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I plan on doing it when LO 3 is around 18-20 months old.

I would say by age 2 is when they "need" to start. But before that is great socialization too.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

3. Preschool. Works out perfectly for us

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).

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!

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.

Every child & 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.

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.

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

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.

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.