Do you think you are a bad parent if you send your child to daycare?

Question

My wife and I have a five month old baby. After much struggle and strife, we decided that for financial reasons we would have to send our son to daycare.

At first, I felt guily, that I was a bad parent. I felt that I had failed as a provider and had committed the equivalent of a moral sin.

Since we've been going to the daycare provider for the past month and a half, our baby smiles at us everyday when we pick him up. It's hard to feel bad for a child that is so happy.

On the other end of the spectrum, my brother and his wife do the "shift parenting", and it seems they are always burnt out because they do everything in their power not to send their child to daycare. They a

I think it has actually benefited our family, in that it provides balance and gives our children a chance to interact with other people and build social skills.

I am a firm believer in nature over nuture. I believe your child is in lage part who they are when they are born. What do you think

Answer 1

Recent research has shown that children who have not been to daycare have a higher rate of leukemia. The supposition here  is that exposure to bacteria and viruses at an early age boosts the immune system (leukemia is a disease of the immune system - there are different kinds but the most typical is when your body produces too many white blood cells all the time).

The rich love to go on and on about how much better children do at home. Yet they conveniently forget to tell you that most of them hire nannies to take care of the children. This is a form of day care, so what's the difference?

Answer 2

There are benefits to both having at least one parent at home with the kids and sending them to daycare.

Children who go to daycare tend to take adjustments better and have better social skills with their peers.

Answer 3

The important thing is that you have a good relationship with your child and that the daycare environment is loving  and nurturing. don't get too hung up on your brother or any other parent,  just concert rate on doing what is best for your own family unit.

Answer 4

You are providing your child with a safe environment. That's called "good parenting."

There is also a wealth of evidence that being around peers helps the child develop social skills. I used to think this wouldn't apply to child so young, but then I worked with children that age at a child care center. When you see how the children's behavior changes during the time they're there in relation to the other children, it's a little bit of an eye-opener.

Answer 5

I think as a parent, you do what YOU have to do.  I worked with my first two kids and have started staying at home with my third.  By the time I started staying at home, my kids were 10, 5, and 10 months.  There is no right or wrong answer on this one.  I think it is a difficult decision either way, and there are pros and cons either way.  It is what it is.

Answer 6

no i have to work... and it is the only me time i get....

Answer 7

Nature over nurture doesn't mean squat if your child is in a bad situation. But...sounds like you picked a great place for your baby and all is well. The smile tells all:) Shift parenting is great for some people but takes a tole. Sounds like you and your wife have made a good choice.

Answer 8

well i do agree in most parts!  the pro's are socializing why not start making friends early and learn and you letting your child do that!  your also teaching your child early indepents!

I have no child - but i'm bless with a caring family that when my fiance plan to have kids we know our parents are going to be helping us out when needed!  

And your doing the right thing got to look out for the FAMILY not just one person in the family.. don't feel guitly because you can;t skip work and play with child... just make the best of your time when your with your child... and that makes everything okay!

Best of luck!