https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 23 Jul 2026 20:30:49 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-to-allow-your-lo-to-socialize#post-2475607 Fri, 26 Feb 2016 05:57:08 +0000 StrawberryBee 2475607@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A year old. She was doing two half days a week. Now she goes full time because DH got a job. We don't have any friends with young kids, so it has been absolutely great for her to be with other kids. She loves it and never wants to come home! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-to-allow-your-lo-to-socialize#post-2475596 Fri, 26 Feb 2016 03:39:26 +0000 AprilFool 2475596@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started with 1 day at 2 years old. She is nearly 3 and she now goes two days a week and it has been amazing for her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-to-allow-your-lo-to-socialize#post-2475334 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 19:59:51 +0000 Kemma 2475334@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a SAHM and Miss A started preschool / kindergarten at 2y10m but I had been taking her to playgroup and music class at least twice a week since she was about six months old so the lack of socialisation was never an issue for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-to-allow-your-lo-to-socialize#post-2475316 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 19:53:07 +0000 Ginabean3 2475316@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I SAHM and I did lots and lots of things with my daughter to socialize her from the time she was born....we did stroller strides, moms groups, lots of classes and play dates. We put her in preschool just before she turned 3...not so much for socialization but so I could have a break and devote some individual attention to my 6 month old. It's really nice, she's in it MWF half days and she is learning a lot and it's actually been a good way for her to learn to respect authority from people other than DH and I and for her to have her own special time with her friends. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-to-allow-your-lo-to-socialize#post-2475280 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 19:28:49 +0000 littlejoy 2475280@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>13 months. We had a nanny before then. At a year, I was really feeling like she needed more socialization. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-to-allow-your-lo-to-socialize#post-2475266 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 19:16:21 +0000 youboots 2475266@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>She's in daycare 2 mornings a week for 4 hours. Started at 6 mo. I stopped working but am keeping her in daycare for socialization </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-to-allow-your-lo-to-socialize#post-2475262 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 19:13:48 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2475262@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think it's he only way to get your kids to socialize, although maybe it's the easiest, most reliable. Our 3 year old started part time (half days) center care for preschool this year and I don't regret not sending her sooner. The illnesses though.. Wow. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-to-allow-your-lo-to-socialize#post-2475240 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 18:37:59 +0000 daniellemybelle 2475240@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO will start preschool 2 days per week at 2 years 10 months. I think that is perfect. She is nearly 2.5 years old right now and I think she is just getting to the age where part-time preschool would be good for her, but we are going to wait until the school year starts in August.</p> <p>Every child &amp; family have different needs but I think daycare/"mom's day out" is more for the parents (either to work or just to get a break) than it is for the kids until age 2 or 3. Since we have the option and I really enjoy SAH, we don't feel the need to do it now. They are only this little once and I really enjoy being the one to love on her and teach her things. LO has different activities every day where she plays with friends, including dance class where she is away from me with her classmates and teacher.</p> <p>ETA: This is just my personal feeling - but for me, I am a lot more comfortable with LO being away from us (or another very trusted caregiver like a grandparent) now that she is very verbal. When she was in part-time daycare from 9-20 months it was very hard because she couldn't tell me how her day was or how she was feeling. We had to trust the teachers. Thankfully we did love them and trust them but it is a lot easier on me to leave her now that she can report back to me. For future LOs, unless I NEED to return to work for some reason, we won't put them in a group childcare setting until they can talk well enough to answer questions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-to-allow-your-lo-to-socialize#post-2475232 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 18:25:23 +0000 Tanjowen 2475232@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started a mom's morning out program 2 days a week at 18 months for socialization. It's 3 hours and perfect for all of us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-to-allow-your-lo-to-socialize#post-2475231 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 18:25:12 +0000 MenagerieMama 2475231@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We switched from nanny to daycare for the socialization aspect primarily - but also other factors. LO was 11 mo which seemed perfect. She was definitely needing socialization beyond the few things I would try and arrange each week and park every day. Shes super social and I'm an introvert so it's great that I don't need to worry about cramming mommy and me type things in on my home days! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-to-allow-your-lo-to-socialize#post-2475198 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 18:04:23 +0000 Greentea 2475198@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I may have a minority opinion, but I'm not sure that this is necessary. Being out in the world and experiencing and being around kids and having an interactive caregiver, imo, is socialization. Our kindergarten starts at 4, so I'm not sure we'll do school before that. It is going well, we'll see! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-to-allow-your-lo-to-socialize#post-2475192 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 18:01:59 +0000 winniebee 2475192@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started staying home when DS1 was 14m but he still went to a program 2 days a week. I went back to work and we ended up with a nanny for his brother but DS1 still goes to preschool 2 days a week (full days). He will be going 5 days a week in the fall, when he's 4.4. DS2 will start a program 3 days a week when he is 21 months. We will keep the nanny on since I work and we are expecting #3 in the fall (and if that doesn't work out, will still be trying for #3 for some time thereafter). