I did, and for the first few days I actually stayed there with her and played, then started leaving for a couple hours, etc. It really helped me get to know the center and the routine, and I like to think it helped DD to know it was an OK place to be. I recommend doing it if you can!
Yup, I left her there for 2 hours the 1st day (after staying about an hour there with her) and then 4 hours the 2nd day. 3rd day was all day. She was 4 months old and was fine. I was a pretty big mess and I was glad I eased into it.
I go back to work the 6th (after the holiday) and I have called and set it up for a couple of days next week.
Trust me, you will be glad you did. I went back to work on a Thursday, so we started that Monday and it worked out really well for us. On Monday I just stayed and observed and got to know his teachers. Then on Tuesday and Wednesday, I hung out a little longer, left for a couple of hours then picked him up early. I was a mess, but I'm glad I wasn't a mess on my first day of work! GL!
I didn't. Our DCP said that babies seem to have a harder time ramping up to a full day than just doing it from the beginning - they take a few days to adjust to any schedule, so the changing (half days and then full days, or whatever) just makes it take them longer to settle in.
Not judging, though. I had full faith that my DD would be happy, and I wanted a few precious days to myself before going back to work.
No. At that age, it's not about them getting used to it honestly and LO really won't "get used to it" with you there or in a matter of a few hours. It will take about a week. So nope, dropped mine off on the first day, went to work and started a normal schedule. Both were exhausted after being picked up the first week, both ended up with some infection (ear/sinus for DD, bronchitis for DS) after the first week but both quickly adapted.
Re: Daycare dry run?
Trust me, you will be glad you did. I went back to work on a Thursday, so we started that Monday and it worked out really well for us. On Monday I just stayed and observed and got to know his teachers. Then on Tuesday and Wednesday, I hung out a little longer, left for a couple of hours then picked him up early. I was a mess, but I'm glad I wasn't a mess on my first day of work! GL!
I didn't. Our DCP said that babies seem to have a harder time ramping up to a full day than just doing it from the beginning - they take a few days to adjust to any schedule, so the changing (half days and then full days, or whatever) just makes it take them longer to settle in.
Not judging, though. I had full faith that my DD would be happy, and I wanted a few precious days to myself before going back to work.
DD -- 5YO
DS -- 3YO