https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 06 Apr 2026 22:53:05 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-daycare-great-for-your-lo#post-2674802 Thu, 05 Jan 2017 20:39:07 +0000 JennyD 2674802@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love our daycare!</p> <p>The director and I hit it off right away and I knew he was an easygoing but straightforward guy. Great sense of humour and doesn't beat around the bush. My daughter loves it there. I know she eats well and plays and has the structure she needs. It's a big centre but I know they treat the kids specially. They've always been on side helping me address any issues, open with me and generally just awesome people. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-daycare-great-for-your-lo#post-2674057 Wed, 04 Jan 2017 21:33:26 +0000 hitchhiker 2674057@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I assure our daycare center. I love that my kids have another community of adults that love them and cheer for them. That's not too day that we haven't had some struggles. There was a period where the was a lot of turnover--it really made me question what was going on behind the scenes. But they recovered well, and I think it new director is a better manager than the last. My older daughter has an intense personality, which some of the infant and toddler teachers struggled with. But the teachers in the older classrooms really seem to get her and she is thriving in the more academic setting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-daycare-great-for-your-lo#post-2674041 Wed, 04 Jan 2017 20:43:06 +0000 snowjewelz 2674041@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We sent DD1 when she was 10 months; 3 half days a week. I was comfortable by then since we had waned from breastmilk so I was just sending formula. Of course, naps took time to adjust, teachers were happy to hold her at first and we dealt with sucky short naps for a while, but that's to be expected. DD1 is 2 now and absolutely THRIVE at daycare. She loves the attention, the socialization, the learning, everything! I feel like it's just her personality; she wouldn't be as happy at home with a nanny. Plus I didn't really have anyone that I trust completely in my home anyway. I looked into a home daycare for $ reasons, but ultimately chose a center b/c I like that there are policies, procedures, always maintaining ratio, school nurse on site, etc... </p> <p>We are sending DD2 earlier due to circumstances, at 6 months, but since DD1 has been there for a while now, I'm much more relaxed and not anxious about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-daycare-great-for-your-lo#post-2674039 Wed, 04 Jan 2017 20:40:01 +0000 Mama Bird 2674039@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kids both started day care at one and it's great in many ways. DS loved his first day care, made very close friends and literally thought of a few of them as his brothers. He told me so himself. It's only a pity that most kids in NYC change schools several times over, and we're struggling to stay in touch with them now that everyone has moved on to pre-K. The kids would move into each other's houses if they could, it's getting the parents together that's hard...</p> <p>DD loves day care so much. She's too little too tell us what she does every day, but she clearly feels very loved there. And she's learning to dance!</p> <p>The food is better than what I cook at home, they have music class, and DS has already seen many of my favorite cartoons (we never have time to watch them at home...) and is starting to read and write in two languages. Of course there are downsides - not enough time outdoors (might just be a big city thing, the day care yard is tiny) and being sick a lot. But it's a good experience overall. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-daycare-great-for-your-lo#post-2674030 Wed, 04 Jan 2017 20:26:00 +0000 MrsB2012 2674030@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I went back after my first baby, I had too much anxiety to use a daycare, so I had family watch my daughter. I knew it was only going to be for a few months as I was already pregnant.<br /> When I had my second, we had to put them in daycare. There's only one daycare in our city that works for my schedule, so I had no options but to use it. It's a North American company that has centres everywhere. </p> <p>It took a bit of time for my youngest to adjust, she cried a lot the first few full days after the transition days, but they both absolutely love it. When we did drop off, our youngest would run up to her favorite worker, give her a huge hug and not even look back at dh or I. When we picked them up, they were always happy.<br /> I'm on mat leave now with my third and I still keep the girls in twice a month ( to A hold their spot and keep our rates ) but also because they seriously love it. I wish I could afford to put them in more often, but it's just way too expensive.<br /> The girls learned so much, have friends they talk about, and get so excited when I tell them they're going. