Comments on: Why I Don’t Use Daycare

By: Jaimi Erickson

Jaimi Erickson — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 21:18:12 +0000

I wholeheartedly agree with you. My daycare experiences as a caregiver showed me similar situations. We need to take motherhood more seriously. The role of a parent at home with a child is vital during the early years. Thank you for so candidly sharing your experiences and thoughts. It will help others!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 20:53:13 +0000

I applaud every mother that decides not to put their child in daycare despite the financial hardship we are facing in life. I am a former day care assistant and I am traumatized by the experience I had working at a daycare in California. I witnessed physical and mental abuse to poor innocent babies ages 1- 3, at age 3 a toddler can begin to say things but I promise you he cannot express completely what is happening every day in these day cares, I used to hope that one day one of these babies will go home and tell their parents about how they got the scratch on their neck or the bruise on their back and it never happened. Some moms were stay at home moms and still decided to dump their kids at this daycare, it was beyond me! Adults can be such horrible bullies and especially when they have been working with kids for a long time, their patience gets worn out. Every day I tried my best to give these babies love, kindness, kisses, and hugs I felt that god put me there for the short amount of time to give these babies love and make them feel a little more safe! I couldn’t report the daycare because I needed the money and when I left I really thought about reporting them but I thought you myself, these parents should know better! If you are going to put your child in a daycare make sure they have live camera access for you so you can make sure your baby is safe!

By: Jaimi Erickson

Jaimi Erickson — Thu, 19 Jan 2023 19:44:31 +0000

In reply to Joyce.

I completely agree! You are strong to stick to your instincts and values. People will always have opinions to the contrary. I just nod and smile. 😉

By: Joyce

Joyce — Thu, 19 Jan 2023 00:11:05 +0000

This was wonderfully said. I always felt strongly that I did not want to put my baby in daycare. Little Nolan is now 10 months old. Since he was at least 3 months old, I’ve been feeling pressure to place him in daycare, from family members, teachers, strangers, just from society. I’ve never wanted to, and expressed my hesitation to giving him away, and I’ve always gotten strange looks thrown my way, as if I’m going to be handicapping my baby. Basically a silent or not so silent form of mom shaming. I got it so often that it made me seriously second guess myself… Am I the problem? Is my attachment to my baby too strong that I’m keeping him from experiencing “great socializing experiences”? Am I being selfish and not thinking about him? Are the hormones getting the better of me?

Reading your article has reaffirmed my decision to not put him in day care. Fortunately, we are able to live well enough off of one income. So for me, it makes no sense to put him in day care just for someone/team of strsngers to take care of him, when I am capable of doing it myself.

I don’t want my baby to be without me. He needs his mama. I don’t want him crying in distress because I’m not there for him. I don’t want him getting hurt, especially by other children or adults. He needs to be comfortable and ready to “socialize” on his own time, or with me right there next to him guiding and helping him navigate. That’s what I see everytime he encounters something new, he looks to me for my reaction/guidance/approval. I don’t want a stranger to do that.

I’m confident that I can do enough with him, especially little excursions, so that he sees the world. We can go to children’s play corners, little libraries, baby pools etc where he may interact with others or simply look along. He will play with his older siblings (my bonus kiddos), visit grandma, aunties, cousins, uncles etc.

We won’t be rushed because society pressures us to part ways early. He will have to deal with society later. Let’s let our childhood be in peace. Thanks for helping me realize this and to trust my first instincts.

By: I Do Not Give Potty Training Advice » The Stay-at-Home-Mom Survival Guide

I Do Not Give Potty Training Advice » The Stay-at-Home-Mom Survival Guide — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 19:52:38 +0000

[…] going to be my parenting Achilles heel when I spent some time working in a two year old room at a daycare center before I was a mom. We have tried everything. I assumed, when I began my parenting journey, […]

By: Jaimi Erickson

Jaimi Erickson — Tue, 04 May 2021 19:10:59 +0000

In reply to Amy.

You are inspiring! Thank you for sharing your thoughts here and for all you do for your family.

By: Nadi

Nadi — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 12:11:01 +0000

In reply to Jaimi.

Can I get this template please! thank you 🙂

By: Amy

Amy — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 12:09:18 +0000

In reply to Jaimi.

I wish there were more people like you in this world. We live in an economy, not a community sadly. The hold of money on us in this world is way too strong. People live and act from a fear that they are missing out. I am a single mother who could crtainly argue “i cant afford to stay at home” but i choose to make that financial/professional sacrifice knowing that these precious years of my toddlers rearing cannot be bought back. I have a long life ahead of me God willing, 1 or. 2 more years wont kill my career…

By: Sarah Gibbson

Sarah Gibbson — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 12:05:50 +0000

I think she has listed very valid points. Perhaps examine your resistance to them for a more balanced examination.

By: Val

Val — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 06:25:03 +0000

I have three children and I have never placed any of them in a daycare. I once did a report in a writing class about the dangers of daycares. But let’s be honest, leaving children with “trusted family members” can be just as dangerous. I couldn’t afford to quit my job, so my husband and I work opposite shifts so one of us can be with them.