Is 4 months too young to send baby to daycare?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where is daycare 1500 dollars a month?

In-homes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I totally hear you on the career anxiety—it’s not just about the $40k; it’s about the 'on-ramp' back into a team she loves. But as a dad in D.C. with a newborn (born March 14!) and a toddler, I can tell you that the 'daycare vs. career' choice isn't the only move on the board.

If you’re worried about 4 months being too young for a center (which is a totally valid concern regarding ratios and germs), have you looked into the Au Pair route? It might be the perfect 'middle ground' for your specific situation.

Why it might solve your dilemma:

Career Security: Your wife can go back to work at 4 months as planned, keeping her job and seniority.

Developmental Peace of Mind: Instead of a 1:4 ratio at a daycare, your daughter gets 1-on-1 care in her own home. You avoid the 'constant daycare sickness' for at least the first year.

The 'Work-from-Home' Bonus: Since you have a high income, I’m guessing one or both of you might WFH occasionally. Having an au pair means you can 'pop in' for a snuggle at lunch, which you can't do with daycare.

The Math: I’m a bit of a data nerd, and in the D.C. area, Cultural Care has a $1,000 regional promo right now that actually stacks with a $250 referral credit ($1,250 total off). The all-in cost for an au pair is often comparable to D.C. daycare once you factor in the $1,500/mo tuition + the 'hidden' costs of taking off work when the baby gets sick.

The $1k D.C. promo ends April 30, so if you’re looking to lock in care for later this year, it’s a great window. If you want a referral link for that extra $250 credit, feel free to use ours: https://www.culturalcare.com/refer/?referralId=AD37D4FD

It might be the easiest way to support your wife’s career goals without feeling like you’re compromising on the 1-on-1 care you want for your daughter at such a young age.

Wow you really want that referral bonus, don’t you?

🤢
We tried cultural care au pairs and they were the WORST childcare option we ever had. These girls are lured into these au pair jobs with promises of fun and adventure. Look at their hiring ads, not just the ads they send out to families. The advertising is polar opposite. Families, they tell you you’re getting innocent young adults who will gladly nurture your children. Au pairs, they tell you you’re getting minimal hours and lots of time to party. The result is that these 19-21-yos arrive and want to party. They were all like having a foster teenager, and all caused one disaster after another. Lost the $$$$ cell phones we were expected to buy for them. Crashed our car. Left our toddler children unattended in malls. Refused to do even their own laundry. Total nightmare!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I totally hear you on the career anxiety—it’s not just about the $40k; it’s about the 'on-ramp' back into a team she loves. But as a dad in D.C. with a newborn (born March 14!) and a toddler, I can tell you that the 'daycare vs. career' choice isn't the only move on the board.

If you’re worried about 4 months being too young for a center (which is a totally valid concern regarding ratios and germs), have you looked into the Au Pair route? It might be the perfect 'middle ground' for your specific situation.

Why it might solve your dilemma:

Career Security: Your wife can go back to work at 4 months as planned, keeping her job and seniority.

Developmental Peace of Mind: Instead of a 1:4 ratio at a daycare, your daughter gets 1-on-1 care in her own home. You avoid the 'constant daycare sickness' for at least the first year.

The 'Work-from-Home' Bonus: Since you have a high income, I’m guessing one or both of you might WFH occasionally. Having an au pair means you can 'pop in' for a snuggle at lunch, which you can't do with daycare.

The Math: I’m a bit of a data nerd, and in the D.C. area, Cultural Care has a $1,000 regional promo right now that actually stacks with a $250 referral credit ($1,250 total off). The all-in cost for an au pair is often comparable to D.C. daycare once you factor in the $1,500/mo tuition + the 'hidden' costs of taking off work when the baby gets sick.

The $1k D.C. promo ends April 30, so if you’re looking to lock in care for later this year, it’s a great window. If you want a referral link for that extra $250 credit, feel free to use ours: https://www.culturalcare.com/refer/?referralId=AD37D4FD

It might be the easiest way to support your wife’s career goals without feeling like you’re compromising on the 1-on-1 care you want for your daughter at such a young age.

Wow you really want that referral bonus, don’t you?

🤢
We tried cultural care au pairs and they were the WORST childcare option we ever had. These girls are lured into these au pair jobs with promises of fun and adventure. Look at their hiring ads, not just the ads they send out to families. The advertising is polar opposite. Families, they tell you you’re getting innocent young adults who will gladly nurture your children. Au pairs, they tell you you’re getting minimal hours and lots of time to party. The result is that these 19-21-yos arrive and want to party. They were all like having a foster teenager, and all caused one disaster after another. Lost the $$$$ cell phones we were expected to buy for them. Crashed our car. Left our toddler children unattended in malls. Refused to do even their own laundry. Total nightmare!

