Toured a day care center for the first time today

[kermit]

I almost cried when we went into the baby room. Not that it was bad or anything, I just don't like the thought of leaving her there. The place is fine, the baby room staff were very nice, and they'll use cloth diapers. The cost is higher than I thought it would be. I really hope we can find a home daycare, I just like that atmosphere better. They're so hard to find though, I think we'll have to put her in a center for at least a little while. I'm looking at another one next week. I'm rambling now, I need a nap.

[Deleted]

You'll know when you find the right one. I toured prob 12 DC before I found the right one.

[pinotgrig]

I got SO teary at all of the ones we toured and I'm not normally an emotional person. The thought of leaving our little one there is sad to me, but I'm not cut out to be a SAHM and feel more comfortable with a center, so it is what it is.

I hear it gets better when you see how much they like it and you start getting stories (from the providers or the kids as they why older) about things they did that day, though.

[formerlyak]

I promise it gets better. Find one you like and put in a deposit. Go with your gut. I cried for the last two weeks of my maternity leave because I couldn't bear the thought of leaving my ds in a daycare center after he'd been with me all day every day of his life so far. I thought of all these "What ifs." So my ex suggested I call the director and ask her some of my far fetched questions and fears. I did. She spend 30 minutes on the phone with me going over what they do in certain situations, etc. I knew then that I picked the right place.

And it also gets easier when you can tell they have fun because they go off with a friend or to find a favorite toy when you do drop off. This obviously don't happen immediately, but it does happen.

[kermit]

I'm sure it's not bad. I just didn't like the institutional look of all the cribs lined up. But of course that's what they have to do. I also didn't like that you had to walk through the 2-3 year olds room to get to the baby room. Not that it makes a difference once you're in there, it was just sort of annoying. It's just so much like a school atmosphere, which isn't bad but she'll be in school for so many years, I don't want to start as an infant.

[curbsideprophet]

I will say, go with your gut. The first center we toured, I said to myself I don't want to leave my baby here. I could not really even say why I felt that way. Maybe I would have felt differently if it had not been the first option, but maybe not. We toured at least five options and did find one we preferred.