How young is too young?daycare?
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How young is too young?daycare?
| Tue, 12-02-2003 - 1:00am |
If you have a career and you had a baby what age would you think is apropriate to send your child to daycare/dayhome after they were born?
I have a friend that is a dayhome provider, she has 10mnth old twins and she was provinding care for a 2yr old. Mom of the 2yr old just had a baby and she was back to work when baby was 4days old, in my friends care. It is only half days now, but she is soon going to be full time, the baby is almost 5wks. Thoughts?

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Do children NEED or REQUIRE a multitude of substitute caregivers? Do they somehow benefit from receiving inconsistent substitute group care? What about all the parents who claim that their children's DC setting is a higher quality setting than they themselves can provide at home? What does this say about the home environments of these children? Do parents really expect someone else to provide sensitive care for their children, give them individualized one on one attention, and provide them with a high quality learning enviroment when they are UNWILLING to do it THEMSLEVES for their OWN CHILDREN in their OWN HOMES? What gives?
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Parents do provide just such high quality learning environments each and every day. and on top of that they provide love and support -- and all the other things that kids need. How incredibly STUPID to think that parents can't do all this in 128 HOURS per week -- OR that kids "NEED" and "REQUIRE" a sahp!
Most of us know much, much better.
eileen
Sure, humans are "social animals" however, they do not NEED extensive membership in a social group at the expense of the family unit. Being a member of a social group, should be balanced with being a member of a family unit, rather than skewed one way or the other.
Just for the record, I firmly believe that a child must be given ample time and opportunity to become an "individual" BEFORE he or she can become an effective participant in a "social group". Do you agree or disagree? How exactly can a child have "ample time and opportunity to become an individual" if the majority of his or her time is spent in group care?
Some reasons why children need substitute care:
1. single parent who needs her/his income to support the family
2. dual parents who need 2 incomes to support the family
3. parents who choose to WOH because it's best for the FAMILY
Few other thoughts:
1. What you said is incredibly insulting to child care providers. Many are incredibly loving and competent people who are a Godsend to WOH parents.
2. "Failed to plan?" Well, most of us who use child care planned for months and months to find the right DC situation for our children.
3. "Don't want to do it themselves?" doesn't apply.
4. My nanny is better at many things pertaining to caring for my dd than some of my relatives. And there are some relatives that I would NEVER leave alone with my dd.
Wow. What can I say? I generally give people the benefit of doubt.... until I see something that says, "there's no hope."
Edited to add: I'm assuming you have children (well at least one given your screen name). I feel sorry for them that you have such a limited view of "parenting."
Edited 12/11/2003 6:25:04 PM ET by iaudrey00
Really, please stop. It's just so sad to watch.
eileen
ASTOUNDINGLY STUPID THING TO SAY, BUT, SADLY, NOT SURPRISING.
eileen
Babies who nurse from the breast use their mouths differently in sucking than babies who are bottle-fed. Your breast nipple shapes itself to the baby's mouth as the baby nurses. A mother's nipple is soft and flexible. It moves back into the baby's mouth and up against the roof of the mouth. The baby's cheek muscles and jaws work for the breast milk. The formula flows much more easily from the bottle. Many doctors feel that breast feeding leads to good development of the baby's jaw and facial muscles. In addition, the extra exercise required by the lips and tongue may help your child to speak more clearly and at a younger age.
WRONG, as usual. But i'm sure you won't let that stop you.
I'll go with lauren's husband on this one. He sounds like a very, very smart man (and he's married to a very, very smart lady -- and BIL to the other very, very smart lady!).
eileen
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