What Should I Do About Child Care For My New Baby?

Newborn baby care during the first month involves nursing, soothing, sleeping, getting your partner involved, going out, and staying sane. With practice and time, you and your baby will find their groove. Learn about feeding, soothing, sleeping, lactation support, taking shifts, and more. Expect from your newborn in the first few days, from feeding and burping to pee and poop. Soothe your crying baby and get tips on sleep, bathing, and more.

Prepare for your newborn’s first pediatric visit and what to expect in the first week after birth. Learn how to keep your baby safe, fed, and healthy. Engage, communicate, and connect with your newborn through simple and fun activities. Learn about feeding, sleeping, diapering, tummy time, reading, singing, and more.

Care for your newborn baby’s sleep, feeding, skincare, and more from expert advice and parent tips. Learn about common newborn issues, such as jaundice, acid reflux, colic, and more. Make sure your baby can take a bottle and have a family member/friends watch your LO for a couple hours so they are used to being away.

When trying to decide between a nanny vs. a babysitter vs. daycare, use a transition week schedule to ease both of you into the experience. Don’t linger and know that baby’s sleep “schedule”, including nighttime.

When choosing a daycare center, take it as easy as possible for the first few weeks. Try to get to bed early, leave non-essential household jobs, don’t plan too much for weekends, and make time for yourself. Visit your new center with your child and familiarize them with the caregivers. When your child is settling in at child care, try to ease into the new routine.

To manage the competing demands of a newborn and a toddler, find a routine that works and split your time fairly.

How do I know if my baby is unhappy at daycare?

If your child consistently shows signs of distress, it may indicate discomfort or unhappiness at daycare. It’s crucial to communicate with the daycare staff about your child’s behavior, emotional state, and progress. Both you and the staff are partners in your child’s well-being and success. Foster open dialogue and express any concerns you might have. Trust your instincts as a parent and don’t hesitate to voice your feelings if something feels off or you believe your child might not be as happy as they could be. The right daycare center will always be open to feedback, offer reassurances, and take necessary steps to address any concerns.

How to cope with a baby starting daycare?

In the early weeks of child care, it’s advisable to take things slowly by starting with short days and gradually increasing the duration. Consult your child’s educator to find a suitable routine. When it’s time to say goodbye, give your child a few minutes’ warning and inform them of your return time and shared activities. This can be part of your goodbye routine, which might include a special book, cuddle, wave, or a lasting kiss. Other factors that affect children’s feelings about starting child care include their age, education level, and personal preferences.

What age is best for baby childcare?

The optimal age for initiating nursery education is not definitively established. However, it is imperative that parents select a nursery with a staff that is adequately trained and prepared to address the unique needs of their child, regardless of age.

What is the best age to put baby in daycare?

Research indicates that the optimal age for a child to start daycare is at least 12-months-old. However, starting daycare too early can lead to increased stress levels in infants. To ensure a balanced approach, consider the child’s natural stress level and the duration of their stay at daycare. Infants experience higher stress levels when left at daycare for a full day, so it is recommended to stick to half-days until they are at least three years old.

A child’s natural stress level is crucial, as every child is different. An easy-going and calm child will have easier time adjusting to childcare, while anxious children may experience more separation anxiety. To test the child’s response, try half-days a few days a week and gradually extend the time until they are acclimated. By understanding your child’s stress and demeanor, you can make an informed decision about when to start daycare.

Do babies do better in daycare?

A recent study by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development found that children thrive best in high-quality care with a low caregiver-to-child ratio. Center-based childcare consistently outperforms peers, and children attending daycare have better cognitive, language, behavior, and social skills. Early, consistent care leads to better developmental outcomes, with children who attend daycare regularly scoring higher on academic tests in grade school and more likely to attend and graduate from college.

Additionally, a high-quality daycare environment provides numerous benefits to an infant’s development, including exposure to social settings, better emotional regulation, and increased confidence in unfamiliar settings. Overall, children who receive early, consistent care are more likely to succeed in their academic and cognitive pursuits.

How to survive the first day of daycare?

Starting daycare is a significant transition for children, as it is their first time away from their parents and interacting with a large group of other children. To prepare them for the major changes ahead, it is essential to visit before the first day, discuss the new routine, make changes to their sleep schedule, practice independence, have a date night, get them excited, pack like a pro, and label everything. Experts like Katrina Macaset, Traci Sanders, and Arika Molitor offer their best tips for a great first day of daycare.

1. Visit before the first day to ensure your child already recognizes the space and their teachers. This will make the first drop-off smoother and ensure a smooth transition for your child.

2. Practice independence by practicing independence, having a date night, getting them excited, packing like a pro, and labeling everything.

What do newborns do at daycare?

Daycare provides a comprehensive, well-rounded experience for babies, encompassing reading, art, sign language, exploration of natural objects, outdoor discovery, and practice of skills for upcoming developmental milestones. Babies should have ample time to practice these skills. To compare daycares, visit local centers online or in person to observe the curriculum and activities in action, ask specific questions, and observe the activities in action.

Is 1 too early for daycare?

Starting daycare as early as 6 weeks old is recommended for children to develop in all domains, including social and emotional, cognitive, physical, motor, language, communication, and creativity. This helps them build school-readiness skills. However, there is no right or wrong age to start daycare, and it’s important to choose a time that works best for your family’s unique needs. Children who begin daycare later or don’t attend at all may struggle to adapt to classroom environments and miss out on the learning and development opportunities in infant, toddler, and preschool learning programs.

Is 12 hours too long for daycare?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that infants and toddlers up to 15 months spend two hours or less in day care, while toddlers from 16 to 24 months can spend up to four hours daily. Older children from 3 to 5 should spend four to five hours at a time. The maximum daily stay is typically 12 hours, but it’s best not to exceed 10 hours to ensure enough time at home with family. The number of hours a child spends at a day care facility can affect their behavior and development, so it’s crucial to consider their personality and behavior when choosing a day care provider.

At Crème de la Crème, day care facilities accommodate families with varied schedules, opening early to allow parents to drop off children and work safely, and closing late to allow parents and families time to pick up their children or run a quick grocery store trip.

Is daycare stressful for babies?

A recent study revealed that toddlers who spend more than eight hours in daycare exhibit elevated cortisol levels, despite the fact that daycare is typically not perceived as a stressful environment for this age group.