Starting daycare early?
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Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
Forum Description: Want help? Need support? Want tips? Men and women share advice and tips in this supportive community
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=35048
Printed Date: 26 August 2025 at 8:34pm
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Topic: Starting daycare early?
Posted By: AzzaNZ
Subject: Starting daycare early?
Date Posted: 02 August 2010 at 4:37pm
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Has anyone had their LO in daycare from very young? Did they manage ok?
Our little one will be in from 3 months old - unfortunately I have to go back to work full-time and we dont have any family in the country. I visited the baby section of DD's daycare where he is booked in and their youngest baby currently is 9 months. I'm driving myself crazy with guilt! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Replies:
Posted By: Rachel1982
Date Posted: 02 August 2010 at 4:41pm
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This is probably no help at all, but our DD will be in daycare 3 days per week from around 16 weeks and I have raging guilt too :(
*hugs* to you! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: T_Rex
Date Posted: 02 August 2010 at 5:17pm
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I put DD in at 6 months, and the youngest baby in her section currently is 5 months, but my friend had hers in the same section a few years ago from 12 weeks. I actually think he coped better with it, because at that age they don't really mind being passed around, and by the time he was old enough to have issues with "strangers", the carers weren't strangers at all anymore. In contrast, my DD is struggling with the idea that mummy is suddenly abandoning her all day after being there 24/7 for 6 months.
You get the guilts whatever age they are, if that helps! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: LJsmum
Date Posted: 02 August 2010 at 6:46pm
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I've worked with babies 3 months old and younger once had a 2 week old!
in daycare centres, I'm an ECE teacher and looking after babies/ toddlers/ preschoolers is my passion. My advice is try to let the guilt go....i know it's very hard to, but you have to return to work, to survive and your baby is going to be with qualifed teachers who love babies, in a safe, happy environment. I had the guilts when i returned to work when DS1 was 10 months old and i was working in the same room not directly with him though. Guilt is a funny thing i think when we become mums it joins us and never really leaves us!! Good luck, go easy on yourself in the first few weeks, and trust he will be fine. The teachers in the baby area are trained and know what to do. You are an excellent mother and making the best decision for your family. -------------  
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Posted By: kezza2112
Date Posted: 02 August 2010 at 7:07pm
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Yep, my boys started at 14 weeks and he is at daycare for 32 hrs per week. Yes, I had to go back to work.
Apart from having to be super organised, he loves it! I'd rather have him in early rather than later as they then get that seperation anxiety stuff. He settled in really well fro mday one as he didn't know that much better. It was probably easier for me too as the ladies all looked after my other son years ago too. I think the first few weeks will be hard for you emotionally maybe and remember they do get sick from being around other sick bubbas/kids so expect to take some sick leave. But just think of all that learning and socializing!!! Another genius in the making!!! |
Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 02 August 2010 at 7:14pm
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A friend of mine had hers in from 2 months ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: HuntersMama
Date Posted: 02 August 2010 at 7:18pm
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My DS will start tomorrow 2 days a week, he is 6 months.
Dont feel guilty - you are doing whats best for you and your family. There was a great article in the herald today about a new study that says babies that go to daycare are not disadvantaged like was once thought. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: AzzaNZ
Date Posted: 02 August 2010 at 7:24pm
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Thanks everyone - I think we find things to feel guilty about. Seeing no other small babies in there made me feel dreadful... but I guess my little guy will get lots of attention from the teachers with him being the smallest. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
http://intermittentblogger.wordpress.com |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 02 August 2010 at 7:40pm
My DD was in 12 hours from 5 weeks old, then fulltime from 5 months. PM me at any time if you have questions, I don't check the boards too much anymore so it's best to PM if you want an answer 
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Posted By: monkey33
Date Posted: 02 August 2010 at 8:07pm
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I feel incredibly guilty too and our DS is not going till 9 & half months. So I think it is very normal to feel guilty no matter what age they end up there!
I know of so many babies that were in daycare from 3 months yet when I visited daycares there didn't seem to be any - so I know what you mean! But when I asked, they said that alot of them had been there since 3-6 months. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: nathansmummy
Date Posted: 02 August 2010 at 9:20pm
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Just a note to say - there are always alternatives to daycare, such as PORSE or homebased care where WINZ childcare subsidies etc. are available to help with costs. It's worth thinking about it because I know it is better for their social attachment, unless you have a daycare where they will have a primary person caring for your baby and not different people. If you've made your decision, and you haven't already arranged one person to care for her at daycare, that's something that can definitely help in terms of reassuring you and her development.
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 02 August 2010 at 9:47pm
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Sorry forgot to add, the mum went back to study at uni so was in from about 9am-5pm most days but she checked on him whenever she could etc ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Lightning McQueen
Date Posted: 02 August 2010 at 9:52pm
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T will be starting daycare when he's 6 months' old. I'm feeling really guilty about it and it's still 6 weeks off!
I saw this article in The Guardian yesterday that made me feel a bit better - apparently new research shows that going into daycare early (before they are one) doesn't have the adverse affects that some previous studies showed. Here's the link (sorry I don't know how to make it click through). http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/aug/01/babies-dont-suffer-working-mothers |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 02 August 2010 at 10:20pm
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Thanks for that article TobysMum, that's good some good information in it.
We have primary care at our daycare, but even if we didn't I would still choose daycare. I prefer accountability, especially for such a young child. They did everything they possibly could - hired a bassinet, got an angelcare monitor, had increased staffing til she reached 3 months, wore her most of the day (due to reflux she needed to be worn), even washed and dried her clothes when she powerchucked all over them instead of letting me do it all when I got home - such a supportive environment. I guess I'm lucky that I didn't feel too guilty. When she was 5 weeks, I hadn't bonded with her at all as she was such a hard baby, and even at 5 months I wasn't as attached to her as I could have been, but also I really wanted to return to work (financially I wasn't much better off back then). I have found no negative effects at all - in fact Ava and I now have an awesome relationship and I haven't missed out on any major milestones so far (although she hasn't walked yet). Jack was in from 5 months, but only part time til he was 2, and other than me being overprotective because of illness, and simply bonding better because of our personalities (just as DH and Ava bond better) there is no difference between our kids where one was at home most of the time, and one at daycare. |