Question for mums of under 1s in daycare

My DH is self employed and things are very slow at the moment so I'm going to have to go back to work earlier than I hoped.

DS is 7 1/2 months and I'll probably need to be back at work within the next 6-8 weeks, so would be at most 9 1/2 months when he goes in to daycare or similar, for at least 3 days a week.

given that he's not yet crawling or walking and hasn't said his first word (all things I thought I'd still be at home for), I'm imagining him doing all those things for the first time with someone else watching instead of me.

So my question to those of you with babies in daycare when they started doing all these things is - did they do them at daycare or did they do them when they were with you?

DD has been in care two days a week since about 8 months and I don't feel like I missed out on anything. As with T-Rex, her crawling, talking etc were very gradual processes. I found walking to be the only real 'obvious' milestone and she started that at home.

I agree that even if they do do a 'first' at daycare, the first time you hear or see it yourself is just as good. I think in most circumstances, carers aren't aware that they've never said a certain word at home before, so they probably wouldn't say anything. If that makes sense.   

One thing I would say, is even if at this point it is still only a maybe, start shopping around for centres now and get your baby on the waiting lists.

My favourite of DD's milestones has probably been her learning to hug and kiss. Her carer mentioned today how many kisses she's been getting from DD lately and it was nice to think, yeah, but I've been getting them for months

They do become attached to their carers (and that is a good thing!) but they'll always love you the most!

T_Rex wrote: They do become attached to their carers (and that is a good thing!) but they'll always love you the most!

I agree with this too. And it is hard to leave them at first. I think I was more upset than Jackson for the first 2-3 days. Their love is unconditional so when they see you its like they've missed you for days.

Jackson was 9.5 months when he started DC when I went back to work. He was already talking i.e. Mum, Dad, bub by then so we didnt miss the talking. He took his first steps at home with us at 13 months old, so that was cool and Im pleased we didnt miss it.

I love seeing him learn new things and hearing him talk new words he's learnt at DC. He knows all the boys names (only 3 others, he's in Family DC) and talks about them all the time (and the dog, Missy) . They definitely learn things faster at DC, and Im also a Mum that doesnt mind this. If he were at home with me the opportunity may never have been there to learn, or to learn it as quickly, so it doesnt bother me.

I agree, start looking around now. You will know what you like and dont like.

you won't miss out on anything...when my son went to daycare, I just asked that they didn't tell me if he had done any 'firsts' that way when I saw it, that was when I counted it as being his first time. seemed to work for me really well and I felt like I wasn't missing out on anything and DC were happy to oblige!

I work in the infants room, and as a parent myself I know how special it is to see things for the first time, so we never tell the parents if the child got up and started walking or saying new words then we don't say anything till the parent mentions it. That way its super exciting for the parents to see it first

Our daycare video'd it for us when thomas did things for the first time! I thought that was quite exciting :D