starting daycare, some ?'s

[pugz]

Ok who else is starting daycare next week? Brie, Starry (week after right?) Come in so we can :-( together.

I have a pretty good idea of what I need to pack in her bag: diapers, wipes, wetbag, extra change of clothes, formula/bottles, pacifier, sleepsack for naps, burp cloth/bib. What am I forgetting? Should I put a snot sucker bulb in there too? It would be BSC for me to send one of my white noise machines, right?

Should I write a little something up for the DCP about how Squirmy likes to be put down for naps, how she likes to be fed, etc? I just don't know how specific to get...

THIS IS SCARY YOU GUYS!

she is going on Wednesday for the first time but I don't start work til Thursday. I'm getting a pedicure Wednesday and maybe going out to lunch by myself. Or shopping, or something to help calm myself.

[Ashley&Scott]

Do you have a travel sleep sheep? M has one at daycare & it really helps his naps. I wrote a little note card with tips for his teachers. (I kept is short & sweet, like: rock to sleep, likes tummy time, gently bouncing & soft singing when fussy, etc.)

Did your DC has a list of things to be kept there/provided? Ours requested: diapers, wipes, change of clothes, comb/brush. We don't have to provide bibs or burp cloths but that might differ by provider.

The first day is the hardest, it will get easier I promise. Good luck!

[catbus]

E will start the week after next--January 7. We do orientation tomorrow, at which we'll learn about all their official policies, including what we can/cannot/need to bring for him. I ordered Name Bubbles labels several weeks back and have labeled bottles.

Otherwise, I'm waiting until tomorrow to find out everything else. And oddly, I'm finally feeling OK, or at least better, about dropping him off every day. I don't want to SAH, yet I want to be the one caring for him... if that makes sense. :-(

[Brie]

C starts on the 2nd. I'm a mess. I can't sleep at night already.

They told me to send everything but the crib sheet.

[water*drop]

Dec 27, 2012 12:37:46 GMT -5 pugz said:

she is going on Wednesday for the first time but I don't start work til Thursday. I'm getting a pedicure Wednesday and maybe going out to lunch by myself. Or shopping, or something to help calm myself.

I did this the first day DD went to daycare. I came home with a ton of new clothes and makeup and a bunch of stuff for DD...retail therapy was expensive that day!

The first day is the hardest. ::hugs::

[dcrunnergirl]

We sent a travel sleep sheep for each baby to keep in their PNP at daycare to help them get to sleep and block out other daycare noises.

I also sent a pretty detailed list of things I did to help them and with their schedules/routines. I told DCP that she could follow it or toss it, just do what worked best to make my babies happy. It made me feel better knowing that she had an idea of things that worked for us, even if she never needed them. And, since I was fairly casual when I gave it to her, she didn't think I was crazy, overzealous schedule mama (even though on the inside I really am).

[londoncalling]

Dd has a travel sleep sheep too hanging from the top rail of her crib. I don't know I they still use it , but they said it definitely worked well for naps when she started.

ETA: I go to a large center and a lot of the documentation you suggested is on their standard forms. Let me see if I can find a copy.

[jessnpaul]

We also gave them our travel sleep sheep. Not sure if they even use it anymore, but it's still there.

We had to fill out a ton of forms including his schedule and pretty much everything about him. But we go to a chain daycare, so they're pretty big on documentation. We also had to fill out forms for diaper cream, sunscreen (which my ped won't sign at this age), etc.

[pugz]

we are using an in home so no real paperwork to fill out other than the state required healthcare forms, emergency contact, etc.

[hski2349]

Make sure you label your (LO)'s stuff. We have a bag that has 3 to 4 changes of clothes . DD spits up a lot and that way we do not have pack a new change of clothes everyday. We pack the bag on Sunday and it is good for the week. We also pack one of her blankets to keep in her crib each week.

If you have not, I would recommend going in and speaking with the teachers and they will give you an idea of what they need. I did this a week before DD started daycare and it made me feel so much better.

CatBus - I feel the exact same way. "I don't want to SAH, yet I want to be the one caring for him... if that makes sense. " And I was ok with DD being at daycare, but I still cried in the car. It is so hard dropping your child off for somebody else to take care of them.

[kittycatlove]

I think your list sounds good. Good luck to you and all the other moms with LO's starting daycare soon.

The first day was definitely hardest, but it does get easier. I was the same as you Catbus, I didn't want to stay home, but didn't want anyone else taking care of DS. He has done so well at DC, I can't imagine it any other way.