the day..

Kristen - posted on 04/23/2010

It is hard, I did not have to put my daughter in daycare but I work at a daycare. We have parents that feel the same way, but we work with them. I always take pictures and inform the parents what is going on. when u have to work u have to. I have become close to these families and i love all of the kids i take care of. you just need to find the right place for u and your child. I work at a home daycare and i find the children get more attention, love and education at a home daycare than in a center.