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-to-allow-your-lo-to-socialize#post-2475168 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 17:42:12 +0000 JerricaBenton 2475168@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a SAHM and we've always done a lot of activities together. She'll be 3.5 when she starts preschool next year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-to-allow-your-lo-to-socialize#post-2475104 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 17:06:09 +0000 stargal 2475104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>3. Preschool. Works out perfectly for us </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-to-allow-your-lo-to-socialize#post-2475095 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 17:01:33 +0000 wrkbrk 2475095@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: Following because I am wondering about this too. Our situation is, our preferred day care only admits kids in August. So, DS could go this August at 9 months (what we are leaning towards) or we could get him a nanny for one year and could go to day care next August at 21 months. Not sure at what age he would start benefiting from interaction with other kiddos! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-to-allow-your-lo-to-socialize#post-2475092 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 17:00:35 +0000 jhd 2475092@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I mostly SAH and LO will probably do preschool 2 mornings per week when he turns 3. Right now my mom has him two mornings per week while I do some adjunct teaching. He goes to library story time with her, tumbling and music classes with me, and he goes to the nursery at church. He also has weekly EI appointments. I feel like he sees plenty of kids and adults throughout the week at this point. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-to-allow-your-lo-to-socialize#post-2475071 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 16:49:13 +0000 Torchwood 2475071@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Interested to see people's thoughts on this. I'm a SAHM and very introverted. I plan to take LO to some things (not sure what yet) for socializing, but if she wants a ton it'll be stressful for me to have to be in too many social situations myself. So some daycare might be good, even though it'll be hard to justify paying for it. If we have another then it might make sense to give me time with just LO2. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-to-allow-your-lo-to-socialize#post-2474923 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 15:45:16 +0000 gingerbebe 2474923@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS was at home until 16 months when we started him in daycare full-time. Technically, I only work 3 days a week but there are busy seasons at my job and we didn't have the option of a part-time slot, so he usually goes 5 days a week.</p> <p>I'm glad we waited until he was older because even though he's been sick a LOT since he started, he's just better able to cope with being sick as a toddler - he can cough productively, motion for water or say no if he doesn't want to eat, he can play despite being sick or be somewhat entertained by some TV if he's tired. </p> <p>Developmentally, I felt like DS was ready to interact with other children his age and being that he's introverted, sending him to an in-home daycare with the same caretakers and same 3-4 kids every day with a few older kids who come after school has been the right balance for him. I think it will be a good stepping stone to transitioning him to a 2's program later this year with about 10 kids in the class. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-to-allow-your-lo-to-socialize#post-2474860 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 15:17:49 +0000 pinkcupcake 2474860@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We enrolled her in a 2s preschool program when she turned 2.5. It was for 2 mornings a week, 2.5 hours each time. It was a great way to have her socialize and play with other children without me </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-to-allow-your-lo-to-socialize#post-2474779 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 14:42:56 +0000 LovelyPlum 2474779@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well, I WAH and am a student, but we keep LO in daycare everyday for the social aspects. We started her early, at 4 months, but that's both because we need to and because we want to. She had a few classmates join right at a year, and a few join at 18 months. Some had a hard time adjusting, but after a few weeks, it was better. They all get along well now! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-to-allow-your-lo-to-socialize#post-2474772 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 14:39:01 +0000 Ms.Badger 2474772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm following. J is home with a nanny at 10 months. In my head I'm thinking on transitioning to daycare around 18 months for the social aspect. Now he gets like 2 play-dates / week and goes to the park daily. It doesn't seem like enough, he's such a social kid </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-to-allow-your-lo-to-socialize#post-2474770 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 14:38:33 +0000 BSB 2474770@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: Yeah, my sister's DH is a SAHD and they are putting her son in part-time daycare soon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-to-allow-your-lo-to-socialize#post-2474757 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 14:36:07 +0000 Foodnerd81 2474757@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As in a parent is at home but they are in childcare just for the socialization? We haven't yet, but I go to plenty of activities with her for socialization. At 2.5 years I did put her in a 2 hour drop off program to get her used to being away from me (and give me two hours a week with just the new baby). I do think she would benefit from a little more time in another childcare setting without me (I would benefit from it too!) but it's hard to justify the expense when I'm home. </p> <p>She will go to part time preschool starting in sept when she will be 3. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-to-allow-your-lo-to-socialize#post-2474751 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 14:33:23 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2474751@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would say by age 2 is when they "need" to start. But before that is great socialization too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-to-allow-your-lo-to-socialize#post-2474750 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 14:33:18 +0000 regberadaisy 2474750@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If I had reliable childcare I would probably start around 2 or 3 at part time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-to-allow-your-lo-to-socialize#post-2474747 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 14:32:14 +0000 autumnlove 2474747@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I plan on doing it when LO 3 is around 18-20 months old. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-to-allow-your-lo-to-socialize#post-2474745 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 14:31:58 +0000 snowjewelz 2474745@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>10 months. I would've waited longer, but it was a lot for my mom to watch her so we just bit the bullet and did it and absolutely do not regret it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/daycare-to-allow-your-lo-to-socialize#post-2474378 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 14:30:00 +0000 BSB 2474378@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When did you put your LO in daycare to socialize with other kids?</p> <p>My sister is doing this soon and her son will be about a year old. </p>