https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 07 Apr 2026 23:13:10 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-wwyd#post-2923662 Thu, 06 May 2021 15:08:04 +0000 karenbme 2923662@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks, ladies! I think we are going to go with the center. It seems like a fantastic place and if we were staying in our town, the plan was to get her a spot there. If we move and she switches schools in another 18 months I'm sure she'll adapt. We might also talk about negotiating more permanent work from home for DH, which seems like something his company is planning on for at least some of the engineering team, so we feel less pressure to move towns--a 45 minute commute 1 day per week is a lot less of a burden than 5 days per week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-wwyd#post-2923660 Thu, 06 May 2021 11:00:54 +0000 periwinklebee 2923660@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both my kids are in a center and we really value it, despite the fact that it comes with some inevitable inconveniences. My general experience with transitions is that it's not always easy to predict how kids will react, and the younger they are, the easier they tend to adjust. When we started my daughter at nine months, she'd literally never interacted with anyone besides our immediate family and one babysitter, thanks to covid, and she seemed to have super separation anxiety. Yet she adjusted really quickly and absolutely loves it. My 2.5 year old had a tougher time. He'd been in the center since infancy, yet had no memory of it when we brought him back after six months out due to covid. But he did eventually adjust back, and gains a lot from all the activities and social opportunities. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-wwyd#post-2923637 Wed, 05 May 2021 17:21:24 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2923637@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cake2017: second all of this! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-wwyd#post-2923634 Wed, 05 May 2021 17:00:30 +0000 cake2017 2923634@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@karenbme: I’d change to the best center. It will be beneficial! All our children attend the best in our area and we don’t regret. They both began at 18 months. A few tears but it will stop after a week or so. Her transition will be fine. She won’t remember the last and will develop and grow in amazing ways. IMO and by experience! When our little one started- we took her to the school and walked her around talking about the new school. She also met her teacher outside(covid). helped a lot! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-wwyd#post-2923626 Wed, 05 May 2021 11:57:49 +0000 peaches1038 2923626@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@karenbme: he did really well. He was a bit older but we always have good success with a lot of prep before transitions. We read books about starting school, watched the daniel Tiger episode about how parents always come back and just generally acted like this was a good and normal event while validating any feelings he had about the move. I notice that if I’m nervous or unsure, he really picks up on those emotions. You could also ask if you could take some pictures of the classroom, playground etc and make a little photo book to look at with her so she is more familiar. I do this and get them at Walgreens, they are about $6. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-wwyd#post-2923619 Wed, 05 May 2021 08:58:37 +0000 MrsSCB 2923619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We were in a very similar position in fall 2020. My daughter got into an amazing preschool and would need to start right at 18 months. I honestly hadn’t expected her to get off the waitlist until the following year. I was really sad to leave our in-home provider—she’d also cared for our son and we LOVE her. But because the waitlist is so crazy and we’d have a tough time getting a spot again, we took it. I’m so glad we did, I know she would have done well with another year at the in-home. But we absolutely love the school, and I’m so happy she’ll get to be there for the next several years now. </p> <p>FWIW, regarding changing schools—my son (4) has gone to four daycares. It wasn’t ideal, but we moved across country and then he also ended up getting into the same school as my daughter in fall 2020. We were hesitant to switch him, given that he’d be there for one year before kindergarten, but he loves the school. Every time we’ve switched schools, I’ve been so nervous, but he’s always done great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-wwyd#post-2923615 Tue, 04 May 2021 23:30:18 +0000 bhbee 2923615@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’d take it! I think the long term is worth it as you get to preschool age and they can really enjoy all those features. We moved my oldest from nanny to daycare at 18 months. She was super shy (up until kindergarten actually) and she did cry a lot of dropoffs. But she really did ok overall, found one teacher she really loved and bonded