Starting daycare

katrina_pharmd

Hi ladies...Just curious if you transitioned LO into daycare before their start date and how long this period lasted for you.  Also, how long were each of your visits?  I am supposed to start bringing DS to daycare next week so he can get used to the new environment, kids, and teachers.

NZ is weird b/c the whole country seems to shut down b/w Christmas and New Year, so we have to start earlier since the daycare is closed from 22 December to 9 January.  I go back to work on 16 January.  I am both excited and saddened about this....he's my best mate, and it will be hard...but I feel very lucky that I was allowed nearly a year off to be with him.

Cheers.

ladipale

The daycare we are hoping to switch to when E is 2 does a transition week where you come in with your child (at a time when they are well rested and well fed) for an hour three days in a row.

I transitioned E (but since she was only 3 months it was more like transitioning myself) into her current daycare by going with her a few times for about an hour and just hanging out with her and the care givers.

Since your DS is close to 1, I think you may want to do the transition in the week they are reopen, if you do it before the holiday he is likely to 'forget' what he learned, that this place is friendly, etc. Just last week, E was sick and when we took her back to daycare monday am, it took her a little longer than usual to warm up to the place.

Good luck!

skirby

Our case is different, since our LO is younger, but we did three days of transition (she only goes one full day, and two half each week). The first day we all went together, and chatted while her provider held her and got used to her - asking questions about what we do at home. Day two and three both lasted three hours.

Like ladipale said, the transition might have been more for me.  

Happy transitioning! I hope it's smooth as can be! 

Mrs.BoomBoom

I wouldn't want to do a transitional visit period and then not go back for several weeks.  I'd just do the visits in the week before we actually started.  When Q was 6 mos, his 1st day was my 1st day back at work.  When he started the new place at 18 mos, I went and sat in with him for a few hours one day and then he did partial days for the next 2 days, then it was the weekend and then he started full time.

melgrady

I only took Rose once the week before she started for about three hours. She still had a rough first week and I don't know if more time spent with me there would have helped.

My.ABC.Life

ladipale:

Since your DS is close to 1, I think you may want to do the transition in the week they are reopen, if you do it before the holiday he is likely to 'forget' what he learned, that this place is friendly, etc. Just last week, E was sick and when we took her back to daycare monday am, it took her a little longer than usual to warm up to the place.

Good luck!

Ditto Laura.  We only did a week transition with DS (he was 4 months at the time).  First day I went and hung out with him for 30 min to and hour.  The next two days I took him for about 2 hours each time and left him there alone.