# of hours at Daycare

Starfish+77 · May 2013

So DD started daycare recently and already I'm feeling guilt about the number of hours she's there each day. She'll be there about 9 1/2 - 10 hours a day. DH and I both have an hour commute each way. She's one of the first to be dropped off and last to leave, which just makes me feel awful. I suppose I need to get over it though and I'm hoping my boss will let me work at home 1 or 2 times a week (she'll still go to DC but less hours since no commute)

Anyone else's LO have a long day at daycare? I know it will get better (for me) but the guilt is just eating at me.

aeh72 · May 2013

DS is in daycare for 9.5 hours a day (8am - 5:30pm) and if makes you feel better, I have no commute (work from home) and daycare is 10 minutes away. That's just how long he needs to be there because my and DH's work schedules. I would imagine it's pretty much the same for a lot of people who have regular 9-5-type jobs. It's not ideal but it is what it is. The silver lining for us is that DS loves his daycare and he is learning so much there. I'd rather be with him more during the workweek, but at least I know he's good hands and is happy.

financialdiva · May 2013

Like you, DS's are there 9.5-10 hours a day. I even go in an hour earlier than DH, but both of us have long commutes- 45 mins for me, almost an hour for DH.

When they are little, it's really hard on you, but remember, they have no perception of time. Also, DS1 (3yo) has so much fun with his friends, and even though he is always excited to see me when I pick him up, sometimes it's a struggle to get him to leave!!

katieh1017 · May 2013

She averages 9-10 hours a day and I work from home with a very short commute for pick up and drop off. I see a lot of the same parents at the time I go so I think a full work day is normal.

Clynnpollock · May 2013

9.5-10 hours is very normal. DS is at daycare from just after 7 AM until nearly 6 PM. Yep, that's 11 hours every day... DH and I both work 45 minutes away, and close enough to each other that we can carpool, so to save ourselves some gas money, we do (besides giving us some alone time each day)...

jlaOK · May 2013

DS is in daycare 10 hrs a day. He used to go 11 hrs a day until I started WFH. It used to bother me when he was little, but now he gets upset if we pick him up early because he always is having so much fun.

ilanat · May 2013

We are starting LO in daycare Monday, June 3. He will be there during the workweek from about 7:30 am to 6:00 pm since my husband and I work full time. He's been one-on-one with a nanny and I think he will have much more fun in a more stimulating environment with other kids and people and a full range of activities. I'm excited about sending him there.

cedenton · May 2013

10 hours/day here and I think that's the norm. Most people have an 8 hour work day, 1 hour lunch and 30 ish minute commute each way.

shivNY · May 2013

We're gone for 12 hours a day. DS used to be in an in-home daycare but now we have a nanny, so the long day is not as bad.

jf198400 · May 2013

My kids are there about 9hrs, 8:45-5:45. I only work 10-15mins from DC. I used to have an hour+ commute and had inhome care. There's no way I could have managed DC hours with that commute. I think 9+ hours is very very common.

mben1119 · May 2013

DS is there almost 9 hours. He's one of the first dropped in the morning, but DH picks him up well before most of the other kids.

Sunidaze · May 2013

Estwd2:
DD is in 10 hours a day, but she has such a good time that it doesn't bother me and it certainly doesn't bother her. She's busy all day and loves her DCPs.

This exactly.

jschmidt6 · May 2013

DH and I decided to reserve a daycare spot near our offices for this very reason. We both work about 15 miles from home but the commute can be anywhere from 30 min to an hour depending on traffic, and it's horrible on holidays. I figured I would rather have him with me in the car as soon as I get off work and not worry about driving 80 mph to get him before 6pm which is when they close. Also the daycare is close enough that I can nurse at lunch if I have time. Can you and your DH work slightly different schedules like you go in early and leave early and he go in late and leave late? Then he can drop off and you pick up? I'm sure you guys are doing great! LO will appreciate and respect your decision when he's older!!

Jenny952 · May 2013

My DD is typically in daycare for about 8.5-9 hours. I drop off around 7:45 and DH picks her up around 4:15. Sometimes I have to drop her off earlier and DH bikes/jogs to get her so that's an extra half hour. On the days that DH travels and I have to do both drop off and pick up, I don't get her until 5-5:30. It sucks that she's there so long and I do feel bad when she spends more of her time there during the week than at home with us. But that's the reality of being a full-time working mommy. It will get better, I promise, and your LO will eventually really enjoy playing all day with friends. It's a good way to build social skills and show them that other people can love them in a different way than mommy loves them. But there will always be guilt. Even if you WFH some dyas, there will still be guilt. Even if you stayed at home, there will still be guilt.

alstumb@gmail.com · May 2013

My son goes to the daycare where I work. I work 10hour days, so he is there at least 10 hours.

Starfish+77 · May 2013

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate your input and felt a lot better after reading everyone's comments. Since she's just a baby, I suppose the positive is that she's not upset when I drop her off! And I'm sure once she gets older she will have friends and not want to leave, as some of you mentioned. I'll feel much better knowing she enjoys going there, it's still too new. Thanks again...I know I'll make it but the guilt and sadness is still eating at me each day.

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