with. We ended up moving cross country 9 months later and that teacher and I both cried when we left for the last time! I definitely wouldn’t be afraid of transitions at that age even if it seems rough to start. She’s 9 now and none of the difficult dropoffs (we had years of them, it was abnormally bad I think) are memorable to her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-wwyd#post-2923614 Tue, 04 May 2021 22:12:38 +0000 karenbme 2923614@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@peaches1038: How did your LO do with the transition period? My daughter is timid and in a stranger danger phase and I worry as much as anything about her adjusting to the new setting. She hasn’t been out and about much with Covid and when we take her places now if there are more than a small handful of people around she only wants to be carried or ride in her stroller. Full disclosure, I was also a shy kid and have a very traumatic memory related to being put on a bus to a summer camp where I didn’t know anyone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-wwyd#post-2923611 Tue, 04 May 2021 19:03:30 +0000 peaches1038 2923611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS was at a home daycare that we really loved but when he was around 2.5 he was ready for something else. We couldn’t move him until he was just over 3 and it has been the best move. He’s at a montessori now with yoga, a ton of outside time, a spanish teacher and he has just really thrived. He’s also extremely prepared for kindergarten as well, which I’m not sure he would’ve been as much if we kept him at the home daycare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-wwyd#post-2923610 Tue, 04 May 2021 18:36:03 +0000 karenbme 2923610@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 18 mo has been in a home based daycare since November after we pulled her from a center at the beginning of Covid, when she was 4 months old. We got a call today that we’re at the top of the waitlist for the best center in our area (seriously this place is awesome—they have classroom bunnies for toddlers and older, daily yoga, a kid sized climbing wall, a special music teacher, a beautiful playground, etc.) and they have a spot for us. I’m on the fence, though, about whether to take it. I like the provider we’re currently with and feel bad about leaving even though she would definitely fill the spot, and my daughter seems to do well there. She’s a timid kid (Covid baby) and I worry about the change and the busier atmosphere, but it also could be really good for her. We’re also planning to move to be closer to DH’s work in 2022 or 2023, and might want to change for that (though we wouldn’t NEED to) and I certainly don’t want to change her over and over. It’s just a lot to mull over, and I’m curious what others think especially if you’ve changed daycares before. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reassure-me-about-daycare-and-covid#post-2919981 Sat, 24 Oct 2020 12:35:13 +0000 karenbme 2919981@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Marfi: Oof. I'm sorry to hear that your center closed, but good to know at least that they've been mostly able to control it when it pops up and that they're not pushing people to come in when they don't feel comfortable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reassure-me-about-daycare-and-covid#post-2919980 Sat, 24 Oct 2020 08:57:32 +0000 skiierchck99 2919980@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Marfi: small children are much more likely to be asymptomatic so unless the kids in the exposed rooms did asymptomatic testing you really can’t rule it out. I hope they’re able to reopen soon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reassure-me-about-daycare-and-covid#post-2919978 Fri, 23 Oct 2020 23:55:49 +0000 Marfi 2919978@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son has been back in daycare since the beginning of July. In the past month or so there have been a couple cases here and there with the teachers that caused a few classrooms to be closed. That all culminated with the center being closed completely from yesterday (10/23) until 11/02 because 60% of the staff is out either because of being positive or because they don't feel comfortable coming in. With that being said, there have been no cases among the children, only the teachers, so even with a fairly large outbreak with the staff they must be doing something right to keep the kids healthy. Thankfully our son's class didn't have any teachers who were sick, his teacher was only of the ones who didn't feel comfortable coming in because she had other health concerns. As much as it is going to suck having our 2 year old home for the next week we're glad that his daycare is doing what needs to be done to keep everyone safe. