Hi Inquisitive Creatures,

I have just read your question and your answers thus far and saw that it was for only a half day once a week....

I think that this sounds reasonable especially if you suffer from depression and anxiety...Remember that to have a happy family you have to have a happy mum and if you were putting him in care so that you can get your driver's license (which would give you a new sense of freedom and not so stuck at home all the time) also a chance to go to appointments and do some cleaning etc I think it would be great for you all...

It does not have to be forever but whilst you get the things you need to get done (license etc) it could be a great help...I have 3 cherubs under 4 and sometimes wish that I had someone that I could get to look after them for a little bit just to get things done or go to my psyc appointment (very hard with the 3 of them in tow!!!!)

It is a hard decision to make, but it may just help...

Cheers Spinnychic

if your not ready to part with him yet dont because it might stress you out even more its as simple as that!!

just do it when your ready!!

xoxox

My son is 17 months and goes to family daycare 3 days a week. He loves it! I have had no problems with my daycare lady and Austin very rarely even wants to leave there.

The downfall of course, is that i miss out on those precious hours spent with my son. It think that children need to spend as much time with their parents as possible, and if you arent ready to part with him yet, then dont send him.

I send my son to daycare because i have to work. If it wasnt for that, he never would have started.

If you are going to be working than you have no choice in sending your child? But in my case i have been a stay at home mum for 10 years now and I don't believe if you at home why should you pay for someone else to look after your children. My children have gained interaction with other children by playgroup and the park ,friends children and siblings. Its all worked out for the best its been along 10 years but i have enjoyed it.

NOW LET ME STATE WORKING MOTHERS I UNDERSTAND YOU PUTTING YOUR CHILDREN IN CARE I AM NOT STARTING AN ARGUMENT OK

DO IT AND DONT STRESS!!!!!!!!!!! Your little man needs the interaction with other kids and in the long run he will be better for it. Plus you need the YOU time too. My 4 kids have and are in daycare and absolutely love it. My 3 yr old goes two days a week and 1 yr old goes 1day a week. As I have to return to work in a few weeks. I had been looking after a friends 4 yr old and she doesnt go to daycare and I swear if I hadnt already had kids Id NEVER have any!!! She had no idea how to play with my kids or share and she constantly cried when ever we tried to involve her in their games.I swear by daycare its heaps of fun for the kids and they also learn alot too. I started at  my daycare 10 yrs ago and Ive never looked back. It also makes it easier for their transition to school ( and you!!!) as its just like daycare. So dont look back just do it and enjoy. In a few weeks youll wonder what all the fuss was about!!!!!

Good luck xoxoxo 

Hi there, I send my boy who is now 18mth to childcare and he loves it.  He only goes 2 days a week.   We decided to send him there as I really had no one to mind him and I needed to go back to work.    

We sent him at 8mths but at 7mths I had the time to go with him and practice.  We stayed there together where I could ease him into it and I also got to know the staff who were really good and eased my fears etc....

For me it wasn't all a bed of roses and we sometimes have our off days.  It was hard to leave him and I used to come home and think that he was just having a nap and that he would wake up soon.   It is good to have some time to yourself, tho. 

Just beaware tho that with my centere when we were pacticing I left my son there to sleep and I would go out and do things.   I later got chaged for it as I had left the centre when he hadn't yet started (the staff told me I could leave)  Just something to talk to the staff about.

Good luck with it all and I just think you have to 'bite the bullet' if you are going to do this.....

Just let go a little bit.  You dont' say how many days a week but I think that a couple of days a week is great for the childs learning, social behaviour and their preparation towards school.  My first didn't go to daycare till he was 3yo and he had a lot of trouble adapting to the idea of separation and interacting with the other children, he also didn't learn to 'stick up' for himself till he was about 12yo.  My second son now 2y 4m has been going 2 days a week since he was 8 months old.  The confidence in my second child is notably greater, his ability to accept new games and concepts is greater also and he is able to interact socially with a greater number of people in new situations.  It also gives you a chance to be you again, to socialise and fulfill some of your own needs.  The later they start the harder it is for them to separate, I would do it now for sure and just walk in there confident that others can look after your baby.

2 days a week is a good start.

I personally had Charlie in day care just after she was 1 and she loved it. She was also in there 2 years ago and loved it aswell. I had Alex is day care as well and apart from a inceident involving a child from school in after hours care it was great.

Hi there

I'm going through the childcare thing at the moment.  Miss M is 7 months old and I go back to work next month.  I started her from January so we could gradually ease her into it.  Before she started, I met with the staff and had a good talk about what they do and how well they could adapt to her routine.  The first day she went it was just for a half day and I stayed for 2 hours so I could make sure she was settled in and also get a good feel for how the staff were.  I really like the main person who looks after the room and it's helped put my mind at ease.  She's now done 3 half days (2 afternoons and 1 morning) and we'll shoot for a full day on Friday.  I was very surprised at how well Miss M settled in (she usually howls up a storm if a strange person picks her up) however I think all the other children distract her from the fact that I'm not there - each time I've gone to pick her up she's been happily playing.  In some ways it's almost like it's harder on the parents as we worry that no-one will take care of our little one like we will, however, I see a positive in that she'll learn how to interact with other kiddies (she's an only child).  My advice is that if you do start to take your son, make sure you have something to keep you busy while he's there.  I've been amazed at how much housework I can get through in just a couple of hours when I'm not constantly attending to her and in some ways I feel like a refreshed mum when I go and get her.

Hope it works out well for you.