How much time does your 2-3 year old spend at daycare?

[Anonymous]

Per day? I'm curious because when we move from nanny to daycare, she'll spend a little over 10 (a little before 7 to 5). Is that excessive?

[Anonymous]

Isn't the big issue the amount of time she'll be away from her family in care and won't it be the same with nanny or daycare? Mine spent between 9 and 11 hours depending on the day. But, the whole thing about daycare is that there is a curriculum and they were very busy, which they loved. When you have to work, you have to do whatever it takes to keep your family going, even if it's 10 hours of daycare a day.

[Anonymous]

Daycare owner here. While I certainly sympathize with juggling work hours and child care, to be honest, a 9 hour or more day at day care is tiring for a kid. We love our kids at day care and provide great care, but it is what it is -- but I still notice that little ones need to wind down at the end of the day. If there is any flexibility in your as schedule - if you and spouse can stagger days, for example - I would try to limit your child's hours out of the home to about 8-9 hours.

[Anonymous]

We do what above daycare owner suggested and stagger drop off/pick up... and it amounts to 830am-5pm- so about 8.5 hours. There's a 2 hour nap in there though.

[Anonymous]

it's different in day care because it makes for a long day away from home. (Not just "away from parents.") Yes, the day is very exciting in the beginning with lots of activities, but what I've found is after nap/snack around 4/4:30, my kid is ready to go.

Staff is usually tired by the end of the day too, so I've found that it's not a great time to be there. They just let the kids run around and not many activities are being done then.

Also want to consider dinner. DS eats dinner ideally around 5:30/6pm. So, if he's not picked up by then, that's a long time to "last" from snack to getting home for dinner.

[Anonymous]

8:15 to 5:15, so 9 hours.

[Anonymous]

My 2 year old is there from 7:30-4:30.

I find that if I pick her up a little later 5:00 - she is exahusted and will have a total melt down in the car on the way home.

If I pick her up at 4:00 (if I can sneak out early) - she's a complete angel.

At 4:30, it's hit or miss.

[Anonymous]

2.5 year old DS is there a long time - 8 till 5:10 or so. Mostly he is in a decent mood when we get him, although occasionally not. He wants to do nothing after daycare, though. No park, no going to the store, just right home to watch a Thomas or play toys.

[Anonymous]

Our just-turned 4yo is there from 9:00-6:15. But those were the same hours when she was 3 also.

[Anonymous]

Our is 8 - 8 1/2 hours. We went with a center close to our offices rather than one close to home because DH and I could not stagger hours and wanted the extra time with DCs (who seem to like the commute).

[Anonymous]

I care for children now, 5 and 7, who spent at least 10 hours a day in a daycare from 6 months until 5 years old. I can say with certainty that they were negatively effected by this. They have a very hard time listening, do not eat regular food, throw monumental tantrums, and their parents do not follow through. Yes, I am leaving very soon.

[Anonymous]

They have a very hard time listening, do not eat regular food, throw monumental tantrums, and their parents do not follow through.

If the parents do not follow through, why do you think it was the daycare that caused these problems?

[Anonymous]

My just-turned-2 is at daycare from 8:30 to 5:30. 2.5 of those hours are spent napping and 2-3 on the playground.

[Anonymous]

Not quite two yet, but about 9 hours. 7:30 to 4:30. Two hour nap.

[Anonymous]

My LO has been in daycare since 3 months and is almost 3 now. She is there 7:30-3:30/4ish. My hubby takes her to school and I pick her up and we stagger so that she isn't there longer.