https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 29 May 2026 17:26:42 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-put-an-infant-in-daycare-part-time#post-425982 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 20:17:42 +0000 coruscations 425982@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't see why part-time daycare would be any more confusing for an infant than full-time. My LO isn't here yet (due next week) but will be going to part-time daycare from 6 weeks, for 5 hours a day Monday-Thursday. Weekdays are always different from weekends anyway, and babies don't know the difference. The only thing I can see that might be confusing for them is if they went half days at different times each day, like some days only mornings and some days only afternoons. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-put-an-infant-in-daycare-part-time#post-425788 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 18:09:56 +0000 MamaG 425788@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do full time daycare and I think our LO could handle it part-time. Here's a few things to consider from when I was trying to make a decision between full and part time. Part-time spots are harder to find (unless you do a mom's day out type program that's for fewer hours like you mentioned). Also, traditional centers seem to prefer full-time care so the prices for part-time care aren't discounted much (for example, at one place, full time M-F 6:30-6:30 was $242, to do three days instead of five was $219). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-put-an-infant-in-daycare-part-time#post-425769 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 17:58:36 +0000 mrsmenow 425769@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My youngest goes to daycare 2 days a week. My schedule changes each week so we give them her schedule at the begining of each month. We have done this since she was little so it is what she has always been use to. It works out nice that she is home with me more often than at daycare, but still gets the benefits of daycare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-put-an-infant-in-daycare-part-time#post-425746 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 17:43:14 +0000 daniellemybelle 425746@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sorry to just now follow up, all!</p> <p>To clarify, I wasn't asking if you were for or against daycare. I don't love the idea but I don't think there is anything wrong with it at all! I was asking if you thought part-time daycare would be too confusing or inconsistent for an infant.</p> <p>It does sound like a lot of you haven't had much luck finding a full-time daycare! There are preschools / mommy's day out programs that do part-time around where I live - for example, 9-3 MWF. Obviously, this doesn't work for everyone's schedule, but it's a potential option for us.</p> <p>@winniebee: That sounds great! What kind of work do you do, if you don't mind my asking? What are your hours on the days you work? I think it does make sense to do daycare on sequential days over MWF or something like that.</p> <p>@Thehistoryofus: It really depends on what kind of part-time work I am able to secure, so it could go either way. However, my preference would be to do 2-3 full days over half days. I feel like, with all the work you do to get ready for work, get baby ready, get out of the house, go to daycare, get settled at work... it wouldn't be worth it to leave just hours later. Maybe if it was a WAH role and baby could just nap once we got back home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-put-an-infant-in-daycare-part-time#post-414350 Mon, 26 Nov 2012 08:09:40 +0000 oahujeni 414350@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would definitely do part-time if I could, but all the daycares near us are full-time only for infants. I think you can make a "routine" out of going part-time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-put-an-infant-in-daycare-part-time#post-414347 Mon, 26 Nov 2012 08:07:41 +0000 JoJoGirl 414347@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes of course! My LO will be in daycare either 4 or 5 days a week when I go back to work at 12-16 weeks. We can't afford for me to not work and we can't afford a nanny... so.. daycare it is.</p> <p>(Oh, and we have no family living within 500 miles). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-put-an-infant-in-daycare-part-time#post-414344 Mon, 26 Nov 2012 08:04:58 +0000 Maysprout 414344@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We haven't gone that route but a lot of mommies around here do that and they all are really happy with their LOs going part time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-put-an-infant-in-daycare-part-time#post-414334 Mon, 26 Nov 2012 07:52:34 +0000 kml636 414334@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm trying to find care part time also. It's hard, many day cares wanted you to pay for a full time spot. At this point we are looking at leaving her with a sahm that watches other kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-put-an-infant-in-daycare-part-time#post-414327 Mon, 26 Nov 2012 07:44:36 +0000 winniebee 414327@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is in daycare 3 days a week and started at 5 months. I work 4 days a week and my mom watches him 1 day. It's been great for him so far - he loves the socialization and eats well and naps ok there. I'm home with him Saturday, Sunday, Monday and my mom watches him at our house on Tuesday. Daycare Wed, Thurs Friday. I think he gets the routine and now that he's a little older (6 months) we're trying ot keep him on the nap routine they have at daycare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-put-an-infant-in-daycare-part-time#post-414318 Mon, 26 Nov 2012 07:33:15 +0000 T.H.O.U. 414318@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are really happy with daycare (even though we don't have another choice). I would worry though about "part time" and being on a schedule. </p> <p>Would you do 5 half days or 3 full days? </p> <p>I think it also depends on how dedicated you are to keepign the baby on a schedule. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-put-an-infant-in-daycare-part-time#post-414311 Mon, 26 Nov 2012 07:17:12 +0000 heffalump 414311@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Lots of babies go to daycare. I'm lucky enough to be able to be a sahm, and I want to be one. Some people either cant afford it or are happier working. And their babies are in daycare. If something happened when I had my next lo and I had to go back to work and put her in daycare when she was little I would. I wouldn't love it, but its life. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-put-an-infant-in-daycare-part-time#post-414306 Mon, 26 Nov 2012 06:57:37 +0000 LemonLong 414306@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO will be going to daycare 5 days a week when she hits 12 weeks old. The daycare we chose does individualized schedules for each baby so they will maIntain whatever schedule baby is used to at home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-put-an-infant-in-daycare-part-time#post-414296 Mon, 26 Nov 2012 05:38:04 +0000 hummusgirl 414296@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would. No baby goes to daycare 7 days a week (so there will always be some inconsistency), but many seem to thrive there (from what I've heard - we haven't started yet but I'm optimistic). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-put-an-infant-in-daycare-part-time#post-414284 Mon, 26 Nov 2012 03:47:13 +0000 London Mama 414284@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We'll be doing daycare part time when I go back to work, LO will be almost 9 months at the time and I don't think it will be a negative experience, in fact I think it'll be good for his social development. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-put-an-infant-in-daycare-part-time#post-414235 Mon, 26 Nov 2012 01:12:12 +0000 MsMini 414235@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We will be sending our little guy to day care part time (about once per week) when I go back to work in May. I hope that after a few daycare days he will be comfortable there and it becomes part of our routine, even if the days are sporadic. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-put-an-infant-in-daycare-part-time#post-414232 Mon, 26 Nov 2012 01:08:34 +0000 MaisyMay 414232@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We were looking into this because I'll need to return to work by 8 weeks pp. The only thing that kept us from needing to was that a friend of mine has a 6 month old and we're going to have her nanny for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-put-an-infant-in-daycare-part-time#post-414209 Mon, 26 Nov 2012 00:42:55 +0000 daniellemybelle 414209@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The hubs &amp; I were having one of our dreamy, "what will life with a baby look like?" conversations the other day, and we talked about one of our possible financial scenarios - him getting a decent raise in the next year, and me transitioning to a part-time (hopefully work from home) job. </p> <p>If I worked part time, we hope that my mom would help with childcare, but we don't want to bank on it. The cost of a nanny wouldn't make it worth it, which leaves us with a nanny share, or daycare. </p> <p>I don't love the idea of daycare full time, but part time I think might be good for socialization. Still, I know babies thrive on routine - Would going to daycare part time be too inconsistent and confusing for an infant? Do any of you do this? </p>