Babies in daycare

@DeenaD (2684)
United States
September 3, 2006 5:11pm CST
Last Monday I put my 11-month-old son into a daycare center, where he will go for 5 days a week for the forseeable future. He cried every morning, but by Thrusday the teachers were telling me he was having a good day there. I really hate it, and wish I could stay home with him. THis is not entirely new to me. He is my fourth child, and his siblings were in daycare as well, though for brief periods at different ages, and they seem to have turned out fine. But still, I am feeling horrible about this. Does anyone out there use a daycare center and want to share experiences with me?
5 people like this
15 responses
@blessonje (1651)
• India
24 Sep 06
thats the biggrst mistake the parents can make..babies need lot of attention from their parnts ...
@amiksinha (1960)
• India
24 Sep 06
i dont have any exp
• United States
23 Sep 06
I also ran a day care for 15 years. My best suggestion is to follow your gut instincts about the day care. If it is just you feeling separation anxiety then that is normal and it will get better. If you have any bad feelings at all about the place you are taking him, then follow your instincts always. When we did daycare in our home, we had a group daycare and cared for up to 16 kids at a time. My husband and I did it together so this was great. Many of the kids didn't have both parents at home and my husband is just a big kid at heart so this worked so well. We were there while many parents were working a job and going to school all to give their kids a better life. I think if you don't have to work and have a choice that the better choice is to be home with your kids. BUT in all reality, that is not even an option for most people. I don't know about a day care center where people are just employees because the pay is bad and the turnover if high. If I had to choose, especially for an infant, I would choose home day care.
@Sweety76 (1594)
• India
23 Sep 06
i dont have idea
• India
23 Sep 06
well i'm not a parent but i want u to suggest u about the nubmer of children u have... chek ur mail
• United States
24 Sep 06
I am a mother as well as a former daycare employee, I worked with the 18 month- 3 year old class. I resigned due to a complication with my pregnancy. And thankfully didn't have to return back after my son was born. Although I don't thnk daycare is a bad thing for children a bit older, i think that at 11 months old the child just needs a little added love that only a parent or grandparent can provide, not that the childcare employee don't due their best, it is inpossible for them to give every child at such a young age all the attention they need and desire. Just think about it the ratio here in New jersey for my class is 1 adult to every 9 children, so have you ever been able to attend to all 9 at the same time?
• United States
4 Sep 06
My Mom has ran a daycare for 12 years now. She treats the kids like they are her own. She does a lot of projects with them and the kids love her so much. She takes care of infants to 4 year olds with 3 friends of hers. There are days we go out in town and 8 year olds still come up to her and give her hugs and remember being in daycare with her at age 4. it is really nice to see. Daycare at a young age will prepare him to be around others when he attends school someday!
@makemoney (561)
• India
6 Sep 06
actually it seems wierd ... but i have a point to make ... even though he cries and all ... the children should be made to grow up ... with peers ... other wise ... it may result in long lasting impressions
@sanell (2112)
• United States
5 Sep 06
I am blessed to be at home with my 2 kids and I know that we are of a minority, It would be too hard for me to see them go to daycare. My oldest is almost 3 and she is ready to start preschool and though it will be some relief to have her in school since I am now working from home it will still be hard for me to have to take her and go. I know though that the first week or so I will be able to stay in there with her so she gets use to it so I am thankful for that. It can be hard as you want to do right by your children.
• United States
9 Sep 06
I must say..Ive had to have my youngest kids in daycare for about a year time and I too hated it..they would cry every morning i dropped them off, would have my fiance take them in and same thing but they never wanted to leave in the evenings! I'm blessed that they dont have to go to daycare anymore and will say this...always check and recheck into your childs daycare..stop in unannounced at an odd time and see how things are going. I had a cpl of bad experiences with one certain daycare and quickly pulled my kids from that center.
@Aali311 (6112)
• United States
20 Sep 06
I'm sure he'll get use to it eventually, I don't have any of my kids in day. If you have no choice that's how it's got to be. Things will work out eventually.
• United States
20 Sep 06
I havent had to put my new baby in daycare yet. But i understand your feelings. I went through this with my oldest daughter when she was little. She hated daycare, any daycare. She would cry, refuse to eat, and make herself throw up. It was very very stressful. I thankfully found a caring and understanding daycare provider who helped me through it all.
21 Sep 06
It’s natural for children to be upset, as you know. Your other children are perfectly fine. I suppose it’s just the guilt attached to leaving him at this place, though if you can’t avoid it, you just can’t. You just need to continue what you’re doing and provide as you are. You’re doing a good job, I reckon.
• United States
20 Sep 06
my son has not yet been put into daycare(6 weeks) and i dont plan on doing so until at least 6 months of age. I used to work in various daycares working and volunteering and if you find the right daycare and you trust the caregivers you leave your child with there is nothing to worry about. It is good for a child to have that early interaction with other children their age. I do believe that the 1st few months should be spent with a parent,if the daycare is not very small your child will not get the same amount of attention you yourself would give to them. At an older age there are more activities and more interaction with the whole class
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
4 Sep 06
I was lucky to not have to put my son in daycare until he was almost 2. I hated dropping him off, but he loved being there and loved interacting with the other kids. I did feel bad at first, but it was an opportunity for him to grow his social skills and get out of the house while I was getting an education. I believe that him being in daycare helped him grown socially and learn how to make friends. It does get easier! Remember kids do go thorugh phases so after a week or two he won't cry, then out of the blue one day he will.