https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 10 Jul 2026 10:25:49 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-switched-your-toddler-to-another-daycare#post-1010544 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 12:54:34 +0000 purrpletulips 1010544@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We took DD out of daycare at 2.5years because DS had arrived and we were moving both of them to a private sitter. There are no other kids at the sitter's but DD had no problems adjusting. She is starting pre-school next week so she will resume regular interaction with kids her own age as well as get the educational component. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-switched-your-toddler-to-another-daycare#post-1010492 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 12:44:13 +0000 Freckles 1010492@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@locavore_mama: I would also think about how the extra 50 minutes would cut into your time with LO. I guess it wouldn't be too big of a deal since she's older and bedtime probably isn't as early. But something to think about! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-switched-your-toddler-to-another-daycare#post-1010486 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 12:43:08 +0000 Freckles 1010486@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlek: After the third day i was ready to call the old daycare! I say give it two weeks. She did much better the second week and by the end of the week i was so glad DH didn't give in to my worries. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-switched-your-toddler-to-another-daycare#post-1010462 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 12:36:31 +0000 regberadaisy 1010462@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Pen: they don't take younger than 18m which means subsequent kids will be at different day cares. That's kind of a deal breaker for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-switched-your-toddler-to-another-daycare#post-1010450 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 12:34:11 +0000 Mrs. Pen 1010450@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@locavore_mama: well maybe just check it out and see what you think - no need to commit yet! Do you even know if they have an opening? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-switched-your-toddler-to-another-daycare#post-1010443 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 12:32:48 +0000 regberadaisy 1010443@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Pen: not yet. But DH is dissatisfied with our current place that he's willing to consider it. It would add like another 50 minute to our day. :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-switched-your-toddler-to-another-daycare#post-1010434 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 12:29:57 +0000 KayKay 1010434@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We decided not to switch our toddler. </p> <p>Back story: when looking at daycares, it came down to these two, both with similar curriculums...</p> <p>Option 1: closer, $100/month cheaper since you bring your own sheets &amp; lunch, no PT until 3yo, smaller center with only 1 room per age group, admin seemed more organized, didn't know anyone who personally had gone there.</p> <p>Option 2: bigger center (2-3 rooms per age group), meals provided, 2 friends with multiple kids there, a little out of the way but not trafficky, more established center that has been around a lot longer, and very flexible PT options in case we needed it.</p> <p>I actually got a better feel for Option 1, but they had a waitlist and couldn't guarantee a spot for LO until she was 8 months old. So we went with Option 2 in the meantime (not un-happily...) and assumed we would switch.</p> <p>By that time, LO (we) loved her teachers, she had some terrible separation anxiety, and I figured that all of the "issues" that I had with the center (few and far between) were known at that point. I couldn't necessarily guarantee that Option 1 wouldn't have the same or different/worse problems. So we stayed, and I'm very content with it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-switched-your-toddler-to-another-daycare#post-1010367 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 12:15:09 +0000 Mrs. Pen 1010367@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you toured the montessori center 20 mins away? I know I'm a cheapy too haha so the price is very enticing. It might outweigh the disadvantages of driving a little more; especially if it turns out to be a great program! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-switched-your-toddler-to-another-daycare#post-1010329 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 12:04:36 +0000 brownie 1010329@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are changing my son to a Montessori school this week. The program starts at 2 years old so he is starting at 2 years old. I like my cheap daycare but I LOVE the Montessori program. I know a lot of kids who have come out of it and I love how they act etc. He will go to his daycare in the afternoons for the next year and go full time at 3 years old (that is how they do it). </p> <p>From your description I would start her at 18 months. 18 months for us was a hard time (that is when we started at the current program). He is just now willing to go without crying for mama. So that only took a whole year. But I am sure they are prepared for that. I know he will have a hard transition to Montessori in the same way but I think it will be very good for him.</p> <p>Also it is good for me. His current school closes at 4:30 pm but when he goes full day at Montessori he can go until 5:30 pm. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-switched-your-toddler-to-another-daycare#post-1010136 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 11:10:16 +0000 regberadaisy 1010136@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. High Heels: last week! anonymity. ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-switched-your-toddler-to-another-daycare#post-1010134 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 11:09:47 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 1010134@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@locavore_mama: off topic, but when did u change your username?! I really liked your old one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-switched-your-toddler-to-another-daycare#post-1010106 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 11:01:32 +0000 littlek 1010106@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Freckles: This is my LO first week at his new daycare and I'm definitely second guessing my decision, hourly. One minute, I'm good with her decision and the next, I'm thinking about calling his old daycare and re-enrolling him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-switched-your-toddler-to-another-daycare#post-1010089 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 10:57:20 +0000 regberadaisy 1010089@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Freckles: there are many other reasons that I'm not 100% happy with her daycare right now. None of which is neglect or anything like that! I mean she's 15 months so I'm sure there's not a lot of "education" happening besides art. </p> <p>For instance, the other center we like which is $400 more a month. They actually take the older kids to different rooms for gym, music class, etc. It's much more of a learning environment that I feel will prep her for kindergarten. All lead teachers have a masters in education and all staff have some kind of education degree. Whereas in her current center the lead teacher might have a bachelor in education and most are just associates. And the rest of the staff don't even necessarily have education degrees.