Daycare transition

mariamaria

I'm new to this board and usually hang out on my BMB, but have been lurking here more and more as I prepare to go back to work in 2 weeks.

Here's my situation in a nutshell. I have a 3 year old and a 12 week old. My babysitter who has had my 3 year old since he was a baby and was going to take the baby, too, let me know last week that she needs to quit to care for her husband who is having health issues. Since she let me know, I've been interviewing nanny candidates as this is my preference, but in the end we may need to go the daycare center route due to budget. It would be significantly cheaper. That being said, I'm not sure how my DS1 would do going from being the only child at his current babysitter's and not having a ton of structure to a daycare center. He'd probably love the kids, but he and his current sitter go outside whenever he wants to, they go for walks on a whim or to a park, etc.

My question is if any of you have had to experience a similar transition with kids and how that went? I know kids are totally adaptable and resilient, but I can't help but feel a little nervous about him being uprooted from his current situation and thrown into a completely different format virtually overnight. It would be different if he'd always been in daycare and kind of knew that life. If we go that route, just looking for tips and reassurance!

Thx

kcox123

Unless your kids are going to be homeschooled - prob best to have him transition to playing with others at 3 years old rather than in Kindergarten. Not meant to be snarky - just saying seems like a good opportunity.

My kids have THRIVED in DC.  And my older two are young for their years in school (all summer b-days) and are at or near the top of their peer groups in their reading/vocab abilities..... I credit much of that to our DC. And they are well-mannered/behaved. Also helped by DC.

jnnfrrose6

I haven't had to transition, my son has been in DC since he was 3 months, but I'd recommend starting him part time if you can before your current sitter has to leave permanently.  Either send him for half days for a week or two, or send him for 2-3 full days a week for a couple of weeks before making the full time switch.

  

mariamaria

jnnfrrose6:

I haven't had to transition, my son has been in DC since he was 3 months, but I'd recommend starting him part time if you can before your current sitter has to leave permanently. nbsp;Either send him for half days for a week or two, or send him for 23 full days a week for a couple of weeks before making the full time switch.nbsp;nbsp;

Yes! Very good advice. Thank you.

seahorse102410

We had to move our son when he was 2 1/2 from an inhome to a daycare center.  It was a pretty significant change for him.  Honestly he really didn't like it at first but we had no other options.  I actually really like the daycare center environment better and they get to do A LOT more. 

Mjmksb04

My DS was watched full time by a friend in her home from 9 weeks old until he was 3.5 and then we switched him to an in home daycare 3 days a week and with his babysitter 2 days a week. We added in home daycare so that he could get more socialization and play around with other kids his age. I won't lie, the transition was tough on him at first, but a lot of that was due to my DS's personality. Our IH daycare is very structured and I am very happy with the care she has given him. The first few drop offs did involve a lot of tears, but it was mostly because of the unknown and new setting. Each day when I picked him up, he is laughing and playing and having a great time. I would let him know that you are switching him and talk up how much fun he will have with other kids. Be prepared for some bumps and him being upset some days. Its normal, especially at that age. I have found that he has greatly benefitted being at IH daycare, with being around other kids and the structure has been fantastic for him.

preggersin2011

Just think about it this way- the younger they are the easier the change will be. So in the long term it will be easier now than when Kindergarten starts.

litzo27

Both my sons went from a nanny to a center a little before turning 2. Plus neither spoke a word of English when they started. I was a nervous wreck both times but they adjusted really well within a couple of weeks. Much better than I anticipated both times even though their personalities are very different.

h2babe

I'm in somewhat a similar situation with you - only that my daughter has been cared for by a nanny for 3-yrs. She will be attending a center in the fall - and to ease the transition, I have been sending her once/week. I also talk it up with her at home - like she's going to school because she is a big-girl. We got her a new backpack, shoes, a couple of blankets for "school".

She has been adjusting much better there than I thought. Since the center has a lower enrollment in the summer, I requested if she could be placed in the smaller class to ease with the transition, so she's been going to the room with only 9 kids right now (and 2 teachers), to get her ready before that classroom gets to 16+ in mid-to late August when all of the kids are back.

I agree with pp, I would prefer her to start going now than at 5-yrs old and she'll be attending Kinder with 24 kids and one teacher. Good luck. 

Chargersgrl33

We just re-transitioned my DS (20 mo) back into daycare.  He has done great so far.  The hardest part is when I drop him off because he does cry.  I did get their schedule ahead of time so I could get him on the same eating/nap times they were on so it made the transition easier.