First full day in daycare...:(

jarbatz

So I just said goodbye to Brenna and it was SO much harder than I thought it would be.  DH even got teary eyed!!  I just can't get over the fact that she won't have as much one on one time with her caregiver.  I think the ratio is 3:1 so there's going to be time when she's on her own or when they can't get to her right away and it just makes me so sad.   I wish I could afford for someone to come here or even to take her to an in-home daycare but we can't. 

Please tell me if gets better/easier and that Brenna will be OK.

On a good note, she took longer naps on her 2nd partial day and seems to be doing OK in the crib.  She sleeps in her Rock & Play sleeper at home. And she is so tired when she comes home that she goes to bed with no problem.  Last night she went to bed at 7:45 - the earliest ever!  And slept til 6:15.

TookMyTime

I used to work at a daycare (our ratio was 4:1 as I remember) and it will get better.

pahokie

She will be fine!  She will get into the routine and be able to nap and eat and enjoy playtime and learn so much and make little friends.

P.S. It's not just you - I still get teary on occasion, and DD is almost 1!

shelby9201

I promise it will get better for you & your DH.  I was heartbroken the first day I dropped Maddie off and cried the entire day at work.  One of her primary caregivers knew I was such a mess when I dropped her off, so throughout the day she would email me pictures of Madison - sleeping peacefully, smiling in the swing, chilling in the bouncer, etc.  This went on for the first 2 weeks - random pictures throughout the day.  Not only did the little surprise pics make me happy, but I knew that she was getting great care and was having fun. 

FWIW, I really believe that her day care experience has helped Madison become the friendly and happy baby she is today.  She enjoys meeting new people, "plays" great with other babies and overall is a very happy girl.  The ladies at daycare love to dress the babies up and take adorable pictures, they get outside and enjoy the good weather, and every time I show up unannounced, Madison is either playing, sleeping, or being rocked by one of the ladies.

Sending you hugs & hoping you find your daycare experience to be as fun as we do.  Good luck!!!

superaunt

She'll do great there and will be well taken care of! I'm sure she's gonna love it as much as Sabrina loves hers!

YaraC

superaunt:

She'll do great there and will be well taken care of! I'm sure she's gonna love it as much as Sabrina loves hers!

This, only replace Sabrina with Caroline. Caroline is such social, happy baby, a lot is her personality but I think some comes from her being very socialized at daycare. 

JenniferTCU

I promise- she will be fine. Jace didn't start daycare til he turned 8 months old. He's adjusted beautifully. He has a 4:1 ratio and anytime I log on to see what he's doing, someone is holding him or playing with him.

redheadedgirl

It will get better.  Well for her anyway.  I think the reason V is so well adjusted and loves people is because of daycare.  I struggled with should we do in home care as well and truthfully for us I think daycare is the right choice.  Hang in there!

nisems

I hear it is definitely harder on us than it is on them.  Hope it gets better for you very very soon!!  I'm so lucky that Olivia is either with DH or my mom when I'm at work, and it is still so hard for me to leave.  I really feel for you as I know it has to be a million times harder to leave LO at daycare. More

mama.bear

I agree 100% with the previous posters!

(and 3:1 - Wow, great ratio!) Do they have webcam service?

jarbatz

Mama Bear - no, they do not have webcam service....the daycare is not "state of the art" AT ALL, but that's part of the draw.  It just has a really "homey" feel to it....and I can call anytime & as many times as I want.  Its probably better that they don't have webcam access, I would stare at it all day long.