Daycare dilemma - to work or not to work.

You may struggle to find a daycare that will take her that young. I know my boys daycare won't take them before 5 months.. just something to think about..

Can you go part time and your mom have her for all of the time you are at work (which being part time means she only has her part time as well?)

I have heard that most Daycare won't take before 6months old. If you want to work and want to put your daughter into care be prepared for care places you contact to give you "advice" to wait till child is older.
When i was pregnant i looked into care for DD (before she was born) thinking i'd put her into care when she was very young. Once she was here i didn't want to put her into care anymore BUT the point is.. All the places i contacted made me feel very bad for wanting to put baby into care that young. And they all said they would not take a baby before 6months.
Just warning you that if you make that choice be prepared for everyone giving you "advice" about why you shouldn't do it.

My DD started daycare at just under 5 months. She got sick a lot and to be honest the first year there was hard work. She does love it and she bonded really well with one of her caregivers. She was the youngest by a few months, didn't really sleep much there and didn't crawl till 13 months so they spent a lot of time carrying her around and I think she loved the attention

TBH I still find it hard to work the hours that I do (I am a single Mum and work 30 hours a week). If it was me and money wasn't too much of an issue I would try working part time and see how it went. Its hard work getting yourself and a baby out the door in the morning and then they are tired and scratchy at the end of the day and you still have to come home and cook dinner and do housework plus look after your baby and spend time with your partner.

ETA to add I don't regret it at all. I went back to work for financial reasons and I knew I would have to go back at that point when I was pregnant. It was hard but DD was happy and I earnt enough to pay the mortgage so it was a means to an end.

Also - I found that my DD slept really badly at daycare and that affected both her health and her behaviour at home. I had just assumed that because she was a good day sleeper at home she would also sleep well at daycare but it wasn't to be. She was overtired by the time we got home a lot of the time and I found it a bit stressful.

Edited by Shelt

Gosh it's such a personal decision isn't it! It kind of depends on why you need to work and whether it's money or other reasons.

I have just put my son into full time day care at 12 months and felt guilty about that but it has been the BEST decision I ever made! Except for the fact that he's been there a week and is already sick!

I did meet a woman who has had 4 children and has put all of them into full time daycare at 6 weeks.....she's Irish, so not sure if that's an Irish thing??? I did think it was a bit young myself but then who am I to pass judgement.

You really need to have a good sit down and suss out what is right for YOU and YOUR baby and make a decision.

If it breaks your heart, it sounds like you already know you don't want to leave her. Guess it depends if you are truly desperate for the money.
I have stayed home with my son for his first 2.5 years so far and don't regret it at all. We do have to be careful with money and of course some days are really hard, being a full time mum at home. But I would have been devastated not to have been there for first smiles, first steps, first words - all those amazing moments. I think it's really important for babies to have one main care-giver - someone who really works hard at understanding them as this is how they learn to communicate.

If I had had to use childcare, I would probably have gone for a home-based one. They usually only have a max of 4 kids, including their own, so I'm guessing less chance of spreading illness than a daycare with heaps of kids. But it would depend on finding the right person.

Hi
My boy has been in an inhome daycare situation since he was nearly 5 months old. I went back to work when he was 12 weeks old, but he came to work with me inthe early days as I couldnt bear to be away from him.
He loves his daycare, and generally not too many bugs shared round as there's only 4 kids there.
I am in a similar situation to Shelt, a solo mum so I have to work. I am currently doing around 30 - 35 hrs per week so nearly full time. I do agree with her comments re tired baby, and the rush to get to work, then sort out dinner etc when you get home. I also feel that I do not spend enough time with my boy and would love o have the option to work less. Having said that I dont think I could be a full time SAHM either.
Ultimately only you know what will suit you, and I'm sure your baby will be fine what ever you decide to do.... they are very resilient!

Good plan. I tried putting DD in with a Porse Lady when she was 6 mths, but within 2 weeks changed my mind! I was fortunately in my own business, Commission based, so wasn't cancelling a contract, but even though I was trying to work only 3 days a week, having DD looked after by someone else, it not going so well, and me not earning much for it to be worthwhile, I hated it. It was really good to try it though so I knew for sure. Now I'm considering full time but the kids are much older. I would have hated to miss all those moments with DD we've had up till now. If you feel you are going batty at home, do what you can to achieve something for yourself - whether it is part-time or volunteer. I find if I don't have a project for myself to work on at home when I get a chance (kids naps) I start getting cabin fever.