Day Care - How young is to young?

malachibratton wrote: I have gone back to work and my son is 12 wks. He has to go to daycare although he hasnt started just yet. Probably next week. I know he is very young and can pick up many germs ( he is sick right now). I really have no choice though. Has anyone put their baby in daycare earlier than 12 wks and if so how did it work out?

mckayleesmom replied: I have been lucky enough to be a stay at home mom, but Im sure alot of people have had to put their babies in even before 12 weeks...Don't alot of businesses only give you 6 weeks of maternity leave?

Kaitlin'smom replied: when I was looking into childcare for my daughter I was looking at returning to work after 8 week, most places wanted 6 weeks or older. I never had to go the route of daycare, we went with a baby sitter. We got lucky with this one our MIL's are best friends and when she heard I was PG she was thinking on taking in a baby full-time to help with bills, I met her we clicked and she has been caring Kaitlin for well almost 2 years.

some things to think about and consider

what is there sick policy (like if your or another child is sick what do they do? how long before they can return)

what is the teacher to kid ratio

hours of opperation

cost and whats inclueded

do they have a waiting list

also you might look in your local paper for people wanting to care for kids in there home, just another option.

best of luck

coasterqueen replied: My DD went back at 10 weeks and was fine. Although I have to thank breastfeeding from that because especially in those first few months she dodged the flu, stomach flu and many other sicknesses the kids were passing around at that time.

jdkjd replied: Both of my girls went in around 12 weeks. I really just paid attention to the cleanliness of the staff and the rapport between the infant teacher and the babies. It is usually easy to tell when they really love their babies.

Neither of mine were especially sick, so once again, check on the cleanliness. Do they have a daily cleaning routine? Do they regularly disinfect the toys and floors? etc.

MichaelsMommy replied: I went back at 8wks. I was lucky to find a nanny who watches
the children at her house and she lives right down the street from me.
She watches another baby that is 1 1/2 and she has her own 3 yr old.
Personally I think this situation is better then the standard daycare centers
when the babies are so little.

aspenblue1 replied: I had to go back at 6 weeks. So Isabella went to daycare at 6 weeks she did fine.

paradisemommy replied: i used to babysit for home daycares when i was younger and the youngest we got was 6 weeks and they do just fine!!

AndriNPetersdada replied: My kid's stay home with Grandpa 90 percent of the time but now and then they have to go to daycare Andriana was probably six weeks old the first time she went and Peter was probably about that ttoo. I honestly don't care for the daycare in town so your lucky if you can find a good one.

kimberley replied: i agree, he should be just fine. i used to work in a daycare and in all my years there, we only had one infant (close to 1yr) who cried all day. but that was the parents' fault imo. transitioning is so important! these parents just went from nursing and at home 24/7 to dumping baby off the first day for 8 hrs. of course he was traumatized! we implored the mom to come in beforehand and spend an hour with baby to familiarize him with the centre and workers but she refused. most parents do this a 2-3 times before the child starts a full day. good luck and keep us posted.

malachibratton replied: So with him being 12 wks, should I still go to see him two or three times a day.
I plan on visiting him at lunch but that was about it. I really dont want him to be lacking anything emotionally. I should be glad I got 12 wks when some women only get 6.

kimberley replied: once a day should be fine once he is settled in. what i meant was the first few days in daycare should be transitioned.. especially for those who have never been babysat. an example would be... a mom would bring her baby in on monday for an hour or two and stay for all or at least half of that time. she would bring him in again within 2 days for a longer period (maybe 5 hours) and stay for only 20 min. and repeat again friday for 8 hours and by monday he would start a full day alone. it just makes it a little less overwhelming for baby so that he doesn't think mom is abandoning him.