Question for those who drop off at a daycare facility......

I typically wake DD (5 months) up in the morning around 5:45AM to start the getting ready process. I fed her a bottle at home and then get her dressed, do her hair, etc. I always feel so incredibly rushed in the morning, no matter what time I wake up and despite all the prep work I do the night before. I was talking to my DD's lead classroom teacher who said that many parents who do an early drop off (6:30-7AMish) don't feed the baby at home, but drop the bottle off with the baby and has one of the teachers do the first feeding of the day. If this were the case, I could let DD sleep in a little later and the morning would be so much less hectic.

Anyone just wake up DD/DS, dress them, load them in the car and drive them straight to daycare?

Question for those who drop off at a daycare facility......

So we did the same as you when my DS was your DD's age. I always said to my husband we should feed him at daycare. My DS was used to getting fed right away too. It did get easier when he was closer to 10 months and could feed himself the bottle while we were in the kitchen. I would get yourself ready first and then DD. Does your DH help with the morning routine? That's what made it kinda sane for us. Now that my DS is older, 15 months, we just wake him up and bring him to daycare. He drinks his milk and eats breakfast there. Sometimes he drinks his milk at home if he wakes early.

Re: Question for those who drop off at a daycare facility......

My DD didn't start going until she was older, but yes, typically I wait for her to wake up (or wake her up if it's getting late), get her dressed, and we're out the door. She has breakfast at daycare. I figure I'm paying for it anyway, she should be taking advantage of it!

Question for those who drop off at a daycare facility......

I think that you should only feed her if she wakes, if she is asleep get ready and drop her at daycare w the bottle

Re: Question for those who drop off at a daycare facility......

Is she still eating at night? What's her disposition? And how long is the ride to day care?

DD is 4 months. She very, very rarely cries if she's hungry, so I know that she usually could make it to day care without getting upset (hungry) on the car ride there, which is about 15 mins. On the other hand, when DS was a baby, he never would've lasted. When he was hungry he wanted to eat NOW!

So, for DD, if she wakes to eat in the middle of the night, I usually then do not feed her before day care, but let them feed after she's dropped off. There are times I was trying to give her a bottle at 6am and she'd only take half, so I'd have to send the other half to day care anyway. I realized she'd be perfectly content to wait until she got there, so she could sleep later. Today, she didn't eat all night, and then woke at 5:10am on her own. In that case, I gave her a whole bottle before day care and they'll feed her at 9 again.

Not sure if that's helpful. My answer is basically...it depends. However, in a few months she may be able to hold the bottle herself and then you can give it to her while you're finishing getting ready in the morning, as an option.

Re: Question for those who drop off at a daycare facility......

at 5 months, yes i would have them feed her there.

My kids started daycare at 8 weeks, so in the beginning I would feed them before. Once they were about 3 months and sleeping better I stopped.

I would wake up get myself ready then wake them right before we left. Just change them and out the door. So much easier!

Question for those who drop off at a daycare facility......

I dont even dress her lol. I bring her to her sitter sleeping in her pjs. She has a much better day when I let her sleep in. DD is a night owl and will sleep till 930 -10 if I let her.

Re: Question for those who drop off at a daycare facility......

Last year when DS was that age, I would wake him at 6:20 and then nurse him. We would be out of the house by 6:54. He sometimes would take forever to nurse....

Now that he's older, I get him up at 6:30, nurse him, change him, get dressed, and get out the door.

I literally have everything packed up in the car before I wake him up so I only have to worry about him and we can get out the door as quickly as possible.

Re: Question for those who drop off at a daycare facility......

Re: Question for those who drop off at a daycare facility......

I used to try and feed DD right before I left but this got too crazy so now I usually let it be the last time she ate in the morning- usually around 6:30- 7:30. Sometimes she goes back to sleep after that feeding and then I get ready myself. I always feel rushed in the morning as well.

Question for those who drop off at a daycare facility......

I was still nursing at 5 months so I would get myself done then nurse him and change him then out the door. I just cut out the last of the nursing sessions at 10 months, no more nursing for us, and I drop him off and he eats breakfast there.

Re: Question for those who drop off at a daycare facility......

I am going back to work soon but will feed her in the morning if she's hungry and I have time if not I'll just let the daycare do it. Once she's eating food then the daycare will give her breakfast.

Re: Question for those who drop off at a daycare facility......

I think you should do what is best for you. I liked to give my DD a bottle before I left for work. My DH did the drop off. It was the most calm and relaxing part of my day and so I probably did it WAY long after I should have. Oh well! If it makes your morning more stressful - definitely let them do it and take that time in the morning to make things easier/better. I think the babies adapt and will get the milk they need. Now that my DD is older - she eats at school and has such a balanced diet! It makes my life so much easier not having to come up with different foods/balanced meals. As long as it's part of the routine - my DD is happy.

Message edited 10/1/2015 11:48:57 AM.