Come in if your kid started day care at ~3 months

[catbus]

My maternity leave ends in early January. Theoretically, I could make my start date early February instead, which would max out my protected leave (between federal and state law I'm protected for 18 weeks). We wanted E to start day care in February, but it sounds like the center will have a January slot, not Feb. So... assuming we take it, he'd be exactly three months old when he starts. And if we do take it, I definitely need to start back at work in January to avoid screwing up our budget.
I went to the facility again last week and it seemed like all the other infants were so big compared to E. Like, the youngest were at least sitting on their own with full head control. So now I'm freaking out not only about sending him off a month earlier than planned, but that he'll be the youngest one there. And then there's the (probably irrational) guilt I feel about being "that mom" sending her baby to day care so young.

But I know plenty of people do this. Tell me it'll be ok (or why it won't be), please. Also, he's two months old today. He's hitting milestones right on track. Should I expect him to be a bit more "sturdy" by three months? The head control thing scares me. His neck is still not strong enough to support his head for very long when I hold him sitting.

[Deleted]

Mine did fabulously. No issues.

[drloretta]

Mine did fabulously as well. Once they get mobile enough to crawl, they move those kids to another room so they don't mow down the less mobile children. DD was a peanut too, and did just fine.

[mrshandy]

DS did great going back at 3 months. He'll be big as the other kids soon.

[Deleted]

DD started daycare at 8 weeks. I was worried too, but she was fine.

[water*drop]

DD was 13 weeks and the smallest baby in the room when she started. She was fine. The teachers liked to snuggle her, and she loved to watch the "big kids." It'll be okay.

[honeybadger]

thank you SO much for asking--I have been thinking about this a lot lately (the little HB is going to daycare at 12 weeks also)...the responses are very comforting!

[arch01]

DS went at 16 weeks and did great.

[crazygame]

My daughter started before 3 months. She has always been small and was the youngest in the room for a long time. She is now ahead developmentally. I think being with older kids pushed her to do things earlier.

It will be ok.

[CloudBee]

Dec 3, 2012 20:19:47 GMT -5 @msstarry said:

I went to daycare at 6 weeks as did my brother. I am a big mommy's girl and always have been - and I have no concerns about going back to work at 12 weeks (though DD isn't starting daycare until 16 weeks).

I also went to daycare starting at 6 weeks.

Our baby will be starting between 3-4 months, depending on what's happening in the office. If there's a lull I may do 4 months, if there's a lot going on I may go back closer to 3.

I'm also happy to read the responses in this post. I'm a little less nervous.

[Deleted]

DD will be 3 months on Wednesday and this is her second week of daycare. She is the youngest in the baby house by a few months but is doing great so far. The staff pretty much fights over who gets to snuggle her. She is eating great, napping great and I'm told very pleasant. I was nervous but I'm very much okay with my decision to send her there and go back to work.

ETA: I have no clue how they manage to get her to nap for 2-3 hour stretches with a bunch of other babies to watch. I couldn't get her to nap for 30 mins at home. Total fluke if she napped that length at home.

[jessnpaul]

I have a preemie (2 months early) so when he started daycare at 16 weeks he was more like 8 weeks old. He did great!

In fact, I think the daycare workers took extra care with him because he was so little. They fawned all over him and to this day many of them still say he's their favorite! They love the little ones

[froggy76]

DD started at 5 months and I think it would have been an easier transition if she had started sooner. She was starting to get into clingy/separation anxiety/stranger danger phase at that age and the first week was rough (but totally okay after that.)

[Deleted]

DD went to daycare when she was 13 weeks old. Not scarred for life, I promise.

[dcrunnergirl]

The kids started at 4 month (3 months adjusted), and they did great. They've never had any real separation anxiety about going to daycare, and I think that is partially b/c the DCP was part of their life at such a young age.

[mrssandro]

DD went about that time. She was a champ. Just beware though the first year DD got sick all the time. I think the first week she was in daycare we all come down the the stomach flu. I hadn't had the stomach flu since I was a child. All normal. Now DD has a pretty strong immune system.

[kittycatlove]

DS started at 12 weeks and was the youngest in the room. He did great, plus the teachers loved to snuggle with him since he was the baby.

[Deleted]

DS loves daycare and does wonderfully. He is the youngest in his room so he was the only one not sitting up on his own, etc when he first started. I was a bit worried that he was so young but he is so spoiled and pampered at daycare. He loves it there.

[evynsmama]

We started her at 12 weeks so not even 3 months exactly, she was the youngest and did just fine. I have known a few people that had to start their kids at 6-8 weeks and they all did okay. Its hard you do feel some guilt, but for me I enjoy every minute I am with her even if she is grumpy and I know she is having a great time being around other kids

[evynsmama]

Dec 3, 2012 21:47:48 GMT -5 crazygame said:

My daughter started before 3 months. She has always been small and was the youngest in the room for a long time. She is now ahead developmentally. I think being with older kids pushed her to do things earlier.

It will be ok.

This times a million!

[h]

My kids started at 14 weeks and 18 weeks. They both did great. It really will be okay.

[chia]

DD started at 9 weeks...

[cookies]

My son started at 12 weeks and it went really well. It'll be ok, mama.