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reassure-me-about-daycare-and-covid#post-2919884 Wed, 21 Oct 2020 13:07:35 +0000 Tionn3 2919884@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I understand the feelings you are having. We had my son (2 years old) home with us for about a month in the beginning and it was completely unsustainable, everyone was unhappy, including my son. We couldn't get any work done. When his preschool opened back up at the end of April we sent him back. They had good safety measures in place. We sent him to a different preschool in the summer and it was also fine. He is back at his regular preschool and everything has been fine so far (knock on wood). He enjoys going to preschool and I know he enjoys and benefits by being around other children his age. We have been very lucky so far that we have not had any COVID illnesses at either of the preschools in the past 7 months. I know that time is limited though as we move further into cold and flu season. I am definitely nervous but the alternative of having him home with us is not sustainable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reassure-me-about-daycare-and-covid#post-2919877 Wed, 21 Oct 2020 10:04:08 +0000 mamabolt 2919877@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I may have spoken too soon saying things are going smoothly - a teacher at my son’s daycare tested positive Saturday and we are now in a 2 week quarantine for several classes at the daycare. Hoping there is no spread but even then it’s hard to have the disruption for 2 weeks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reassure-me-about-daycare-and-covid#post-2919827 Tue, 20 Oct 2020 12:58:53 +0000 graceandjoy 2919827@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 1st grader is in school, as is my almost 4 year old in pre-k. I would've sent the baby (9 months) but my salary got reduced. But I am re-thinking it as DH is currently taking him on full time while still also working and it's proving to be too much. But I'm currently trying to weigh between sending him to daycare vs having my mom over (but only when the girls aren't home + mask on). But for the girls it's been going well; we are not a surge state and there has been very few cases reported in the public school system (none at daycare). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reassure-me-about-daycare-and-covid#post-2919682 Sat, 17 Oct 2020 19:29:15 +0000 MACSUNSHINE 2919682@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just wanted to echo the majority and say it is going well. I had our third baby in May and really struggled when we put the older two back in a larger daycare center at the end of July. It has gone remarkably well and the kids are thriving. Only the teachers are masked and so far no shut downs.</p> <p>It is completely expected to be uncomfortable and uncertain, we are all running on fumes these days with all the stress. Your mental health and ability to work are important though and I hope the experience proves to be positive for everyone! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reassure-me-about-daycare-and-covid#post-2919657 Fri, 16 Oct 2020 19:08:23 +0000 ALV91711 2919657@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our boys are 7.5 and 2. September we started back at daycare, in person school and going to the office. I’m not going to lie, September was pretty stressful. But it was definitely worth it. Both boys are doing so good around their peers. And back with their daycare family. And I’m a better parent when I’m not trying to work and parent all day. </p> <p>They’ve both missed almost a whole week one after the other due to stuffed up noses. That was the only cold symptom, so we had to wait for it to clear before they could go back. </p> <p>Daycare has lots of new rules and I think it was harder for us as parents. We have to temp at home and fill in a questionnaire each morning. They temp when they arrive and when they leave. The teachers meet them at the door at daycare with masks and parents don’t go in. The teachers don’t wear masks when they are in the rooms unless they choose too. We feel they are doing a great job in a challenging time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reassure-me-about-daycare-and-covid#post-2919655 Fri, 16 Oct 2020 18:55:00 +0000 Fawn 2919655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My daughter's daycare closed for April and May, but opened again in June. We started sending her 3 days a week in Sept since even though we are both working from home, it became impossible to get anything done when she was awake (she's 17 months.)</p> <p>The daycare is a small center (not a chain) and they are taking tons of precautions. Teachers wear masks, parents aren't allowed inside so kids are picked up and brought outside for drop off and pick up, everything is sanitized throughout the day, they check the kids temperatures every morning before they are allowed to go in, and we have to fill out a 15 question health questionnaire every morning confirming that our kids do not have any symptoms. If they are sick, even just a runny nose or allergies, they are not allowed in daycare until they either don't have symptoms anymore or get a drs note stating that it's not covid and they can attend daycare. </p> <p>It all seemed overwhelming at first, but it makes us feel pretty comfortable sending her there when we know how diligent they are. Everything has gone smoothly and she seems happy to be back with other kids. There have been no covid cases at daycare either. