If only one person can do the drop off/pick up and you have to work at LEAST an 8 hour day plus time to commute, your kid is going to be there at least 9-10 hours. That's just what happens sometimes. It's temporary (kindergarten will be here before you know it & you'll have the before/after issue to worry about it) but it's necessary.

It is what it is. You obviously work because you either need to or want to, and work often (especially around here) has a significant commute. I prefer to keep my little ones closer to home than the office, so for some families that means they drop off at 6:30 when the center opens and don't get back until 5 or later.

I don't know why your center would be trying to lay a guilt trip on you, that's not what you're paying them to do. Some centers are more "working parent friendly" than others - if this is not one of those, and the kids getting dropped off at 8:30 and picked up at 2 are there for socialization/education, you may want to find a center that understands you WORK and that may mean longer days as a result.

I think it's fine if you are picking up around 4 or so.

Ours opens at 6:30, I drop off at 7 or a little before. There are always at least 2 other kids there at that time. I pick up by 3:30

Anonymous wrote:We drop off at 8 and the place is packed. I'm told a lot of kids arrive at 6-6:30am in their PJs still mostly asleep. You do what works for you in your family.

My sister used to drop off my nephew at 6:30 in his pjs still sleepy so she could get to school. Then she went straight to one of her three jobs and got home around 9/9:30 PM. She typically had one day a week entirely off so she could spend it with my nephew but other than that, it was a mix of school and work on most days so her time with him was limited. It was really tough and she felt really bad about it. But after a few years, she had her degree and got a much better job that was a traditional 9-5. Now my nephew is a happy healthy adult who has a great relationship with his mother.

People make all sorts of sacrifices to make due in this world. We like to beat ourselves up over it but by and large, everyone is just trying their best with the limited options we have.

When it made sense for us (beating traffic, earlier pick up of course) we did 7am. It actually worked out perfectly, even though DD was the only one there on some days. She got a lot of one-on-one time with the early morning teacher, and they developed a really strong bond. We can't do 7am anymore because of other schedules, and I miss that serene environment.

one of us drops off between 8 and 8:30, other parent picks up between 4:30 and 5.

We drop off at 8 and the place is packed. I'm told a lot of kids arrive at 6-6:30am in their PJs still mostly asleep. You do what works for you in your family.

Our daycare is open 7am-6pm. I used to drop off right around 8 and then head to work (start time 8:45), but I just got a new job that starts at 8:15 and has a 40 minute commute, so I will be now be dropping off at 7 and then heading to work. Like PP, I appreciate that she'll get a bit more one-on-one time with her favorite person, but I also feel bad because it's a very long day for a little person and I'll miss her.

I think the total length of time matters more than how early, and also that she's getting enough sleep. If you have to wake her up too early to get there at 7, that's not good. If you have her in there from 7am-6pm that's not good either. But if she's there from 7-4, that's fine!

Anonymous wrote:May I ask normally what time you drop off your kid at daycare? My DD's new daycare opens at 7am, and I am thinking to drop her off at 7am. I am told that DD could be the only kid comes that early in her classroom, other kids normally come in around 8-8:30am. I feel a bit sad about it.

7 is early but if it's your only choice then it's your only choice and no need to worry about it.

We're 5 minutes away from daycare so a very quick trip and they also open at 7. Depending on the day, we sometimes get there as early as 7:05, sometimes as late as 7:30. This is somewhat selfish on my part, I could start work later and spend the morning with DD but I am NOT a morning person. So I start work earlier so I can get out of work earlier and spend the (more pleasant for me) afternoon hours with DD. I'd much rather have an extra hour with her in the afternoon/evening when we're both feeling happy and social than in the morning where I'm in full Oscar the Grouch mode. There are two other little girls (one a year older, one a year younger) that are consistently there that early and DD adores both of them. They have their little early morning crew and have a blast. When the other girls aren't there, DD gets extra love and attention from her favorite lady at daycare.

You do what you have to do! I assume you also pick her up earlier than most. Don't worry - and look at it this way -- she gets lots more attention for an hour and a half from the caregivers being the only one.

Anonymous wrote:May I ask normally what time you drop off your kid at daycare? My DD's new daycare opens at 7am, and I am thinking to drop her off at 7am. I am told that DD could be the only kid comes that early in her classroom, other kids normally come in around 8-8:30am. I feel a bit sad about it.

We drop off between 7 and 7:15. Daycare opens at 6:30. Sometimes dc is first . I appreciate the one on one time with the teacher

May I ask normally what time you drop off your kid at daycare? My DD's new daycare opens at 7am, and I am thinking to drop her off at 7am. I am told that DD could be the only kid comes that early in her classroom, other kids normally come in around 8-8:30am. I feel a bit sad about it.