If your LO is in daycare, please come in...

847Christine

I will (reluctantly) be putting my DD in daycare right around the time she turns 1.  I feel good about the center we've chosen, but of course I'm nervous.  Any tips?

TIA!

FutureGosnell

Go the week before and spend some time in the room with your DD. I spent an hour there and played with DS. I figured it allowed him to get use to the room, other babies, and teachers with mom right there. It also made me feel better to see the room in action again. If possible go and visit during lunch. I cannot, but DH goes a few times a week and plays with DS or feeds him his bottle.

If they will be feeding you DD pumped milk talk to them about when you would like them to give the last bottle. We ask them to fed DS on cue like we do at home. However after walking in twice last week to them just starting a bottle I asked that if it was approaching 5 and he seemed ok to please wait so I could BF him. (Last week they had a sub teacher as one of the regular teachers was on vacation and I don't think they know his cues as much.) I found it was heartbreaking to walk in and see the bottle when if he could have waitied literally less then 5 minutes I could have nursed. Of course I told them to feed him if he was getting upset about waiting at all.

14years

DS has been in daycare since he was 3 months old, so I don't have any tips about getting an older baby ready.  But in general, if you picked a great center you'll be fine. 

My basic goal has been to keep very, very good communication with DS's primary teacher -- I don't call all the time, because I don't want to take her away from the kids, but if I need to call and check in, I do.  I am also lucky that DS's teacher calls me maybe every other day to let me know how DS is doing that day, particularly on days when DH does drop off.  I feel 100% confident that she is taking care of him almost exactly the way I would and that he is happy and nurtured during the day.

This brings me to my "tip," which probably goes without saying for you.  ALWAYS be responsive to what the center or the teacher is concerned about, and when they call and want to talk about things, make time to do that.  I'm not saying you should every substitute their judgment for yours, but if you picked a place that is philosophically similar to what you would do, be open to their concerns, questions and ideas.  Some parents have a tendency to think they always know better than the DCP, and I get the sense that some parents treat the DCPs as only their "employee" instead of as a partner in this child-rearing journey.  Also, make time to talk with your LO's primary provider at pick up or drop off when you both have a minute.  I have a wonderful relationship with DS's teacher because I listen to her concerns, we constantly discuss how DS is doing, and we treat each other with respect.

Good luck!

moroccojade

I don't know much about daycare.  But I do know what it's like to go back to work at the 1 year mark.  DH and I arranged our schedules so DD would only have to go to our caregiver's a couple of half days a week.  (Was only once a week in the beginning.)

But even that was hard...   but I will say it gets easier and easier.  It's just the anticipation of it thar really stinks.  

Will your DD be going full time?  Any chance of gradual entry?

 

847Christine

We have to pay for full-time, but I will be gradually taking cases, so I will most likely only leave her for 3 hours a day the first week or so, then max out at about 6 hours a day, hopefully less though.  I have to do clinical work for my MS, which will either be one longer day & one short day or two days that are about 4 -5 hours each.  The other days are basically just to pay for daycare & to keep her in a routine.

Of course, if I win the lottery before then, this is all out the window...  lol!