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reassure-me-about-daycare-and-covid#post-2919654 Fri, 16 Oct 2020 18:09:51 +0000 karenbme 2919654@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you, ladies! Positive stories (and stories of close calls where everything was ok) really help.</p> <p>@winter_wonder: Unfortunately, no, we don’t have any local family. Even if we did, though, both our parents still work. 😕</p> <p>@SweetCaroline: I’ll check that book out. I read just about everything Emily Oster writes and have a masters in statistics, so read and understand academically at least that kids are at much lower risk for severe disease. But when it’s my baby girl any risk feels too high.</p> <p>@JennyPenny: Oof, that’s rough that there was covid on day 1, but good to know that the spread was limited.</p> <p>@Bluemasonjar: I saw that too. I do need to think about how daycare will be beneficial for her in terms of learning and opportunities to do thing other than play with the same toys in our living room.</p> <p>@josina: Thanks for that perspective. We are still isolating hard—DH’s work is remote until at least June and my new job is permanently remote and we’ve done some distanced friend time but don’t do indoor dining or anything else unnecessary—so daycare is 100x more exposure than we’ve had up until this point. It will literally be the first time DD is inside a building that’s not our house since March. I have to remember that there are people working in offices and going to restaurants and they are mostly fine.</p> <p>@MrsSCB: 🙁 Sorry you stress about it. If it helps I’m right there with you. I agree that it’s when rather than if we have exposure. It’s awful that our country has turned keeping people safe from a deadly/debilitating disease into a culture war. But it seems like the mitigation procedures are working where they’re used consistently. My last job was on a college campus and there have only been onesie twosie cases including one where the student lived in a double room and not even his roommate caught it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reassure-me-about-daycare-and-covid#post-2919623 Fri, 16 Oct 2020 09:16:38 +0000 MrsSCB 2919623@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kids are in daycare, and I honestly feel anxious about it every day. We also did have cases in a classroom—teachers and a couple students (the students were asymptomatic). Which makes me nervous, but also I did find it comforting that it was isolated to the one classroom. I think cases are almost inevitable, but I feel that the school is doing a good job of keeping the classes very separate, which will help limit the spread. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reassure-me-about-daycare-and-covid#post-2919622 Fri, 16 Oct 2020 09:14:51 +0000 josina 2919622@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DD went back to our in-home daycare early August. We had one scare where a girl was getting tested for Covid after having several symptoms - it came back negative. </p> <p>Since DH and I work out of home, and we have 2 kids in school, she's the least likely to be exposed so I don't worry too much. We've only had 2 cases in school and have been in school full time on a normal schedule. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reassure-me-about-daycare-and-covid#post-2919621 Fri, 16 Oct 2020 08:55:31 +0000 Bluemasonjar 2919621@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Read this article yesterday: <a href="https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/daycare-centers-are-very-low-risk-for-covid-19-transmission-study-says-11602699914?fbclid=IwAR2XSuL_KAltAzGxq8ORonksLVn1NTixpjBFCmxJBvHCJzhbZnSnG_PztO0" rel="nofollow">https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/daycare-centers-are-very-low-risk-for-covid-19-transmission-study-says-11602699914?fbclid=IwAR2XSuL_KAltAzGxq8ORonksLVn1NTixpjBFCmxJBvHCJzhbZnSnG_PztO0</a></p> <p>My boys have been back at daycare since June. They have only closed for 1 week since then after 2 teachers in the same class tested positive. I am comfortable with all the precautions they are taking and how they have handled things so far.</p> <p>My 2 year old is thriving being back with peers and my 5 year old is learning so much in his pre-k class. The 5 year old wears a mask a majority of the day (except for nap, eating and outside) and has no complaints. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reassure-me-about-daycare-and-covid#post-2919620 Fri, 16 Oct 2020 08:42:23 +0000 JennyPenny 2919620@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 3yo's daycare center reopened just last week and there was a confirmed COVID case on the very first day! I was second guessing everything! It did end up spreading to 1 teacher and 1 additional student, which isn't nothing, but I feel like it's way less than when say a stomach bug rips through the school. It's only been 2 weeks now, but I feel so much better as a parent when I don't have to do it all day every day. And he's already learning so much again. Even though we had an early scare I think the school setting is just so much better for our family, so we'll continue with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reassure-me-about-daycare-and-covid#post-2919618 Fri, 16 Oct 2020 08:21:32 +0000 Pollywog 2919618@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kids went back to a small center in August. So far only one "scare". My husband (goes in person to a large office) came home with a cold that resulted in my toddler coughing and a mild fever. But the cold definitely came from my husband.