Starting day care at 2 years old

Can anyone share their experience with starting DC in day care past 2 years old? DS is 26 months old and still not talking. He has been in speech therapy for 6 months but I think a big part of the problem is that he is not around other children very often. He is watched by his grandparents every day and while he does go to Gymboree and to the library occasionally, he is not around other kids consistently.

DH and I are thinking about putting him in day care 2x a week, if only for the socialization aspect. I am a nervous wreck though, because it would be such a big change in his routine. While we are very lucky to have family available to take care of him for us, we do sort of regret not trying day care earlier when he might have adapted much faster. Now he's at the age where he gets upset when we leave and is very shy around strangers. I just can't bear the thought of him thinking we are leaving him.

Not to mention I have no idea how this will affect his nap routine. He still takes 1.5-2 hour naps most days. What if the day care has a completely different time schedule and he won't sleep? Am I just being a worry wart??

I would love to hear some of your experiences!

Re: Starting day care at 2 years old

I started DD in a toddler program 2xs a week at exactly 2 yrs old In sept. she is in the youngest in the class. Technically it is an eduational program, but she is there all day while DH and I work so it is kind of day care too.
DD absolutely loves it! There is so much to do there and she comes home talking about everything she did.
Prior to this she was watched everyday my my mother and she has adjusted well. She actually tells me she is excited for school. Its so cute.

The only downside I have experienced is that she has gotten two colds already and its only November. However, I do feel that this will happen whenever she enters a school program and she is just developing antibodies I guess.
So far, we are extremely happy with our decision!
HTH Good Luck!

Re: Starting day care at 2 years old

We had a at-home babysitter from 8 months-a month and a half ago, full-time. While that was great, DD was definitely in need of socializing with kids her age!!!! I reluctantly agreed to put her in daycare (we started 3 times a week and had her in another program for 2 hours a day the other two days a week, followed by being home with our babysitter). We just started her 5 days a week and I must admit (even though I HATE to admit it to DH LOL), she has developed SO much educationally and socially over the past month and I really do owe it to daycare!!!! She sings SO many songs, says things that are obviously things she hears them say at daycare (ex: "That's not nice, I don't like that. Please stop." ) and has shown that she can share!!! lol

She has been sick once (a cold), but I expected that.

I would definitely recommend it!!!!

Starting day care at 2 years old

We put DD in daycare at 18 months old and we noticed a big difference almost immediately.

DD was the only child around and even though she was ahead of development, she lacked the socialization that came with being around other kids. Once she went in, she started speaking so much more clearly and she started gaining a new set of skills right away and took direction so much better. I know some people don't like the whole daycare idea, but I think it's great because it definitely teaches the kids socialization at a young age and being around other kids actually helps them in developing verbally faster and communicating.

Re: Starting day care at 2 years old

We started DD at daycare around 18 months and her vocabulary expoded!

Re: Starting day care at 2 years old

We started daycare 2x a week at 25 months old and at the time DS had a vocabulary of 5 words. Within 4 months he had a word explosion and it never ended!

As for scehdules he adjusted very quickly. He still napped and he napped there. Once he was around all the kids they are like little robots and follow each other around. He even ate a whole bunch of new foods just because the others were.

Good Luck! I think its a great age to start

Re: Starting day care at 2 years old

Why not send your DC to preschool? Many preschools have 2's classes.

DS#1 started preschool at 2.5. His speech drastically improved. He was also watched by his grandparents and was very slow to speak.

DS#2 started preschool in the toddler class at 1.5. When he started in September, he had words but definitely could not communicate with his words. His speech is through the roof now.

I would highly recommend sending your DC to preschool.

Re: Starting day care at 2 years old

Thanks for your responses! I'm feeling a bit better about it. I guess we worry no matter what our DC's are doing!!

Re: Starting day care at 2 years old

I'm in a similiar situation as you. I'm a SAHM with only one child so DS wasn't around other children consistently.

He had a word EXPLOSION at 29 months. Since the summer, he has learning probably 10 new words a day and repeating virtually everything.

I don't plan on starting preschool until he's 3 but your LO will still talking soon. Promise!