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-daycare-great-for-your-lo#post-2674023 Wed, 04 Jan 2017 20:16:01 +0000 CakeLady 2674023@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS started at a daycare center when he was 6 months old. He has been in full-day daycare since then (he's 2.5 now) and is has been great for him - socialization, learning, gaining independence (things like self-feeding, putting on clothes), language skills, lots of space and time to play. Also a great way to make friends with other parents! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-daycare-great-for-your-lo#post-2674018 Wed, 04 Jan 2017 19:57:42 +0000 winter_wonder 2674018@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD started care at a center at 5 months. She loves it! All of the stimulation and activity has been good for her. I swear she gets bored with us on weekends. If she hasn't attended for several days, she'll let out this excited grunt when we get to her room😀</p> <p>The only thing I don't like is how sick she's been. I know it's inevitable, but I feel like she gets sick every other week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-daycare-great-for-your-lo#post-2674014 Wed, 04 Jan 2017 19:53:10 +0000 FaithFertility 2674014@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@atoz: I'm a teacher too!! DD wa born Dec 2014 and I took the rest of that school year off! She started at an in home sitter at 7 months that next fall when I went back! 1.5 yrs later Mrs.L is a blessing and DD at 2 asks to go there daily!!!!!</p> <p>DS will be going too in 2 months when I go back again!<br /> Honestly if it wasn't for her I couldn't return to work!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-daycare-great-for-your-lo#post-2674009 Wed, 04 Jan 2017 19:44:59 +0000 atoz 2674009@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Shannon: realistic story can still be a success story! </p> <p>@littlejoy: I was thinking the same thing about having a nanny. </p> <p>@PawPrints: I didn't think about all of that...good points!!</p> <p>Thank you all so much. This is teaching me a lot and also putting my mind at ease somewhat right now...keep 'em coming! :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-daycare-great-for-your-lo#post-2673966 Wed, 04 Jan 2017 17:28:32 +0000 littlejoy 2673966@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had a nanny until 13 months. It was at that point I realized LO really needed more stimulation and room for exploration than the nanny could offer. We sent her to a Montessori school that focuses on RIE principles. She goes M-Th from 8-3:30. We absolutely LOVE it!! There have been some growing pains (our very small school grew to 3 different locations within 8 months), but overall, we're so happy with the care. </p> <p>It's important to me to have a school with excellent communication. We've had injuries, and I was always very happy with how the school reacted and notified us. With closures, schedule changes, new teachers, etc., we've always felt like we were in the loop. I also appreciate the opportunity to connect with the other parents. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-daycare-great-for-your-lo#post-2673962 Wed, 04 Jan 2017 17:21:22 +0000 JenGirl 2673962@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I freaking love our daycare and so does my son! </p> <p>Our daycare had a big wait list and we didn't have a spot when we both had to go back to work at 5 months. We went to another daycare for a month and while it was fine, I wasn't thrilled with the care there. However, it really made me appreciate how awesome our current place is!</p> <p>We have full time daycare, even though I only work 4 days per week. Sometimes he only goes 4 days per week, but sometimes I send him (usually for a part day) on my day off so that I can get things done or even just nap. It has really helped me keep my stress down which has been better for our whole family.</p> <p>My son loves his teachers at daycare. He will sometimes cry when I leave, but he can almost always be distracted by one of the teachers within a few seconds. On the other side, if they happen to be outside when I pick up, I can guaranteee he'll cry when I try to leave! The teachers are great with him, all around. He naps SO much better at daycare than he does at home! </p> <p>For us, we have an added motivation to sending our son to daycare in that he is an only child (and will likely remain one) so we think it helps him learn to relate to other children his age. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-daycare-great-for-your-lo#post-2673939 Wed, 04 Jan 2017 16:46:16 +0000 psw27 2673939@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son has been in daycare since he was 3.5 months old and he really loves it. At his first center, he was so loved and well taken care of as an infant. I knew how much his teachers cared for him. We moved him around age 2 and is thriving at his current center too. He loves his friends and his teachers. They have music class, gym class and way more activities than I would ever come up with. I really think he is more mature and social than he would be if he were home with me full time. So for us, it's a huge success! