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She will definitely not be confused about who her parents are!! Babies just know... it's actually kind of amazing how they just know!

Our kids loved daycare. Bee and I were just talking about how it's one of the best decisions we've made on the parenting front! They got so much out of it... the director of the program is so loving and awesome too.

Our kids did get sick a fair amount, but that stopped after a while! I'm sure your daughter will do great!!

She knows who you are!!! R started at 12 weeks and never not knew who I am. It is so hard leaving her still but the smile I get when I pick her up is so amazing!! She crawls right over to me. I. know she loves day care. They get to play all day with other kids and are with teachers that love them. She has gotten colds this year, but knock on wood, she hasn't been that sick. She will adjust to getting up earlier. If anything she will just move her bedtime to a little earlier.

Xander started at 12 weeks and I was soooooooooo scared he would forget who I am! But he hasn't!! And he definitely still loves me! If anything, our time apart just makes us cherish our time together even more now. And Xander LOVES daycare!! He has so much fun playing with his friends and teachers there! And then when I show up to pick him up and he gives me a huge smile, it just makes my entire day!

As far as illnesses go though, I think we've gotten the worst of it! Xander's been sick almost every week since he started, and he's gotten ME sick with almost everything he's had! And I always have it worse than him!!! I'm just hoping that next year will be better, haha.

Thats amazing she sleeps from 6pm - 8am! We never had that problem (she was up around 6:30 am anyways).

Now is actually a great time for her to start here are a few positives:

1. February is almost past the sick winter season
2. She's old enough to be mobile and sit up right which helped a ton in letting colds settle for my daughter
3. Its before the big separation anxiety hits
4. She's old enough to play and learn with other kids
5. Its only two days a week

Girl, you know my story about DS's horrible sleep and the constant wake up! I've been back at work since October, and like you, I had the same concerns! For me, I had to focus on the fact that sending him to school meant social interaction and development that I can't provide at home.

Like @Adira:, DS has gotten sick twice since starting school, and has always passed it onto me. Thankfully, DS was an awesome trooper and being sick didn't affect him at all other than heavy congestion. Meanwhile, the pedi said being sick sucks BUT it does build up the kiddos immune system so there's that plus if you're looking for a silver lining in being sick - ha!

As for forgetting who mommy is, this was my BIGGEST fear!! But like many bees have already mentioned, and many others have already told me, they somehow just know who mommy is. I'm hoping this is true as DS is still small and doesn't have stranger danger yet. Plus, he started school super early. Meanwhile, your LO probably already recognizes you!

As for waking up early, maybe after a couple weeks, she'll adjust to the new schedule? For me, what works is I gently wake DS and let him stretch out. Then I talk to him till he sees my face and smiles before I start changing his diaper and getting him ready.

Aw hun!

1) She will have tons of new buddies and teachers to keep her company all day! I know G absolutely loves to just sit and watch all the action, and she gets way more stimulation at daycare than at home!

2) Not even a little will she forget who you are!! G smiles so big for me now when I pick her up, and she definitely knows who her mommy and daddy are. We get the big-time love!

3) The early wakeup is going to be an adjustment, I won't lie, but you will all eventually adapt. And she will sleep differently for sure, because daycare will wear her little butt out! You may find that she sleeps better/deeper at night and doesn't need quite as long.

4) Well, lucky for you she's starting at the tail end of sick season! Plus she's much older than G was when she started, and yes, G is sick constantly, but it has never been anything serious, and I expect it to get much better in the next couple months

5) I really do suspect that her sleep will condense. G is SO much more sleepy after daycare days and sleeps so well! On days where we don't have as much going on, she is much more restless.

All that to say, you will be ok! I will also add that my PPD was quite a bit lessened when I got back to work and into a routine. You know you can wall me anytime to vent or chat!