If your LO started day care as a toddler

[bananapancakes]

What was the transition like for you and your LO?

I remember cricketwife's experience and recently reading about celiacmom's little one and @forgrace too has got me freaked out.

L will likely be starting daycare part time in the fall. Likely 2-3 days a week at a centre. What should I expect? How hard will it be on both of us? Anything I can do now to make it easier?

Also, most infant rooms go up to 18 months around here. He will be starting at 16.5 months. That would be two transitions in less than 2 months. I'm hoping that he will be able to start in the toddler room. I'm definitely going to ask about it. Good idea? Bad idea?

[longtimenopost]

Following! DD is starting preschool in the fall at 2.5 after being home with DH or my mom her whole life. The most day care she's had is an hour at a time at the gym.

[kershnic]

Also following... my girls were in daycare for 3 months when they were younger, but they definitely don't remember it. They're starting again 4 days/week in September and I'm terrified.

[cricketwife]

I would ask about starting in the 18 mo room, but if they say no, I wouldn't worry too much about it.
The biggest regret I have is not spending more time in the classroom with him before he enrolled. I either went one day or two days for an hour. I think we should have gone every day (at least half days) for a week. My other advice is to expect it to be a hard transition on both of you, and know that it will get better. Then, if he adjusts no problem, bonus!  Good luck!  You will both be fine in the end!

eta: for others who read this, mine started at 7 mos, so not a toddler.

[drloretta]

DD started 2 mornings a week when she was 2.5. She waved goodbye and didn't even look back, lol. She picked up some clinginess over time, but was otherwise fine. She moved from 2s to 3s after 6 months and it didn't faze her

[bananapancakes]

How's he doing now, cricketwife? I was so sad for both of you when he was having a rough time a few months ago.

[bananapancakes]

Holy crap has it really been that long? It seems like it was just a couple of months ago, not almost a year!

[nessness]

There may be licensing rules that would prevent him from being in the 18-month room, but it can't hurt to ask!

[rugbywife]

following!

[cricketwife]

Jun 24, 2015 13:58:17 GMT -5 bananapancakes said:

How's he doing now, cricketwife? I was so sad for both of you when he was having a rough time a few months ago.

He is doing great!  And I just met another mom from there, by coincidence at Target yesterday, and she asked me, "Don't you just love it there?!"  She is at least the third parent from there that has asked me that.  It made me realize that People are really happy there. I think that some, not all, of my concerns/complaints probably come from spending so much time on here and having expectations of everything being "just so." DS never wants to leave with me when I come to pick him up at the end of the day.  And he is learning so much!  There are many times when he says/does something at home that I know I didn't teach him.  So we are happy now.  He transitions to the 18-24 mo room in just a few weeks and I,m just preparing myself for it to be a little hard because transitions always seem to be (for us, at least.)

[linz]

Mine are starting at an in home at 13 months this winter. I'm nervous

[cricketwife]

One other thing, and I know this isn't for everyone, I always tell him goodbye and let him see me leave. sometimes he cries hysterically, and it's really hard. For me, it is important to give him the same respect that I would give anybody else. And I don't want him just playing at home, or anywhere else, and worried that if he just turns around, I may not be there anymore. Just putting this out there because sometimes the DCP workers will sort of encourage parents to just leave when they aren't looking,

[longtimenopost]

Jun 24, 2015 13:58:03 GMT -5 drloretta said:

DD started 2 mornings a week when she was 2.5. She waved goodbye and didn't even look back, lol. She picked up some clinginess over time, but was otherwise fine. She moved from 2s to 3s after 6 months and it didn't faze her

I am sort of expecting this, like at first it will be new and exciting and then wait, I really don't get to play at Grandma's all day? 

[shelbyann]

DD started one month ago at 15 months. She goes 3 days a week.

It's been...tough. She has always been a pretty outgoing and very active kid so we thought she'd love "school" but drop offs are still pretty rough (meaning she starts crying as we approach her classroom and is sobbing by the time I leave). I sometimes stay and watch her thru the one way window and she usually stops full-on crying after a couple mins though.

Her teachers say that she is very slowly getting better. She is fine when they're immersed in an activity but has trouble with transitions...often goes to the door and cries.

On the bright side, she eats and naps relatively well there (which is a relief because those are usually challenges at home).

I'm thinking it will just take a while for her to get the hang of it, especially since she's part time.

[drloretta]

Jun 24, 2015 14:32:55 GMT -5 longtimenopost said:

Jun 24, 2015 13:58:03 GMT -5 drloretta said:

DD started 2 mornings a week when she was 2.5. She waved goodbye and didn't even look back, lol. She picked up some clinginess over time, but was otherwise fine. She moved from 2s to 3s after 6 months and it didn't faze her

I am sort of expecting this, like at first it will be new and exciting and then wait, I really don't get to play at Grandma's all day? 

IMO the clinginess was picked up from another kid who was anxious at drop off. She was fine for months, then it seems she witnessed it and figured she would try it out on Daddy in the mornings. She never did it the rare times I'd drop her off

[bananapancakes]

Jennyanydots, yes we go to the OEYC a couple times a week and have been since he was 4 months old. He's familiar with the environment but I'm always right there. Good idea about asking the workers there to help out.

[Saudade]

DS1 started at 18 months. It was a difficult transition for a couple weeks but then he thrived.

DS2 started on Monday (13.5 months). So far he has cried Tuesday and Wednesday at drop off. I expect this to continue. The teacher also said he had periods of being whiny during the day.

It's harder on them because they are more aware, have been used to a schedule and now the schedule changes, and it is a sensory overload.

But they adapt quickly and I suspect it's often harder on parents than on the kids.

[browneyedgirl9]

DS switched to a center based daycare at 16months (was previously in a home daycare). The transition was hard on him for the first few days, with crying at drop off. But he was fine throughout the day. And now he loves it. We started in a young toddler classroom, I would try and see if they will put him in the toddler room to avoid multiple transitions in the first months.

Good luck! Once he gets use to daycare, he will LOVE it!!

[hermione]

C started last week for 2 days a week. She is 2 years, 2 months old.

The first day was terrible. The second day was terrible. We spent all weekend talking about school, repeating the schedule, reading Llama Llama Misses Mama, watching the Daniel Tiger school episode. Like it's all we talked about. So now, if I say ok when we go to school you play, have lunch, nap, and then what happens? C responds, "Mommy Daddy Back!" Yesterday was her third day and she cried at drop off (much less) and the teachers said she settled in much faster, participated in art, enjoyed lunch time, and didn't fuss for nap time. I am hoping it continues to improve and the day comes when neither of us cry at drop off.

[carolinagirl831]

Dd started -3 data a week right at two. We visited it with her and stayed while they did a few activities 2 x the week before starting. The first week was rough. She screamed at drop off. She was sad after us leaving. It took her about a full month to get used to it and not cry at drop-off. She used to cry " no school" when she woke up. She was at that daycare for 3 months. We had planned to change daycare when her spot opened. It opened in June, and I was worried about her transition. She did great and now looks forward to school. It took awhile for her to understand, mommy and daddy go to work and Elle hoes to school, mommy and daddy always pick her up.
The getting sick is rough too. She had two stomachs virus and constant running nose and cough in the first month starting. Dh and i caught both stimaxhe viruses, so fun at 9 months pregnant!
Hang in there it can be tough, but daycare has been so great for her