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-daycare-great-for-your-lo#post-2673934 Wed, 04 Jan 2017 16:40:36 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2673934@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The worse part for daycare has been the transitions. He didn't sleep well the first few days when he started at 3.5/ 4 months. He was aggravated during his next move at 6 months and he zoned out his first day at this last move at 8 months. Otherwisw, daycare minus the germs, has been great. He is stimulated by different toys than what we have at home. He gets crafts and activities that I wouldn't even think to do. He interacts with other babies and adults that quite frankly if I stayed home or he had a nanny his world would be much, much smaller. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-daycare-great-for-your-lo#post-2673912 Wed, 04 Jan 2017 16:13:36 +0000 mediagirl 2673912@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO started daycare at 4 months old and hasn't known any difference. She hates change and hated every drop off when moving to new classrooms/schools (we swapped a couple of times). It would take quite some time for her to be comfortable with drop off each time. </p> <p>We were sick all the time when she first started. All of us. She would bring it home, we would all get it. </p> <p>That being said. She is socialized. She is an introvert and an only child but she knows how to share with kids, she is KIND to kids and she follows rules like a champ. In K they expect kids to know how to line up and follow rules. She does that. They essentially potty trained her for us. They adjusted her from 2 to 1 naps so we didn't have to struggle with it. </p> <p>I missed her like the dickens...and still do some days....but it's a good thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-daycare-great-for-your-lo#post-2673908 Wed, 04 Jan 2017 16:04:10 +0000 shabang 2673908@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kids go to a daycare center, and overall it is pretty great. There have been rockstar teachers, amazing projects, early-age peer relationships, a focus on activities and learning, and the development of a sense of independence. It hasn't always been easy - my oldest is quiet by nature and has a very difficult time with transitions, so the hard parts for her/me have been changing rooms, teacher turnover, and lack of communication of curriculum changes. I know you asked for success stories, and I'm not trying to be negative, just realistic, because the daycare/parent relationship is not set it and forget it in my experience. In contrast, my second child is much more easy-going, and none of those issues have arisen. It's been nothing but smooth sailing and she can't wait to see her teachers each day. Like anything, each child is unique. That said, I'd choose this over any other setup, and I really do believe it's a wonderful experience for the child. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-daycare-great-for-your-lo#post-2673904 Wed, 04 Jan 2017 16:00:59 +0000 nana87 2673904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I LOVE our daycare center. Lo started at 6 months and has absolutely thrived with them--she's 2.5 now. Our center is attached to an education graduate school, so all her teachers are basically child development experts, or are training to be (lots of students), and I feel like I learn from them. They are so loving with the kids but also attune to their development in ways that blow my mind. Like, once lo kept putting sand in her mouth during drop off when she was old enough (2) to know better, and I thought she was just trying to test limits, but her teacher was like "hmm maybe she likes the sensation and wants to chew," and got out a silicon chewy toy instead for her and she stopped with the sand. I wouldn't have thought of that! They also have access to so many different kinds of materials and experiences that I just can't provide on my own for lo (nor do I always want to deal with the mess of all those sensory and art materials!), and the way they model and encourage peer/social interactions is so much more than I could do as well. Lo adores going to "school" and literally runs down the street towards the building every day before drop off. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-daycare-great-for-your-lo#post-2673900 Wed, 04 Jan 2017 15:44:52 +0000 PawPrints 2673900@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am a huge proponent of center-based daycare. DD is in her center full-time and she adores it. We took two weeks off for the holidays and when she returned yesterday she was sprinting down the hall to get back into her room. I love that she has access to all the playground equipment, toys, and resources of an established center, the variety of meals from an in-house cook, socializing with a range of ages of kids, and so much time for independent play in a safe environment. From my perspective on things, I love center-based daycare because everything is so clear and established and