My 18 month old is currently in a nanny share and we are super happy with our nanny. The other family is moving and my husband and I are wondering if this is not a sign to move our daughter to daycare for more social interaction. If you had a nanny, when did your LO start daycare/preschool? Ideally I think we would've waited until she was 2/2.5 but maybe this is a good opportunity? We are also TTC #2 so there is that to factor in...
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I'm a SAHM and started LO1 in preschool at 3.5 years old. LO2 was just born, and we were considering our options. We figured we would give it a try and see if he could get in to our school of choice. It worked out perfectly, and he has grown so much over the past 2 years. LO2 will be starting preschool in the fall, and he will be turning 3 in November.
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Honestly, I'd do it now. At that age, they'll start to benefit from the social interaction and they don't need as much one-on-one care. I've heard 2 is actually the hardest time to switch them to daycare because they're old enough to be aware of what's happening but not old enough to understand. Though it would probably be easier going from nanny to daycare than from mom to daycare.
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Mine started at 20 mo. Mostly because we had a part-time nanny but we were now needing full time care. I would just start now. I think anytime after 15-18mo is good for social interaction and they don't need as much one on one care. I don't see any advantage to waiting until 2.5. I love daycare. My LO learns so much and learns how to get along with lots of other children (including what is inappropriate and what is okay). My LO actually eats a lot better at daycare as well (she doesn't eat veggies at home). They say it is peer pressure from watching the other kids sit down and eat and be responsible lol.
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I think 18m+ is great!
We have a nanny and our older son goes to preschool a few days. Our younger son will be starting "school" part time in the fall at 21m. Baby 3 will be here around that time so we are keeping nanny on.
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I don't know what the "right" time is but we just put our 20 mo in full time daycare this week. Daddy and Grandma used to split the day but Grandma had an operation so it was time to find a new arrangement. For us it has gone really well. Drop-offs are sometimes a little teary but she bounces back quickly and she loves all of the activities that they do and her new friends she has made. I think overall it has been a great transition as well as a wonderful age to do it. Good luck!
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I think it's a great time!
DD has been in daycare since 10 months and it honestly has been so good for her.
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@Mrs. Pajamas: I would go ahead and do it now! We are sending DS to day care at 9 months but he almost didnt get in in which case we would have had a nanny until he was about 18 months ... which I feel like is the perfect age!
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Our LO has been in daycare since 3 months, so I can't speak from personal experience, but I've noticed that when new kids come into her class, the transitions have seemed harder and harder as they've gotten older (i.e. the kids who started as young toddlers seemed to have an easier time transitioning than the older toddlers). Obviously a lot will depend on how adaptable your child is. But I think it would be much easier now than at age 2.5.
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DD has been in daycare 2 mornings a week since 6 months. It's been awesome for us.
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I SAH, but my LO will be starting preschool in January just after he turns 3 - this is when he becomes entitled to 15 hours free per week. I would have done it sooner if I could justify the cost - since about 21 months he's been SO into socialising with other kids.
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LO was home with a nanny until 18 months and it was the perfect time to transition to full time preschool.
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I SAH and M started preschool in the 2's class. It's only 2 days for 3 hours each but a good transition into a class structure.
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My son was home with me until he was 2. I went back to work and he went to daycare very part time, mostly mornings. He had a rough transition and if I could do it all over again, I would have done it differently. I would have looked instead for a preschool program where all the kids are only there for a few hours. Throwing him into an environment where all the other kids had been there since birth and knew the ropes so to speak set him up to fail.
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I'm going back to work three days a week at the beginning of June and my youngest will be fourteen months. My big girl started three afternoons of preschool / kindergarten at 2y9m (I'm in New Zealand so this is free and quite different to daycare) and she'll be 3y7m when I go back to work.
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My son started at 3. He was a little shy, but he enjoys being around other kids. He has gone to daycare at church and the gym, so the concept wasn't new to him.
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My son started full time daycare at 16 months. It sucked only to the extent that it was in January at the height of cold and flu season so he was sick a lot, but timing wise it was perfect. He was already on one nap, he eats way better at daycare because of peer pressure, he has friends to play and explore with, and even when he gets sick, he's not helplessly fragile like with an infant.
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We are in a nanny share and they will be starting part-time preschool (3 mornings a week) when DS turns 2 this fall.
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We started at 20 months. I was home for the first year (Canada mat leave), then we had a nanny for 8 months. There was obviously a transition period but overall he did great and I think around 18m is a good time to start. That's when the toddler programs start and we didn't do daycare sooner because there were significantly less programs available for younger than 18 months. Plus I preferred the one on one care until 18 months.
Only thing I've never liked were the long days he had to spend there due both DH and I working full time. Since I'm on my second mat leave now and DS1 does shorter days, I find he is happier and enjoys daycare even more.
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19 comments