Is Sending Your Baby To Daycare At 3 Months The Right Choice? – 8 Important Reasons to Feel Confident”

Congratulations on the arrival of your little one! As a new mother, the journey of motherhood has just begun, and there are many important decisions to make, including is sending your baby to daycare at 3 months the right choice.

It’s natural to have concerns about safety, socialization, and the impact on your baby’s development. Before making any decision, it’s important to educate yourself on the possibilities, benefits, and drawbacks of sending your baby to daycare at such a young age.

By reading on, you’ll gain insight into the factors to consider when making this decision and what you need to know to make the best choice for your child and family.

Is Sending Your Baby To Daycare At 3 Months The Right Choice?

Sending your baby to daycare at three months old is a tough one. Having one parent work outside the home is the only viable alternative for many families.

If you’re considering sending your baby to daycare at three months, discuss these questions with your partner before making the final decision.

• Is there someone else in your family who can watch her while you’re at work?

• Are there people you trust who might want to babysit on occasion?

• Do you know any other parents whose babies attend the daycare center?

• If your child needs special attention, can a daycare handle his special needs?

Once you answer these questions if you still feel it’s the best choice for your family, great!

There isn’t a magic way to raise and care for your child. It would be best to decide what’s right in your circumstance.

What To Look For In Infant Daycare?

When looking for infant daycare, there are several criteria to note, including:

• The daycare center license requirements

• The caregivers’ qualifications

• The child population of the daycare

• The child-to-staff ratio (preferably 4:1)

• The caregivers break during their shifts.

• The daycares’ cleanliness and sanitation of the facility’s equipment and supplies—for instance, regular cleaning and sanitizing of the bottles, beds, pacifiers, etc

• Provision of age-appropriate activities for each developmental stage

• The type of food served at the daycare (organic, vegetarian)

• The total cost per month (between $489-$1,811).

Babies can thrive in group settings as long as they receive plenty of love and attention from a caregiver.

Top-notch caregivers can be hard to find but worth the search because they will provide a safe environment for your little one.

You may rest easy knowing that your child is receiving excellent care and will live a long and healthy life.

Types of Infant Daycare to Consider?

There are several types to consider when choosing the kind of daycare you want for your baby at three months. However, let’s focus on the top three:

1. Childcare Centers:

A child care center is typically an institution that houses children and infants needing temporary or long-term care. They offer multiple childcare services, including preschools and nurseries.

These centers often have a variety of professionals working together with one another to provide education as well as socializing opportunities for the children.

However, centers are more expensive than other options. Most parents find it worth the bill because qualified experts care for children and do a better job than the parents’ home alone.

2. Family Child-Care Homes

Another option would be to use family childcare homes. It may be difficult to find these providers, but they’re cheaper than centers,

In addition, family childcare homes are open like most centers can be. In these cases, the caregiver lives in their own house with a few other kids.

Parents feel comfortable leaving their children there because they know what’s going on in the home of the caregiver.

3. Nanny/AU Pair

The third type of daycare is called nanny/au pair programs. With this option, families hire live-in nannies to help them with child care. These people also do things such as cooking and cleaning for the family.

Families pay nannies a salary plus room and board. Usually, AU pairs work only part-time, so their pay will vary based on how many hours they work. Nannies must go through rigorous training programs before taking any jobs.

Families might ask au pairs to take care of older and younger children during the day while both parents work full-time outside the home.

What Happens In The First Week Of Daycare?

The first week at daycare is a little scary for parents and children alike. Here are some experiences:

• Crying, screaming, and protesting when dropped off.

• They refuse to take their bottle from the caregiver. – Getting into a fuss every time they want their diaper changed or clothes put on.

• Shying away from any new food offered in front of them by the caregivers.

The week is tough on both parent and child, but that’s not to say it won’t get better.

What I found most helpful was getting feedback from my son’s caregiver about his daily activities. It helped me understand what routine needs changing in my parental responsibilities.

For instance, I frequently change my son’s diaper because he keeps attempting to take them off himself. Also, my baby dislikes drinking too much milk with lunch.

The Benefits Of Sending Your Baby To Daycare At 3 Months Old

Many parents think that sending their baby to daycare at three months old is too soon, but there are various benefits. The benefits include the following:

1. Your baby will develop social skills by being around other babies and adults.

2. You will not be anxious about returning to work or school after leaving your child in a caregiver’s care.

3. Babies will learn a language faster than if they stay with a parent all day.

4. Plus, studies show that children exposed to new situations early on have higher IQs.

5. You don’t need to hire an expensive nanny for one or two hours daily.

6. It gives your kid independence from you and allows them to grow into more independent people when they’re older.

7. Parents who need to be more knowledgeable about infant care can learn from professionals how best to groom their babies.

8. Also, since many families are struggling financially, it’s important to note that most centers offer discounts based on income.

There are numerous key benefits, but only some think it’s proper to enroll a kid in daycare at three months old.

Some contend sending your child to daycare once they are closer to six months or perhaps 12 months old. What are the disadvantages, then? Find out by reading on!

