   
 |
|
 Ask Dr. Jana
Worried about Transition to Daycare | | | QUESTION | | | dear dr. jana,
i am from madras, india, and my son, rohit, is just 16 months old. he is very active and can walk fast, at times falling. he has few words and sweet nothings. my wife and I soon will have to leave him at a baby-care centre since we both work. it is a very good centre, very neat and clean, with lots of toys and a compound to play in. there is the owner, four gals to help her, and a child psychologist. we have been taking him there an hour a day, but soon we will have to leave him from 9 am to 6 pm. is such a sudden change fair to him? also, he is still having breast milk at night. is that a problem?— Salil in Madras, India | | | ANSWER |
November 2, 2000 | | | Dear Salil,
Regardless of your circumstances or what country you live in, the most important thing for your son is that he is in a warm, loving environment. You sound as if you've put a lot of time into choosing a center that is run by people who care about children and provide a clean, safe, stimulating place in which to play and explore. As with any new experience, he may take a while to adjust completely, but you've certainly helped ease the transition by taking him there an hour a day, making it less of a "sudden change." I also think that your son will gain a lot from spending time interacting with other children his own age.
You asked if your wife's continuing to breastfeed is a problem. I assume that you're worried that maintaining this close bond between mother and child might make it harder for him to separate from her and adjust to daycare. Actually, as long as your wife and son enjoy this special time together, it can only do your child good--the closeness that comes from breastfeeding and other affectionate moments helps foster a feeling of security that will make him more confident about going out into the world.
— by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
|
| | 
|