Is daycare a bad thing?

Jessica - posted on 06/27/2011

Thank you everyone for your thoughts!

Herna - posted on 06/27/2011

Daycares are definitely not bad. My daughter started daycare at 10 months old, and there were babies in her daycare that were as young as 3 months. It's a fantastic facility we found where each baby has their own crib, play area, and the child/teacher ratio was 2 babies per teacher. The best part was, babes started building their social skills quite well at such a young age.

Even though daycare seems stressful, you'll want to be sure to find the right type of childcare that works for you and for your baby. There are so many other options that you can choose from that you may feel much more comfortable with -- You can try to nanny-share (where you split the time and cost between you and another Mom who works part-time). Since it's summer and school's out, you could probably find a trust-worthy college student who is willing to come work for you. If family is not available, definitely keep asking around. You'll be surprise at the different options out there if you don't feel daycare is right for you.

Best of luck to you!

Karen - posted on 06/27/2011

I actually decided to stay at home and become an at home provider to stay home with my children until they were all into preschool(which I also think is very important).

I think that babies that are Not able to fight off sickness and colds, need to be kept in a smaller setting until they are a little older. Once they hit 3 yrs old and are ready for preschool, their immune system has charged a little, and they will still catch a lot of stuff the first year or two.

Although As a rule, day cares are a great place for kids to learn social skills that are SO very badly needed. the Bigger ones, are so regulated that I would not worry too much if it is the only choice you have in caring for your baby. I have also worked in a few of them. Just pop in a few times unannounced to let them know you may do that from time to time to check on your child. Do your homework and get references. Do everything you can to ease your mind. You will know when the right place comes along, or the right person. the in home daycares are not regulated as much as the big ones. The infant rooms are pretty much one on one and they have to keep immaculate records on feedings and diaper changes. look in to the pros and cons of ea. IN a personal setting, you are depending on only one person to make sure your child is ok, in a bigger setting, you have more eyes and ears. YOU WILL JUST KNOW!

Jamie - posted on 06/27/2011

I did an in home care provider when my little one was baby to about 18 months. I now know that I lucked out. She was wonderful, and I am so glad that is the start that he got. However, now that we live/work further away from her, I will do daycare if we have a second. Just research. With in home and daycare, there are goods and bads. I feel fortunate for the wonderful care that my son had the first 18 months, but the accountability is not there for many in home daycares. Where he is now, the baby room is very sanitary, and controlled. Working and parenting at the same time is hard enough. Cut yourself some slack and do not worry about daycare being bad. It can be a wonderful thing. Both you and your child will make new friendships there!

Krista - posted on 06/27/2011

It can be stressful, yes. I know I was a wreck at the idea of leaving my baby with someone I didn't know.

I think the key is to really do your homework. Research potential daycares, ask for references, bring a friend with you when you visit so that she can look at the place and note anything you might have missed. Trust your gut.

Where you ARE working part-time, it might be worthwhile to see if you can find another mom you know who works opposite hours from you, who'd be willing to trade off sitting with you. That way, you'd have no daycare expenses, and your child would be in a smaller setting and exposed to fewer other children.

Debby - posted on 06/27/2011

No one has said Daycare is bad, Sharon...in fact both before I had children and since (during teaching sabbatical while my own children were pre-schoolers) I taught and worked in daycares.
The issue is health and the age of the baby. At 3 months, immunizations have just begun.

Sapphire - posted on 06/27/2011

I am really sick to death of negative stigmas over daycare! No, Jessica, daycare is not bad! However it is your responsibility to research and weed out the OK daycare facilities from the excellent facilities, and then make the best decision for your family. When I returned to work, I chose a home-care provider. I appreciated the home setting, and the provider was a SAHM in my neighborhood. She was a teacher, like me, who decided to stay home with her own children for a few years. So for my son, it was a wonderful experience.

During the next few weeks, go an dviist various daycare facilities and home-care centers. Interview prospective providers and read on-line articles on questions to ask. Good luck!

Sarah - posted on 06/27/2011

I've worked at many day care centers and am now a Stay-at-Home Mom. Daycares aren't bad. They are reliable and often staffed with dedicated, caring people who want to give your child the best possible care. Having said that, they are also a breeding ground for germs and as dilligent as we all are, everyone still gets sick. I would try to find care elsewhere for awhile, at least until she's a little older. The kids in daycares are often sick a lot until about age 5, then they hardly ever get sick!

Tah - posted on 06/27/2011

I have not found daycare to be a bad thing, research and choose wisely..

Debby - posted on 06/27/2011

At 3 months, I would try to find a friend or home care situation.
Quiet simply, they don't have a well developed immune system.
When I went back to work, my hubby and I took 'different shifts' so the baby was at home. I have a friend who took turns with another Mom so neither had the added expense.