I thought they were were older kids. It never would have occurred to me to leave a baby with a 19 year old

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My wife wants to send our child to daycare at 4 months so that she can go back to work. If she waits an entire year she’s worried they won’t hold the job for her and she’ll have to start over again, and she likes her team. She works in education administration earning around 40k/yr. I make 250k. So we don’t depend on her salary and most would be eaten up by daycare costs, which would be about $1500/month in our area for an in home daycare. I’m okay with daycare but worry that 4 months is too young for our daughter as I’ve seen most advice suggest starting at the 1 year mark.

Interested in hearing people’s thoughts on this.

Some babies are sent to daycare practically from birth.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know any educational administrator who only makes $40,000. Are you a troll?

[Anonymous]

Considering that even FMLA only gives new mothers about 3 months of leave…. Yeah, most daycares have tons of babies under age 4 months. Are you new to America?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know any educational administrator who only makes $40,000. Are you a troll?

Dp. That could be a real figure. Many educational admin do make 40k. The term describes a wide range of jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Considering that even FMLA only gives new parents about 3 months of leave…. Yeah, most daycares have tons of babies under age 4 months. Are you new to America?

FIFY

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My wife wants to send our child to daycare at 4 months so that she can go back to work. If she waits an entire year she’s worried they won’t hold the job for her and she’ll have to start over again, and she likes her team. She works in education administration earning around 40k/yr. I make 250k. So we don’t depend on her salary and most would be eaten up by daycare costs, which would be about $1500/month in our area for an in home daycare. I’m okay with daycare but worry that 4 months is too young for our daughter as I’ve seen most advice suggest starting at the 1 year mark.

Interested in hearing people’s thoughts on this.

Babies left in strange places with strange people feel abandoned. They simply can’t understand that it’s only for the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My wife wants to send our child to daycare at 4 months so that she can go back to work. If she waits an entire year she’s worried they won’t hold the job for her and she’ll have to start over again, and she likes her team. She works in education administration earning around 40k/yr. I make 250k. So we don’t depend on her salary and most would be eaten up by daycare costs, which would be about $1500/month in our area for an in home daycare. I’m okay with daycare but worry that 4 months is too young for our daughter as I’ve seen most advice suggest starting at the 1 year mark.

Interested in hearing people’s thoughts on this.

Babies left in strange places with strange people feel abandoned. They simply can’t understand that it’s only for the day.

Who taught you that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My wife wants to send our child to daycare at 4 months so that she can go back to work. If she waits an entire year she’s worried they won’t hold the job for her and she’ll have to start over again, and she likes her team. She works in education administration earning around 40k/yr. I make 250k. So we don’t depend on her salary and most would be eaten up by daycare costs, which would be about $1500/month in our area for an in home daycare. I’m okay with daycare but worry that 4 months is too young for our daughter as I’ve seen most advice suggest starting at the 1 year mark.

Interested in hearing people’s thoughts on this.

Babies left in strange places with strange people feel abandoned. They simply can’t understand that it’s only for the day.

Untrue.

[Anonymous]

Can you two afford an in-home Nanny instead?

It will be more $$, but will be worth every penny.
I personally think four mos. old is much too young for daycare.
Reason being is that babies that age demand a ton of personal ➕ direct care.
I.e., frequent feedings, diaper changes, etc.
Sometimes they cry even if they are fed & dry and they require someone to soothe + rock them too.
If they are in a daycare - they likely will have to wait to be fed, changed and even held.
Plus there are tons of germs in daycare and your baby is still young.

A Nanny can provide one-on-one care/attention to your baby so that their needs are automatically met.
The baby can remain in a familiar environment.
He can play w/his own toys and sleep in his own crib.

If hiring a Nanny would be too expensive >> perhaps participate in a Nannyshare??

Hope this helps - - Good luck! 👍🏽

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t send the baby at 4 months. If she must work, get a nanny. But she doesn’t have to work. The priority is all wrong here. Infants need a secure attachment with a constant warm caregiver. You can’t control the high staff turnover in daycare. Your baby will cry because that’s reality with 1 adult to several babies.

Look at the Quebec daycare study. Early start to care and long hours leads to behavioral and emotional issues.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t send the baby at 4 months. If she must work, get a nanny. But she doesn’t have to work. The priority is all wrong here. Infants need a secure attachment with a constant warm caregiver. You can’t control the high staff turnover in daycare. Your baby will cry because that’s reality with 1 adult to several babies.

Look at the Quebec daycare study. Early start to care and long hours leads to behavioral and emotional issues.

Thanks I’ll look into this study. Also, see my previous post about her only working part time. Maybe a nanny would be a better solution. It might only be 15-20 hrs a week. I think in the end it might cost the same but the baby being at home could be better

OP, I hope you chose the nanny route as it is the best available option at your baby’s tender age for childcare.
Daycare is usually reserved for the parents who do not have the funds to afford a nanny. Having a nanny is the most expensive childcare option because it is the BEST option period.

[Anonymous]

Some places will take them as young as 2 weeks. Ship ‘em