This is a decision every parent must face, and it isn’t an easy one; Choosing the right age to send their child to the daycare centre is an important decision and all factors must be considered before making the appropriate choice. While there may not be a definitive answer as to the ‘right age to start a child on daycare’ there are multiple pros and cons of starting daycare at any age. If there is an opinion that’s popular, it is that – Daycare is crucial for the overall development of the child and only aids his/her overall growth.

A number of decisive factors, factor in, when determining whether your child is ready for daycare or not, and they are not limited to him or her. Factors such as your financial situation, work commitments/ projects will also weigh in when it comes to making the final decision. What will also contribute to this situation is the overall health your child is in, the support network he/she has.

Finally, every family needs a custom-made solution, what may work for one family may not work for another. Cause ultimately the same conditions do not prevail in every household, they all have their unique needs and situation. Since the decision to enter your child into a daycare program is exponentially dependant on other factors, it is imperative that parents take the time to assess their situation and not rush into it. Listed below are some tips that may help with the decision:

Between 0 – 18 Months

The question is, how old does a child have to be before it starts daycare programs. The answer isn’t really tailor-made; sometimes the parents wish to return to work as soon as possible, however it isn’t advisable to start baby in daycare at such an early age, as most babies will form a bond with their primary caregiver in this initial stage, and hence it is imperative to be a part of this developmental stage in their growth. That said, it is still possible to find daycare for this age group.

Childcare for a baby calls for smaller group sizes, which creates a family-like dynamic, which would allow for interaction and attention to be provided on a more personal level, on a one-on-one basis. The disadvantage of a daycare centre at this age is that most daycare centres will have larger size ratios, and hence will fail to provide the special care and attention needed for a baby. Here are some additional advantages and disadvantages of infant daycare.

Between 18 months – 3 years

These are the ages where the child is at his/her curious best, they have a ton of energy and ask a ton of questions about their environment and its workings. Toddlers during this stage of development are growing, interacting and exploring their environment, and intensive care and special attention are needed in a daycare setting.

The advantage of enrolling a child at a daycare centre is that they are able to interact with kids their age and develop active bonds and exercise creativity to participate in various group activities.

The disadvantage of enrolling your child in a childcare program at this age is, that the caregiver will need to provide a safe, encouraging space and program for the kids to reach their ultimate potential, which means play-time is vital, which would mean additional supervision. This might rule out smaller facilities and at-home facilities and daycare centres. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of starting daycare for toddlers.

Between 3 Years – 5 Years

At this age, the kids are closer to the age at which they enrol in pre-school, hence the role of daycare changes at this stage. The requirements at this age are different and require special care and skills from the care-taker. At this age, they adopt general life skills, gain experience and develop greater autonomy. That said, they still need guidance and need to respond to instructions and behave in a proper manner.

In this case, the good overpowers the bad when it comes to starting daycare. Daycare in most instances prove as a starting step in prepping the child for formal schooling, and it can be immensely beneficial. There is a ton that a child can benefit from interacting and playing with others at daycare.

This can prove to be the stepping stone in your child’s overall development.

So, the conclusion, what is the optimal age to start daycare?

It is evident that there is no clear deciding factor which tells you whether your child is ready for daycare or not. In most instances, the necessity to get back to work may overpower other factors and may need daycare as an imperative, rather than an option.

A popular practice is to wait until your child turns 1 to enrol them in a daycare facility. Majority of parents look at daycare facilities between the ages of one and two. But what may work for most of them, may not work for you. When to start daycare will depend on the individual factors in your household.

Weigh in all the factors, such as financial situation, the urgency to get back to work, the health of your child’s overall development and attitude, then take the call. There is no right or wrong here.

Once your decision is made, there are certain steps that would need to be taken before you start your child in daycare. This can be a crucial step both for the parent and the child. Separation anxiety can affect both parties alike. Should one consider a family member over a formal setting, should you soothe or let the child self-soothe are some of the questions that plague the parents, irrespective of the age they start daycare for their child. This article by Today’s Parent looks at some of the measures you can take to prepare your child for daycare.