</p> <p>Not 100% sure Montessori is the right environment for us to be honest. But it's just an option. The 18 month limit is def a deterrent for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-switched-your-toddler-to-another-daycare#post-1009925 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 10:19:59 +0000 littlek 1009925@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@locavore_mama: We switched to a daycare closer to our house. We ended up not going with the cheaper daycare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-switched-your-toddler-to-another-daycare#post-1009791 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 09:49:17 +0000 Freckles 1009791@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@locavore_mama: I can understand the hesitancy to switch...because you never really know if the other place will really be better! Is the Montessori a much bigger improvement?When #2 starts daycare, where would you send him/her? When you say it's not an "educational center" is LO not really learning anything?</p> <p>These were the pros/cons for me:<br /> Old daycare:<br /> Pros: she (we) likes 1 of the caregivers, 5 min drive from house.<br /> Cons: Food sucks, no curriculum, 1 of the 2 caregivers isn't really engaged with the kids, the room is 0-18 months so the older babies were super bored, they only go outside June-Aug.</p> <p>New daycare<br /> Pros: same building as work, $300/month cheaper, can see the outdoor playground from my office, they have a routine/curriculum, both caregivers are very engaged, kids go outside almost every day, LO never has a diaper rash because they change her 6x a day!<br /> Cons: food still sucks </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-switched-your-toddler-to-another-daycare#post-1009734 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 09:36:38 +0000 regberadaisy 1009734@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Freckles: That was the thought initially to make it easier bc all the other kids will be starting 'new" so to speak. But she's moving up to her toddler room at current daycare right now in a few weeks. My other dilemma is the local Montessori (our other option) only starts at 18m. So any future kids will have to go to another center. We def do not want to do that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-switched-your-toddler-to-another-daycare#post-1009725 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 09:35:16 +0000 Freckles 1009725@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Would you think about switching her when it's time to switch her to a new room?</p> <p>Even though this daycare goes up to preschool, we are thinking of switching her to Montessori around that time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-switched-your-toddler-to-another-daycare#post-1009720 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 09:34:41 +0000 Freckles 1009720@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO started daycare at 11 months, and i switched her out around 13 months. It took her 2 weeks to transition over to the new daycare, and she LOVES it now.</p> <p>I was VERY hesitant after the first week, but i eventually saw that this place was a lot better for her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-switched-your-toddler-to-another-daycare#post-1009706 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 09:30:53 +0000 regberadaisy 1009706@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Anyone else? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-switched-your-toddler-to-another-daycare#post-937134 Tue, 16 Jul 2013 20:55:27 +0000 littlek 937134@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: I actually went to check it out today. DH will go when he has a chance. If he's okay with it we will switch LO. The lower cost includes diapers and wipes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-switched-your-toddler-to-another-daycare#post-935085 Tue, 16 Jul 2013 09:45:50 +0000 MamaG 935085@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We changed right at one year. It was hard for about a week. LO would cry when I left but all in all it was the right choice. She changed classes at 15 months and was fine. And recently changed classes again at 22 months. I think any change is going to cause some stress regardless of age. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-switched-your-toddler-to-another-daycare#post-934953 Tue, 16 Jul 2013 09:12:47 +0000 T-Mom 934953@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: in your situation I would probably move her when she gets to a pre school age, around 2.5 or 3. My DS is 22 months and in a Montessori school with my DD who is in Kinder. Although they do "work" and follow Montessori principles, his toddler room is essentially still a glorified day care until they reach early childhood. At our school at least... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-switched-your-toddler-to-another-daycare#post-934947 Tue, 16 Jul 2013 09:10:38 +0000 T.H.O.U. 934947@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: I feel like verbally, she can understand the change now. She understands "my house" versus "my friends house" versus "my school". She would understand a change in schools. Plus I feel like develomentally, shes at a good place now. No teeth, no new foods, sleep is in good order, etc etc. But I felt like she was still changing so rapidly still around 14 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-switched-your-toddler-to-another-daycare#post-934938 Tue, 16 Jul 2013 09:07:13 +0000 regberadaisy 934938@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlek: what's stopping you?</p> <p>@T.H.O.U.: what's different about 14 month vs 2 years that you feel makes 2 years a better time to switch? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-switched-your-toddler-to-another-daycare#post-934884 Tue, 16 Jul 2013 08:50:18 +0000 T.H.O.U. 934884@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I thought about switching her but I feel like 14 months would have been a tough time. Now that shes 2, I feel like I would be more ok with it now. We just recently went through a bunch of research to look for other options, but short of driving 20 minutes out of the way (doubling our commute) there just wasn't anything better. </p> <p>When #2 comes around, we may have to look again because costs for two at this center are a bit higher then we comfortably could afford. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-switched-your-toddler-to-another-daycare#post-934878 Tue, 16 Jul 2013 08:47:44 +0000 littlek 934878@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are thinking about it but we have not made any decisions. There is a new center that opened right near our house which is cheaper. We would save about $40 a week if we switched. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-switched-your-toddler-to-another-daycare#post-934867 Tue, 16 Jul 2013 08:43:33 +0000 regberadaisy 934867@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When we enrolled our daughter in her current daycare it was based on a couple factors.</p> <p>1) It was cheaper than the one we really liked<br /> 2) Location was more convenient than the one we really liked<br /> 3) We would relook at switching her when she is older and more at a "learning" stage. And before #2 starts daycare</p> <p>Well. Now we are starting to think about #2 and M is 14.5 months and a sponge. I am thinking more and more about switching her lately. The one that we initially liked more is near my work but I don't currently drive and we only have one car. And it's $400 more.</p> <p>But I just looked and there's a local Montessori that is actually $175 <i>cheaper</i> a month than what we currently pay! The location however is not very convenient. It's 20 minutes in the opposite direction of where we go each morning. :(</p> <p>But M is so used to her daycare now. Her teachers love her and she has little friends. I would feel so sad about pulling her away from what's familiar.<br /> However, as she is getting older I know this center is not a "educational" center. And there are more and more things that are making me unhappy about the center. But nothing glaring or dangerous just little things.</p> <p>What would you do?</p> <p>Has anyone else switched centers on their toddler? How did s/he do with the switch? </p>