transitioning to daycare

megann831

I'm a little freaked out about transitioning DD into daycare.  She used to go to a babysitter, she's been home with my since May, and she'll go to daycare with her brother when I go back to work next week.  I've been loving my time with DD and the daycare is by my job so it's out of the way so I waited till this week to start bringing her.  I was going to do mon, tues, wed, but there is a hurricane coming so they're closed tomorrow and I'm sure they will be tues too.  So this means I can only send her wed, which will be a Halloween party, and thursday, my mom took off friday and we have a nice day planned.  Do you think she'll be ready after only 2 days?  Next week is only a three day week and my dad offered to take them the 1st day so it will make life a little easier.  The daycare is about about 10 min from my job and it opens at 7 and I need to be to work by 7:30, so I really have no time to help her settle in in the morning.

groovygrl

I might be a weird one, but I took my kids to DC at 5 months (twins) and went full time from day one if I recall...I felt like at 5 months as long as someone I felt comfortable with was taking care of their needs (feeding, sleeping, some holding/cuddling, safety, some stimulatoin) they were all good ... I was not really emotional about it as that is not really my personality though maybe I didn't think about it enough. They were fine as far as I remember.  It got much harder for me after 18 months or so when there was clinging and crying and stuff, they were super easy as babies at DC.

GL!

megann831

groovygrl:

I might be a weird one, but I took my kids to DC at 5 months (twins) and went full time from day one if I recall...I felt like at 5 months as long as someone I felt comfortable with was taking care of their needs (feeding, sleeping, some holding/cuddling, safety, some stimulatoin) they were all good ... I was not really emotional about it as that is not really my personality though maybe I didn't think about it enough. They were fine as far as I remember.  It got much harder for me after 18 months or so when there was clinging and crying and stuff, they were super easy as babies at DC.

GL!

I'm not worried about the baby, I'm sure he'll be ok with me leaving.  I'm going to talk to his teachers, but I'm not going to leave him to transition, it's my 2 year old I'm a little worried about.  She's very social so she'll probably be ok, but I'm still  nervous that when it's time for mommy to leave she won't be so brave. 

MrsI

I am a preschool teacher and deal with transitions all the time. TBH most parents don't even do a "transition week". They just drop and go. Also the first week or two you most likely wont have any issues. The environment is still new and fun and the time goes so fast for them. It's a few weeks in that they "get it" and start getting upset at drop off. They realize there is structure to their day and mom will be gone a long time. Just understand that must children also stop crying by the time mom or dad gets to their car and really do enjoy their day.

MariJ1008

groovygrl:

I might be a weird one, but I took my kids to DC at 5 months (twins) and went full time from day one if I recall...I felt like at 5 months as long as someone I felt comfortable with was taking care of their needs (feeding, sleeping, some holding/cuddling, safety, some stimulatoin) they were all good ... I was not really emotional about it as that is not really my personality though maybe I didn't think about it enough. They were fine as far as I remember.  It got much harder for me after 18 months or so when there was clinging and crying and stuff, they were super easy as babies at DC.

GL!

THIS

not weird at all. DS started DC fulltime from day one at 6 months. I thought I was weird too because I wasn't super emotional about it.  But I like taking him to daycare..I love all his teachers and he does great there! 

I think when they are young, and haven't developed separation anxiety it is very easy for them to adjust to a new environment. DS has been dc for almost 2 months and is doing great. He is all smiles when he sees his teacher in the morning, and all smiles when he sees me int he afternoon. I think your LO will be fine

kcircell

Remember also she can read your emotions so be as relaxed as possible otherwise you'll have her feeding off your anxiety. At this point not much you can do about you can't add days to the week so just talk up daycare as best you can so she knows what is coming