smooth, meaning the teachers get sick and vacation time without any interruption to my child's care and I don't have to worry about a nanny suddenly wanting to take a day off (I see people posting about nanny issues on these boards and it blows my mind, I would be so stressed out if I had to scramble for backup care all the time), I trust that everyone is vetted and working on their continuing education and so on because the center director takes care of all of that. I just sign her in and sign her out and don't have to worry about a thing in between. It's a breeze and we love it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-daycare-great-for-your-lo#post-2673894 Wed, 04 Jan 2017 15:32:01 +0000 atoz 2673894@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kiddosc: @emilye519: That's great that it's been such a good experience for both of you! "Expand the circle of people who love your child.." love that!</p> <p>@looch: I'm not expecting a lot of academics...mostly love &amp; care &amp; play! Thanks for sharing your honest experience.</p> <p>@kitty: I would looove for my mom to be able to watch my daughter! Jealous. :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-daycare-great-for-your-lo#post-2673889 Wed, 04 Jan 2017 15:23:53 +0000 kitty 2673889@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started sending DS one day a week when he was about 13 months (his grandma looks after him another 2 days a week) and I love sending him! When I drop him off he runs straight off to play and I always feel like he is being sufficiently stimulated when he's there, which he really needs as he is so active. It really takes the pressure off. I'd love to send him more days eventually 😊 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-daycare-great-for-your-lo#post-2673888 Wed, 04 Jan 2017 15:23:50 +0000 looch 2673888@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I won't sugarcoat it, my son began daycare part time at 2 years old and it was kind of rough on him. He had been used to being taken care of with his needs as first priority and now he wasn't the chief any more.</p> <p>But, at the end of the day, he did well, once he got adjusted. It was great to see him expand his social skills. I will be honest, I didn't expect much on an academic scale at that age, I saved that anxiety for preschool which he began at 4. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-daycare-great-for-your-lo#post-2673885 Wed, 04 Jan 2017 15:21:20 +0000 emilye519 2673885@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went back to work when dd was a year old, she went to a daycare center and after an initial adjustment period that included tears for both of us, she did wonderfully! She really blossomed and became so much more independent and much more comfortable in new situations. I think daycare really helped build her confidence! And mine too! As she's gotten older she's really begun to get a lot out of having the social interaction with the other kiddos in her class too. Someone once told me it is never a bad thing to expand the circle of people that love your child and I completely agree. Find a caregiver that you trust and grit your teeth and get through the initial adjustment and I'm sure you'll both do great! My lo learns new things from her teachers all the time and develops a special bond with each of them and it's really special to see. Anyways, good luck! It's the thing I was most scared of but being on the other side, I can truly say it has been such a good thing for both my daughter and I. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-daycare-great-for-your-lo#post-2673883 Wed, 04 Jan 2017 15:17:25 +0000 kiddosc 2673883@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both of my kids go to daycare in a center full time. My oldest started at 8 weeks, my younger at 12 weeks. They are both flourishing. My oldest is now 4.5 years old. He has great friends that he gets to play with every day. There is curriculum and he gets to do fun projects that I would never have the patience for. My younget is 10 months old. I see her face light up when she sees her teachers and know that she is well cared for. She has hit her physical milestones early as she works to keep up with the older infants. Since our time together on a daily basis is more limited, it's easier to devote my full attention to the kids while we're together and we get to focus on having more fun. Find a place where you trust the caregivers, where you feel that you can listen and discuss with each other, and your son will do great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-daycare-great-for-your-lo#post-2673876 Wed, 04 Jan 2017 14:50:50 +0000 atoz 2673876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Why has daycare/childcare been great for your little one? What's your arrangement like (daycare/in home day care/nanny...)?</p> <p>I'll be going back as a teacher next fall--a ways off, I know!--and it's been on my mind. My LO will be just over a year old, and it seems so young to send her off every day, though I know people do it all the time. </p> <p>So...tell me your success stories! </p>