Oh dear what to do about daycare I don't know if I can deal

Question

Ok so I want to start taking my baby to daycare instead of his grandma watching him. They are great and will still watch him when I work but when I'm in school I want to take him to daycare so he can get use to the kids and have fun. Plus grandma just sits around the house all day ( and SMOKES in her room)and does nothing they don't even go outside and I want him to be able to explore more than just her living room. Well we went to tour a daycare today and it was really nice and all but I almost wanted to cry just thinking about leaving him at a daycare. The people were really nice and the kids seemed to be well taken care of but I just don't know. I felt anxious. I have been leaving him at home with Dad since he was 3 weeks old and with Grandma since he was 2 months old. So I have left him before but this is just a different kind of leaving him and I don't know what to do. How do I deal with this? I'm going to call and tour a few other daycares this week to make sure I have the best one but I still feel sad like I'm doing wrong by my baby. What can I do? I have to finish college this is my last year.

Answer 1

So why don't you take a few months off and remain at home with your baby?  Both of you would benefit tremendously. Think about it....

Answer 2

I felt the same before leaving my son at daycare, it was so traumatic for me, less so for him, lol.  I remember taking him for a 2 hour stay with the kids and staff there, just to help introduce him to it.  He did great, I cried.

One thing you can do is ask for referels from other parents of kids who attend the daycare.  This may help ease your mind.  I also used to drop by for unannounced visits and call to check in on my son if he had a hard time with me leaving in the mornings.  I always found that he was fine as soon as I left.

Good luck to you, it will be hard but you will both get through it!!

Answer 3

your fine. grandma should no longer be an option especially because she smokes, second hand is the worst for your baby, you will be okay. think about the positives more and you will be fine. do surprise drop ins to ease your mind. GOOD LUCK with school and the daycare.!

Answer 4

Tour several other daycare centers in your area and get referrals from parents if you can. Once you decide on a place just make sure you're comfortable with the people and the other kids your child will be spending time with. Ask about drop by policies and make sure you have full access to your baby anytime. It's totally normal to be nervous about daycare but you are doing what's best for your baby by getting him out of grandma's house.

Answer 5

My mom watches my daughter, and while it's great to have family watching her, and she gets SOOO much attention this way, I took her to daycare once a week so she at least had been around other kids.  It really is the best thing for them, to have to be around other kids, so they learn how to interact, and they get to play and do fun things.  I think it'd be better if you could do both, like I did.  That way he gets single attention from grandma, but he also gets to know other kids.

Good luck!!

Answer 6

I am not a big fan of daycare, but it beats sitting all there in one room with Grandma while she smokes.  He will be fine.

Answer 7

I was a daycare teacher for toddlers for a few years while working my way through college. I think the best way for you to feel secure in leaving you baby is to do all the reasearch you can and fel confident about the daycare center you have chosen. Make a suprise visit, when they're not expecting you. You'll get to see everything in a much more natural environment and you'll have a better feeling you know what's going on when you're not there. Unfortunatly the transition will probably be worse on you than your baby. Look on the positive side, your baby will get lots of interaction with other children as well as getting lots of time outside (t's usually state required). He will always be in a safe environment, appropriate for his age with lots of things to explore and play with. If part time daycare is possible with your schedule I would really encourage that but other than that feel comfortable with your choice and look on the bright side of the situation. Also little tip, on the first day he's at the center bring a box of joe and a dozen doughnut for his teacher and the others at the center. It's a bit of bribe but establishing a good relationship with his caregiver is the BEST thing you can do to get your son into the best possible relationship with his new caregiver.

Answer 8

I am qualified in childcare and have been a childcarer for 2 and a half years

I am now a stay at home mum

But i know how you feel Absolutely EVERY parent has reservations when leaving your child in the care of strangers for the first few months

In the service that you are leaving your child when you have your introduction make sure that their policies and procedures are on the level you are happy with

Also on the irst day or week they should welcome you to go in and spend a half day with them andyour child and it will make you feel better when you see them working with the other children

You can generally get a feel of how a centre and the staff is by your welcome in the 3rd week  they wont be doing the 'Showing theselves off stage" I know this is terrible but if you are still welcomed on arrival and not just the child they are generally quite good with the children

Also see what their room routine and transitions are

You will be fine it is hard at first but you will see the benefits

I love my job and i am worried about leaving my little one in the same centre that i will be working in and i know the care's and i trust them

It is natural instinct

Goodluck

Answer 9

I think the positives of daycares far outweigh the negatives. He's getting socialized and is getting ready for the rigors of public education later. Grandma is not a viable option anymore--she's setting him up for obesity, laziness, and health problems. If she's alone smoking in her bedroom (the air drifts out to the living room), he's out in the living room alone. He could get seriously injured or killed by her neglect. If you tour a few daycares and make sure they have a nationally accredited program, you have nothing to worry about. It's perfectly acceptable to ask them for references. They will give you the names and numbers of families that use the center and you can get their opinions. Also, ask if you could observe a classroom or two to see how things run. That'll give you a great indication.