If you have a baby who is beginning to reach infant milestones quicker than you imagined, the question, “when to start daycare?” can also come to you earlier than you expected. If you’re wondering when to put your baby in daycare, you’ve come to the right place. In today’s blog, trusted Ohio daycare, Brightside Academy, takes a look at the best time to start daycare and early childhood education to make sure that your baby gets the most out of it.
First Things First: What is Early Childhood Education and When Should It Begin?
In general, early childhood education refers to the learning period that occurs from birth to 8 years of age. That said, children start learning as soon as they enter the world outside their mummy’s tummy! This is why every waking moment of your baby presents a learning opportunity. As such, it is important that they grow up in an environment conducive to proper, healthy, and age-appropriate development. It is also crucial that your child will be left in the care of someone who can support and help hone their development when you go out to work.
When to Start Daycare: It Depends on a Number of Factors
As mentioned above, early childhood education starts from birth. However, it’s understandable that you might feel quite apprehensive about enrolling your young child in daycare–how young is too young, you might think. To help you decide, you must consider certain factors first:
- The duration of your parental leave
- Your spouse or partner’s ability to take a leave
- Your financial situation
- Your other childcare options
Some child care centers accept babies as young as 6 weeks of age. Meanwhile, most accept babies 6 months old and up. So, depending on the daycare of your choice, you can have your baby start daycare as early as 6 weeks or 6 months. However, the best age to start daycare is when you and your baby are ready. Experts say that while this is a personal decision, it is recommended that you wait as long as you can as this will allow for the complete healing of the umbilical cord and for you and your child to have enough time to secure your bond.
Now, once the time comes that you need to leave your baby in the care of someone else, it may be better to choose daycare over a babysitter. Why? As discussed earlier, every moment is a learning and development opportunity for babies. Teachers at daycare can provide sufficient guidance and education for your baby.
When You’re Ready for Daycare, Brightside Academy Ohio is Here
Enrolling your child in daycare offers many benefits. Here at Brightside Academy Ohio, we offer an infant child care program that is carefully and specifically designed to fully support your baby’s development. If you want to learn more about our programs, don’t hesitate to contact us!
