https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 26 Jun 2026 14:45:14 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ideal-age-for-a-child-to-start-daycare#post-335841 Thu, 11 Oct 2012 15:37:15 +0000 Lozza 335841@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO started at 12 weeks, and I definitely think that being so used to "going to school" every day, and knowing his caregivers so well, meant that we never had any really traumatic transitions. LO has the occasional moment of clinginess when I leave, but for the most part, he's pretty psyched to go in and hang up his lunch bag and say hello to the babies and start his day. And he's never cried if we talk about going to school, or driving up to daycare, or walking into daycare or anything. He clearly associates it with good things, and he's always happy to go there (I think he just sometimes wishes I'd stay and hang out there WITH him and his friends!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ideal-age-for-a-child-to-start-daycare#post-335724 Thu, 11 Oct 2012 15:01:38 +0000 yoursilverlining 335724@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think 3-6 months. That’s before the stranger anxiety phase and if they are already used to daycare when they go through that stage, they should already comfortable with the people at daycare. There are a couple babies in LO’s class who are going through the “stranger-danger” phase so they sometimes cry when other parents arrive, but they are fine and happy with all of the teachers and other kids. I also think even little babies love to socialize with other babies; I know LO loves to watch the older babies and try to mimic whatever they are doing which is good for development. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ideal-age-for-a-child-to-start-daycare#post-335712 Thu, 11 Oct 2012 14:57:54 +0000 autumnlove 335712@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>12 weeks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ideal-age-for-a-child-to-start-daycare#post-335711 Thu, 11 Oct 2012 14:56:48 +0000 Foodnerd81 335711@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@highwire: I started preschool at 2 1/2 and I cannot remember it at all! You have a good memory! </p> <p>I said 12-18 months, since that seems to be when kids can start actually playing with each other, or at least interacting a little more, and it seems like they will start to really get some of the benefits of socialization. But I also think it really depends on the kid. I predict my kid would be ready before I am. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ideal-age-for-a-child-to-start-daycare#post-335690 Thu, 11 Oct 2012 14:47:38 +0000 T.H.O.U. 335690@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted 6-12 months but she started at 3 months. </p> <p>I think by 6 months they are very aware of their surroundings so a new environment is good for them. Plus my daughters learning is so advanced for her age because she's around older kids often. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ideal-age-for-a-child-to-start-daycare#post-335651 Thu, 11 Oct 2012 14:33:06 +0000 DillonLion 335651@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're most likely starting our LO in daycare at 11 weeks. I'm sure it will feel extremely young, but I feel like she will be too young to really notice and by the time she is old enough to realize what is going on, it will already be part of her regular routine and no big deal. </p> <p>I started pre-school when I was 2 and I VIVIDLY remember being dropped off and left for the first time. It was extremely traumatizing for me at the time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ideal-age-for-a-child-to-start-daycare#post-335648 Thu, 11 Oct 2012 14:32:39 +0000 MamaMoose 335648@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I said 6 to 12 months. I think that if you know you are going to have to put your child into day care it would be best to at least start them part time prior to a year. That way they get adjusted while they are still pretty young and not used to having mommy or daddy around ALL the time. I got back to work after 15 weeks but because of the timing we can't get into our day care until the baby will be about 6 months. So we are going to do a short term nanny. This is really quite ideal for me. A nanny would be too expensive for us to do long term but we can swing it for a little while and it makes me more comfortable to have baby start day care at 6 months when his/her immune system is a little stronger. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ideal-age-for-a-child-to-start-daycare#post-335645 Thu, 11 Oct 2012 14:32:07 +0000 Andrea 335645@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started at 6 months and I felt like that was fine. She was mobile and crawling and didn't feel too fragile to me. I am starting DD #2 at 6 months, too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ideal-age-for-a-child-to-start-daycare#post-335643 Thu, 11 Oct 2012 14:30:49 +0000 Mrs. Pen 335643@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I guess I don't really know... We are not in that situation.. .but I always thought that if we needed childcare I'd want a nanny for the first year and I could be willing to do daycare at a year old. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ideal-age-for-a-child-to-start-daycare#post-335637 Thu, 11 Oct 2012 14:28:23 +0000 Mrsbells 335637@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I still feel guilty that my baby had to start daycare when she was only 12 weeks old. It just felt so wrong, she was so young and and fragile to be left with "strangers". I always thought the ideal situation would be to take my child to the daycare when they were old enough to understand that I wasnt abandoning them and that I would be back by the end of the day.</p> <p>Anyway today a new kid started at the daycare, I guess he must be around 18th months since he was in her side of the building although he looked atleast 2 and half. But anyway he was screaming for his mom as soon as they pulled into the parking lot. His dad had to carry him over his shoulder and he was screaming terribly. And his mom pulled away in her car. It was very emotional for them. I'm sure after a few hours he will calm down and play with the other kids but it was pretty tense in the morning, because he was screaming at the top of his lungs. It made me think maybe it is better to start them when they are infants rather than waiting til they are older. What do you think is the ideal age for a child to start daycare </p>