First Week of Daycare..coming up

Please...I am getting sick to my stomach about it....

Anyway I am going back to work on Monday 11/9. I figured I will start Tommy at daycare on Monday 11/2 to get both he and I into the routine. And also this way I can get some pre-work stuff done (new clothes hello post-partum totally new shaped body!)

My question is, do you think I should put him in M-F all day? Or should I pick him up earlier in the day, maybe just on Monday and Tuesday? I want to spend time with him I am getting teary as I write this!

Sigh....

Re: First Week of Daycare..coming up

Posted by CaseyGirl

Please...I am getting sick to my stomach about it....

Anyway I am going back to work on Monday 11/9. I figured I will start Tommy at daycare on Monday 11/2 to get both he and I into the routine. And also this way I can get some pre-work stuff done (new clothes hello post-partum totally new shaped body!)

My question is, do you think I should put him in M-F all day? Or should I pick him up earlier in the day, maybe just on Monday and Tuesday? I want to spend time with him I am getting teary as I write this!

Sigh....

Re: First Week of Daycare..coming up

I had no choice but to leave her FT the first day and honestly, I ended up much more okay with it than I expected. I think I only called once to check up on her.

Since you have flexibility before you actually go back, I'd say see how you feel ... and just go with the flow!

Re: First Week of Daycare..coming up

It does get easier and DS will love it. Honestly, it's harder on you then on them. I cried the first few days and found every thing wrong that they were doing. Problem is... they weren't really doing anything wrong. Just getting to know DS and I do things different. After a couple of weeks we found a nice medium and DS is sooo happy at daycare. He's almost 5 months and has been there for over a month. Loves his teachers and always looking at his friends in the class. He's really thriving too. Every time I take him home he's doing something new and amazing... they work with him on a lot of stuff. Stuff I wouldn't even know about if I was home with him all day.
Believe me... it'll all be ok. Just takes time

Re: First Week of Daycare..coming up

Posted by EricaAlt

It does get easier and DS will love it. Honestly, it's harder on you then on them. I cried the first few days and found every thing wrong that they were doing. Problem is... they weren't really doing anything wrong. Just getting to know DS and I do things different. After a couple of weeks we found a nice medium and DS is sooo happy at daycare. He's almost 5 months and has been there for over a month. Loves his teachers and always looking at his friends in the class. He's really thriving too. Every time I take him home he's doing something new and amazing... they work with him on a lot of stuff. Stuff I wouldn't even know about if I was home with him all day.
Believe me... it'll all be ok. Just takes time

Re: First Week of Daycare..coming up

I had to put Alex in at 10 weeks Trust me when I say this - it's a LOT harder on you than it is on them. He'll be ok - he'll learn to bond with other adults, make friends with other little babies, and have a really fun, exciting day in school, even if he cries at the dropoff (which Alex STILL does, but at the end of the day when I pick her up, she refuses to go home because she wants to play with her friends!).

Re: First Week of Daycare..coming up

thank you i like the idea of gradually increasing it...i hope the teachers don't think i'm loony!

Erica - good point about him learning new stuff, more than you knew about at home, I think about that too..I keep reminding myself he will make friends and become socialized..

It's just me feeling guilt because I have no choice but to be a working mom, and I harbor a lot of resentment over that...my biggest fear is that he will feel abandoned He is only 3 months and he knows me now, smiles when he sees his mommy....will he feel abandoned?

Re: First Week of Daycare..coming up

Some good advice from Babycenter:

How should I prepare my baby for separations?
As with any transition, give your baby an opportunity to gradually get used to the idea. Whether you're leaving him with a family member or a paid childcare provider, try the following suggestions:

• Let your baby get comfortable. Ask a new sitter to visit and play with your baby several times before leaving them alone for the first time. For your first real outing, ask the sitter to arrive about 30 minutes before you depart so that she and the baby can be well engaged before you step out the door. Employ the same approach at a daycare center or at your nursery, church, or health club.

• Always say goodbye. Kiss and hug your baby when you leave and tell him where you're going and when you'll be back, but don't prolong your goodbyes.

• Always say goodbye: Part 2. Resist the urge to sneak out the back door. Your baby will only become more upset if he thinks you've disappeared into thin air.

• Keep it light. Your baby is quite tuned in to how you feel, so show your warmth and enthusiasm for the caregiver you've chosen. And don't cry or act upset if your baby starts crying — at least not while he can see you. You'll both get through this. The caregiver will probably tell you later that your baby's tears stopped before you were even out of the driveway.

• Once you leave, leave. Repeated trips back into the house or daycare center to calm your baby will make it harder on you, your child, and the caregiver.

• Try a trial at first. Limit the first night (or afternoon) out to no more than an hour. As you and baby become more familiar with the sitter or the surroundings of a childcare setting, you can extend your outings.



You will be okay over time!! I *totally* do not want to be at work (hate my job) but only a few days into Ann at daycare, I felt fine about her being there. I'd still 100% rather be home with her but I can't be so, for now, this is the way it *has* to be.

Re: First Week of Daycare..coming up

Most daycare workers in infant rooms are really great with the kids. They will see his needs to be held especially the first weeks and hold him. I don't think he will feel left.
If he does, he won't remember.
It will be harder on you then him.
The teachers have worked with enough new moms to know we are all looney - especially in the begining.

Once they are up 4 times in the middle of the night or throw a fit while you are trying to get ready, it will become more and more easy to leave them!!!

Re: First Week of Daycare..coming up

Jen - I did it like a bandaid... I couldn't do it little by little, I started her a week before and except for 1 day we kept her there the entire day. Dropped her off at 8:30 and picked her up at 5. I did go visit during the day once, and called once.

Also, let me know if you want to meet for lunch one of those days if you need a shoulder

Re: First Week of Daycare..coming up

sorry but this is just my own experience...


FT from day one. I needed to know i could trust them and myself. I did go visit her for lunch. I dropped her off and spent like 20mins there, then when I picked her up I was sure to spend another 20mins. I wanted her to know that it was all normal. Frankly at 3months she really didn't care too much. It took time for her to get used to the environment more than strangers since at that age there was no stranger anxiety.

For me, personally, it was the best thing I have ever done. By that Thursday I was 100% comfortable with the daycare. I had a routine and knew who was in the room, when etc. She had started to get used to the idea of being woken up and put in her carseat, etc.

When I went to work the following Monday I felt good about my decision about daycare and I felt comfortable that she was well cared for and that made a huge difference.

Just remember no matter what... it will get easier, I swear!

Re: First Week of Daycare..coming up

I started DS at daycare the day I went back to work. However, during the 2 weeks before he started, I took him there a few times and spent several hours there.

Re: First Week of Daycare..coming up

Posted by CaseyGirl

thank you i like the idea of gradually increasing it...i hope the teachers don't think i'm loony!

Erica - good point about him learning new stuff, more than you knew about at home, I think about that too..I keep reminding myself he will make friends and become socialized..

It's just me feeling guilt because I have no choice but to be a working mom, and I harbor a lot of resentment over that...my biggest fear is that he will feel abandoned He is only 3 months and he knows me now, smiles when he sees his mommy....will he feel abandoned?

Message edited 10/22/2009 1:17:45 PM.

Re: First Week of Daycare..coming up

ugh honey

Re: First Week of Daycare..coming up