Did you stay a while or book it out quickly?
When I submitted the enrollment paperwork a few days ago the director told me I was welcome to stay with him a while and ask questions, but my mother keeps telling me just to leave, quick and painless.
What did you do?
ETA: I don't start my new job for another week, so I don't have to be anywhere right away.
63 votes
GOLD / watermelon / 14076 posts
Set her down to play with the other babies, chatted with her teachers for a few minutes, kissed her and said bye!
pomegranate / 3604 posts
I had to go to work right away so I just dropped him off. We went over before (once) for an hour or so though!
papaya / 10560 posts
I did a gradual release. The week before I went back to work I enrolled DS the last couple days of the week. I sent him a couple hours, then 1/2 day, then full. That way it got me used to the routine before my first day back to work--where I dropped him off and ran out the door.
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
Just dropped her off, bailed outta there, and enjoyed some peaceful coffee at work 
pomegranate / 3411 posts
The day care that LO will start when he his 18 months said we have to (or it is strongly recommended?) do a transition the week before where we stay a few hours I think. Over several days. I think they said first day I stay a couple of hours, then LO only does a half day. Then full time would start week after and I don't stay. Something like that.
grapefruit / 4997 posts
Good luck tomorrow and enjoy your me time this week! E is going to do great.
kiwi / 689 posts
DH did drop off. We couldn't get her in until after I started back at work, so DH stayed home with her for a week and the place she's at is right by his work. Pretty sure he stayed around for 15 minutes to settle her in and then had to run to a meeting.
Good luck! The first day was a little nerve wracking but she adjusted very quickly. I hope your LO settles into his new routine smoothly.
persimmon / 1436 posts
Aw good luck! E will do great!!!
We stayed for about 10 minutes, and now I stay and chat for a few minutes every time
bananas / 9227 posts
One of us had to stay for a portion of their week long intro. Their introduction includes the parents. Ours went like this:
Day 1: one hour with LO alone inside to explore while the kids are all outside playing
Day 2-3: I'm with her all day (5hrs).
Day 4-5: I'm with her until lunch.
Day 6: I leave after roll/when they play outside (but on call).
Day 7: I just drop her off, but on call (have to be available, just in case).
It went surprsingly well and eased my nerves.
cherry / 224 posts
Just a perspective from an administrator's view. Every child is so different when it comes to drop-offs in daycare/child care center the first few weeks of starting (including the first day). I would base this on your child's cues.
I would suggest you observe your child's reaction during the time your enter the room with your child and when you decide to part way way, if your child begins to cry, sometimes it is easier to leave right away as your mom has suggested because then a caregiver can attend to your child by engaging your child, redirecting your lo's attention to calm down right away. Some children calms down right away while others may continue to cry for a few more minutes until they realize how fun the classroom is and what interesting toys to play with.
Not to worry you, but I have noticed more often the younger a child is, it is easier for him/her to be redirected and distracted by a caregiver; therefore, s/he will calm down faster. I have observed that it can be harder for an older preschooler as the child is more aware and does realize that his/her parent is not there; therefore, s/he may take a longer time to settle and calm down. Again, every child is different.
Whereas, some children have an easy transition regardless if their parents begin to leave or not, it does not faze them as they are engaged in the classroom environment and eager to explore their surroundings. In the latter scenario, it is easier for a parent to stay a little while if the parent wants to observe her/his child.
Or, if your child is having a hard time, you can ease into the transition by staying with your child until s/he is more comfortable. Your stay will be shorter each time you drop off your child.
I feel that the first day is normally a lot more difficult for parents just because it is. We (caregivers/administrators) understand how hard it is to leave your precious lo with us and we have not earned your trust yet.
I hope that your caregiver will call you within the first hour to let you know how your lo is doing. If they do not call, it is okay for you to call to check in.
I hope all goes well for you and your lo on the first day of daycare.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
The thing is it varies by child, so until you do it, you really have no idea how it's going to go. The one thing that surprised me was when an experienced mom told me that my son might be one of those that cries at drop off all the time, to be prepared he might not get over it. I didn't believe her, but it turns out she was correct and at over a year in daycare, he still cries at drop off some days. It's personality, so try not to read too much into it!