What Are The Disadvantages Of Sending A Baby To Daycare At 3 Months Old?

Many believe babies should be kept with their mothers for the first few months to ensure adequate care. In the United States, it is not uncommon for children to start daycare at 6 months old. 

It made parents question whether sending their baby to daycare at three months old is a good idea.

1. Your child might get sick from someone else’s germs.

2. You may have trouble breastfeeding later if your baby gets used to formula or breast milk from a bottle while away from home.

3. You won’t get to teach morals to your kid. Mothers are in charge of teaching morals and values to their kids because they’re around them all day long. Also, mothers can easily respond when the values are diminishing. 

4. Some caregivers have questionable behavior, which can harm your child. A caregiver who smokes could expose your baby to secondhand smoke, which studies prove to cause asthma, respiratory problems, ear infections, decreased lung function, and more.

5. You will miss out on the important milestones during these early months.

6. Babies might develop separation anxiety sooner than normal. Separation anxiety consists of excessive crying, crankiness, and clinginess. 

The list goes on, but these are just some disadvantages of sending your infant to daycare at three months old.

6 Tips For A Smooth Transition To Daycare For Your Baby

Leaving your baby in the hands of strangers can be incredibly difficult, especially if this is their first time in daycare.

However, if you prepare yourself and your baby well beforehand, you’ll find that the transition goes much more smoothly than anticipated. 

To help make this process as easy as possible, keep these six tips in mind on your baby’s first day at daycare.

1. Choose The Right Facility

Finding a daycare facility that is right for you and your baby can be daunting. The best way to narrow down your choices is by asking yourself these questions:

• What does my budget look like?

• What size facility do I need?

• Is the facility near where I live?

• Does the place have any policies or procedures that are important to me, such as whether they serve homemade meals or require parents to pick them up at a certain time?

• Is there a good balance between children of different ages so my child won’t feel too young or too old? 

• How safe does this daycare seem from an outsider’s point of view?

2. Get To Know The Staff

Now that you know what kind of facility you’re looking for, you can take a closer look at the staff members who will care for your child. What qualifications should they have?

You can visit the daycare a few times beforehand and get to know the staff. Allow them to introduce your infant to the other kids and give you a tour of where they will spend their days.

The more comfortable your little one is with their surroundings, the better off they will be on their first day.

3. Pack The Necessities

Here are several things to pack for your baby’s first day at daycare: 

1. Diapers, wipes, and hand sanitizer are a must.

2. Dress your baby in clothes one can easily take off and put on (clothes with zippers work best).

3. Bring along a favorite blanket or toy. Let the teachers know what type of pacifier or bottle your baby prefers.

4. Pack a change of clothing in case they have an accident during the day.

5. Remember to call the teacher before you drop them off to let them know you’re on your way!

4. Make Pick-Up Easy

Pick-up time is frequently stressful for families. Parents often worry about how their child will react to the change in environment and vice versa.

Make sure you have a plan, preferably with a schedule for when the daycare provider will pick up your child.

It becomes easier for both of you because you know when they are picking up your child and can prepare them accordingly.

Another way to make pick-up time easier is to have a goodbye routine before you leave your house. For example, if your children know they get one more hug before leaving, it can help them feel more relaxed about transitioning from home to daycare provider’s care.

5. Check-In Throughout The Day

When you arrive at the daycare, introduce yourself to the teachers and tell them that you will check in throughout the day.

Check-in periodically with your baby during the day so they can see your face and hear your voice.

Be sure to talk about what they’re doing (e.g., I see you’re playing with blocks!). Additionally, since children are most eager to see their parents during pick-up time, visiting them is a smart option.

6. Be Open To Feedback

It can take a few days before your little one settles into their new routine. But don’t give up! Listen to the staff and try out some of their suggestions.

The director will also be able to tell you about any specific quirks or behaviors expected from your child’s age group and type of program.

Will My Baby Cry All Day At Daycare?

It is common for babies to cry when they first start attending daycare. This crying may be due to the child struggling to adjust to the new environment or missing their parents.

In most cases, babies will stop crying within a few days as they begin to adjust to their new surroundings. However, some babies may take longer to stop crying.

If your baby cries for longer than 10 minutes each time they are at daycare, it may be worth considering switching to a different daycare provider as this could indicate that your child is not feeling secure or comfortable in their current environment.

If switching providers is not an option, it is important to remain patient and help your child become familiar with their surroundings. This can help them adjust to the new routine and feel more comfortable in daycare.

How Long Does It Take A 3 Month Old To Adjust To Daycare?

Babies frequently cry and fuss when being dropped off at daycare. The period of adjustment may be a few days or a few weeks.

While some kids will fit straight in without any issues, others might require time to adjust to their new surroundings before making friends.

Parents should not feel anxious about their child’s first day at daycare or let it deter them from sending their child because of separation anxiety.

To Conclude

Now that you have gained insights into the process of sending a baby to daycare at three months, it’s time to start looking for suitable daycare centers in your area. We hope that the information shared has helped guide you toward making an informed decision and finding the best possible daycare center for your child. Good luck with your search!