Putting 8-week-old in day care center...

JennJenn613

Can someone please reassure me that LO and I will survive this? He is just so little, so needy, and my state (UT) has a 4:1 ratio for infant caregivers. FWIW it's a wonderful center, highly recommended, but with 8 infants and 2 caregivers can he really get the attention he needs? I HAVE to go back to work at the end of the month and I am panicking. Who has gone through this?

If he could just sit up on his own and play with toys, I would feel much better about leaving him... I'd love to put him in more of a 1:1 nanny situation, but I don't feel comfortable leaving him alone with a stranger either.

Just tell me it'll be OK...

AML84

My friend put her 8 week old in daycare and they are doing fine! It was hard for her, but she's fine now. Her daughter is so worn out from daycare that she sleeps when she gets home, and she said she seems very happy.

amiexoxo

I will be putting my 9 week old in daycare and while I am nervous about it I know she will be just fine.  It will be much harder on me.  She will have so much interaction there and hopefully a lot of stimulating activites.  I just keep telling myself she will be happy there. I know it will make nights and weekends much more special for us. 

JJ1973

I feel your pain, but a little bit later (I'll be doin this at 12 weeks). I'm so anxious about it I could cry. I've known others who have gone through this though, and it worked out just fine. It sounds like you did your reseach and picked a good place. I also remind myself that although they are not caring for our babies as we would or they would their own, they have a great night's sleep (hopefully) and chose a daycare job for a reason (hopefully).

cheex090

I've been back to work for 2 weeks, and my LO started day care at about 8 weeks. I felt just like you did. The first week was extremely hard on me, but this week has gotten easier. SHE is perfectly fine though! It's definitely an adjustment.

GL!

h2babe

Mine is going to DC in 2 weeks, and I have been dreading it. Tons of my friends reassured me that it's harder for moms that it would be for the babies; especially at this age. 

kmj

I put DS in daycare at 7 weeks and was really stressed about it too, but you know what - He's fine! He's happy and I'm happy (because I get a break, which I used to feel guilty about - but sometimes it's nice to have adult conversation and not deal with a screaming child).

DH usually drops off & picks up which I think really helped me at first since there wasn't that stressfull moment of leaving him.

So, maybe you'll miss a couple of her "firsts" but when you see them it'll be your "firsts" Know what I mean?

JennJenn613

Thanks ladies. Logically I know he'll be OK, but when I put him down for a nap to shower for 20 mins and come back and he is RED and screaming, I wonder how often he will have to be ignored in day care because there are other kids crying too? He just gets soooo wound up when I don't respond within a couple minutes. Sigh.

lysa3950

You will be ok! i felt bad too with our ds#1. It helped to take him for a few 1/2 days before i went to work, that way when i started work we were in the swing of things