Best of luck, it's harder on us than it is on them!
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
I stayed with Xander for an hour his first day! He didn't seem to care one way or the other (he was only 12 weeks). After that, Hubs took over drop off and it's been pretty much in and out!
GOLD / wonderful coconut / 33402 posts
We did a 3-4 hour trial day the week before she started full time. I talked to the teachers for a couple mins and left. She ended up not taking a bottle at all, so they had me come back the next day for another trial. Then on her first full day, I again just talked for a couple mins and left. But she was so young to really know what was going on.
honeydew / 7235 posts
I find the longer I stay, the harder it is on him!! I usually do a super quick drop off.
eggplant / 11824 posts
LO was an infant when she started; which is so different from a toddler - but, I think it's almost always better to leave quickly. My LO sometimes still cries when I go to leave, but by the time I'm out of her line of vision, I can hear that she's stopped crying and started happily playing with her buddies. This seems (from my experience and confirmation from both infant and toddler teachers) to be pretty normal, and sometimes misinterpreted for "separation anxiety".
coconut / 8861 posts
Good luck today. Thinking about you and E today. LO was an infant when he started daycare. So, I dropped off breastmilk, etc. on his first day. When he was still an infant, sometimes, I would talk with the moms as we were all picking up our kids.
wonderful olive / 19353 posts
I chatted with the director for about 15 minutes then left. DS has been there for 5 months now, and I stay for less than 5 minutes now and then leave.
hostess / wonderful watermelon / 39513 posts
I lingered for a bit and then we left to go on a day date...breakfast, shopping, lunch and movie!
pear / 1609 posts
Hope everything went well! DS starts next Monday. I'm planning to ask them how to do drop off because I'm not sure how! He is really shy at first so we well see
papaya / 10570 posts
We had two settling in sessions the week before, 2hrs each. The first I stayed for the full 2 hours, the second I only stayed for a few minutes and the following week I left her all day. Good luck E (he will be fine mama).
honeydew / 7091 posts
Her first day was when she was 7 weeks, so there wasn't much need to hang around. But, our daycare provider is a really good friend, so I always hang around for a while chatting anyway.
grapefruit / 4671 posts
We gradually transtioned her with me in the room with her for a couple of hours the first two days. Transition is mandatory at our centre being in a new daycare environment is intense,being around all the kids, teachres, new toys, away from home.
GOLD / wonderful pea / 17697 posts
Thanks for the input!
Drop-off went pretty well! E immediately went running to this ramp/stairs thing, and then to play with a toy phone. I stayed a few minutes talking to one of his teachers ("So sorry, but he kicks during diaper changes, just thought I should warn you..."). I kissed him and said "bye-bye" when I left, and he barely looked at me and said "byyyyye". No tears.
Then I had to pop back in (there was supposed to be a hook for his bag and jacket in the hall but wasn't), and he tried to leave with me. The teacher told him they were going to play with cars, and I didn't hear him crying or anything.
I, on the other hand, teared up a few times. The first was when I was getting him dressed this morning. I noticed that the light on his humidifier was red, and thought to myself that I should fill it with water before he went down for a nap, and then BAM.
And again when we first went in and he was just all "seeya!" and then the last time in the car in the parking lot, lol.
I've resisted calling and checking on him, but I'm eager to see him. I think that this is the second or third longest that I've been away from him (which is a little sad?) I think it would have been a little bit easier had I immediately had work to distract me (next week!) but it was nice to be able to go buy wine and go grocery shopping and clean and work on some meals for the week and such. And I was able to drink a cup of coffee that was still hot when I finished it 
eggplant / 11408 posts
@lovehoneybee: so glad that it went well!! I hope that it continues to go smoothly for you. Enjoy that coffee
cantaloupe / 6869 posts
We've got our first day on Wednesday. I'm planning to just book it BUT I am going to come back in the middle of the day to nurse him. Although, my situation is different since LO is so young and daycare is at my work.
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