</p> <p>My kids are so much happier and I'm a much better parent. It was a tough adjustment, but it's for the best.</p> <p>I deal with COVID in schools professionally and the risk of serious complications is low. There's a chance your kid will get it, but it likely will be a fairly minor illness. The concern is that they could give it to you or older relatives in your household. So when evaluating risk I definitely focus on that our risk is minimal </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reassure-me-about-daycare-and-covid#post-2919615 Fri, 16 Oct 2020 00:13:04 +0000 SweetCaroline 2919615@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a 4 month old in daycare and it is going well. We also have lower counts than most of the country for now. I highly recommend you read rhe book "Parenting in a Pandemic" by Dr. Kelly Fradin, on Amazon. She is on Instagram @adviceigivemyfriends and also has an email newsletter. Likrwise, Emily Oster is doing a lot of work on this and has a fabulous newsletter.</p> <p>Everyone around my son wears a mask at daycare, but he is unphased. He can tell people are smiling when looking at their eyes or hearing the tone of voice and responds naturally.</p> <p>Try to reframe it. You're not sending her out into a pandemic alone. You have lovingly and thoughtfully chosen this daycare. You will be a better, happier mama when you don't have to do child care and work at the same time. You daughter will experience the love and bond with yet another person in your village. She will also play with other kids and have fun!</p> <p>I was in your shoes just a short time ago and these are the things that helped me. Good luck and hugs mama. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reassure-me-about-daycare-and-covid#post-2919614 Thu, 15 Oct 2020 22:56:05 +0000 winter_wonder 2919614@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD (4) wears a mask inside and outside. Her room closed once in August bc of a positive staff/child. I know its so hard :( do have any extended family who could help? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reassure-me-about-daycare-and-covid#post-2919608 Thu, 15 Oct 2020 20:57:15 +0000 mamabolt 2919608@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS (4) went back to daycare early August. They are masked indoors and mostly in same group of 9 kids, though they do combine with another class as needed for staffing. The school closed for 3 days (1 classroom all 5 days) due to symptomatic teachers, but they were all negative for COVID. DS spent 3 days home for a minor cough this week pending a negative COVID test too. But overall it’s been safe and DS has thrived there so much more than he would at home with his older sister distance learning (she’s recently back 2 days a week) and me working FT. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/reassure-me-about-daycare-and-covid#post-2919607 Thu, 15 Oct 2020 20:47:14 +0000 karenbme 2919607@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD (11 mo) has been home with DH and I since March, but I started a new job recently and it just isn’t working, so she’s going back to daycare in two weeks. I’m kind of freaking out. Covid is better here than it is in most of the US, but if anything happened I don’t even know what I’d do. Beyond the fact that it’s going to be such an adjustment not to have her near us, it feels really wrong to send her out alone into a pandemic. I’ve posted a couple of ads looking for nannies but there just aren’t any available in our area right now. She’ll be in a small, in home daycare so less risk than a larger center, but still... For those with kids in daycare through the pandemic, how has it been going? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-daycare-get-easier#post-2909230 Tue, 28 Jan 2020 23:45:35 +0000 karenbme 2909230@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nwm: I really don’t know what options are available, but I have a one on one with my boss on Thursday where I plan to be open with her about how I’m feeling and see what options I might have. She’s a mom and I feel like she’ll be supportive. Working is definitely easier than staying home, probably because I have a decade of experience at work and no experience taking care of babies, and I lose my mind a little bit without adult interaction (what did people do before podcasts??) but I just worry so much about her and how she’s doing. I really don’t know what the right thing is for me... other than maybe settling up a pack and play in the corner of my office. </p>