Long term effects of early, extensive childcare

[mikidora]

ifstudies.org/blog/measuring-the-long-term-effects-of-early-extensive-day-care

Canadian study - Quebec offered free full-working-day child care for ALL under 5s back in 1997 - 2 decades on the results are quite clear - those children that were put into long-hours care from their early months for most of the week “revealed significant increases in anxiety, hyperactivity and aggression” compared to those that weren’t. Crucially - this long term study shows that these adverse effects persist into adolescence and beyond.

Basically - IF, as a parent(s)/prospective parent(s) you have a choice - cut down work- do a day each separately at home, get relatives in to help if you can and minimise the time your 0-3 yr old spends in ALL DAY 9-5+ childcare.

I know there will be a flurry of “my child is fine...” responses but the point of this study is that they have a large sample size. Much more objective than one parent’s view. This is an overall trend when looking at thousands of children over many years.

I understand many truly don’t have a choice (single parents might well often fall into this category) and must use this kind of extensive child care but if you do have a choice - this makes for sobering reading.

From reading various Mn threads there seems to be many couples who haven’t discussed finances before starting a family or childcare plans.

On Mn it also seems to be that in the majority of families that it is the mother who takes on most of the childcare and either gives up work or goes part time and then subsequently struggles to regain her career. This is different from what I see with friends and family.

Yy, @MindyStClaire. @Parker231, I don't see it either in my circles. Having children has made those of my female friends who've had them more ambitious and productive, if anything, and the only two longterm SAHPs I know are both male, though both have now returned to work now their children are older.

I don't understand why you find that so hard to believe!

My DH and I are able to compress our hours to do 4.5 days in 4 which works well for us and means 3 days in nursery.

Well, you yourself haven't even done it, so that demonstrates why I don't believe most people would choose to put their infant (from < one year) in full-time, long-term nursery - over other options.

And I stand by it.

Of course some people will (say they) chose to. But most people - given a real choice, wouldn't.

We looked at many nurseries when it came to the end of my maternity leave, and there wasn't one that I felt comfortable leaving DC with on a full time basis. The nurseries themselves were all ostensibly good, the people seemed lovely.

But it was the concept of full time care, in with many other children, for a 1YO, that didn't sit right. We even looked at a few child-minders, but that didn't feel right either. So we re-jigged things and went with in-home, and then by the time they were about 3 1/2, they were going to Kindy a couple of days a week, and at an age and stage to get their socialisation.

Well I chose to work full time rather than part time (I don’t really have the choice to give up work completely to be fair) because I don’t see why I should do all the work for half the money. A man wouldn’t do that.

I chose to go part-time after having DS. My DH earns significantly more than me and had better long term career prospects. He also didn't have the same overwhelming urge I had to want to be with my child at least half the week and didn't want him in FT childcare. . It really was an overwhelming feeling for me. Not everyone's the same though so just do what works for you and to hell with what others think.

I chose to work full time too (luckily, from home), that's not what I'm talking about.

But you’re saying you don’t believe people chose to put their under 1 in full time long term childcare aren’t you? I’m saying I did

Of course I believe they do it. Clearly they do!

I'm saying most people wouldn't choose to put a child from babybood into full-time, long-term nursery childcare.

If people had options - that wouldn't be many people's number one choice.

I was in a position where I had to stay home as we'd carefully budgeted for 2 dc but second pg was twins. I did minimal freelance to keep my hand in. With hindsight I'm so glad I was there for my dc's early 0-3yrs stage. I genuinely think it matters. Dh and I are now both full time but can flex hours so we share pick ups and dc only go to a cm 2 nights a week. I still want to do some school runs and be part of that for my dc. To me, I saw real benefits but I'm loving being back at work. I think the bond between parents and their little dc is really important so full time childcare is going to have a long term impact. If dc are in childcare all day then how much actual awake time do you get? A couple of hours a day is not enough imo.

Oh ok so that’s just your guess then?

I made a choice that I would stay at home with our DS until he started school, my DH supported that choice. Personally I would not have chosen to have a child unless I could do that.
We planned for it and saved to ensure that financially we were secure, as a couple and individually, to a standard we were both happy with.

We can more than comfortably afford childcare as can most the SAHP I know, we choose not to as we believe our child is better with us, most of the working mums wish they didn't have to and some bloody love their jobs and don't want to give it up. There will always be some abysmal SAHP, the same as there will be some working mums who are abysmal.

These threads always end up with women attacking other for their choices, it's pretty sad really, just accept others choices and be happy you are living the life you want.

There will always be some abysmal SAHP, the same as there will be some working mums who are abysmal.

And the working fathers?

And the working fathers
Sorry you are absolutely right, they can be abysmal or great also.

And yet they're never described as "working fathers", they just get to be "fathers". No man is ever asked if they're staying in work or going part time when the baby comes. That's why these threads judging "parents" for decisions about work or childcare are really just judging the women for taking decisions men are free to take without guilt or judgement.

I really doubt that would be a valid causal link. Similar to breastfeeding studies the results will be skewed by class in a way that would be very difficult to adjust for (given the very difficult to define nature or class and the incomplete knowledge of the effect of class on development and then the links with other factors). Similar to breastfeeding I would take any findings with a fuck ton of salt (I say this as someone who did extended breastfeeding and kept my children at home until 3 and only went full time when they went to school).

Does anyone have a ‘proper’ report on the so called damage of using full time childcare from a young age. My DT’s are now 20 - would be good to know what I should be looking out for!

I'd like proper research too because I want to make an informed decision about when would it would be of benefit to do some sessions in childcare.

You can find research that supports both sides of the argument. For me, I knew little about any studies (either side) and went with my gut instinct on the matter.

It's difficult to get anything conclusive because all children and families are different. It's difficult to pin point one particular factor that impacts on attachment/mental health...etc.
You need to do what works for you and your family.

I didn't go to any childcare until pre school the year before I started primary school and I remember the day so vividly as I was absolutely terrified. I've suffered anxiety all throughout my life and found it really difficult starting new schools/jobs just generally integrating into different social groups.

I chose to go back to work full time so I could support my baby in going to nursery full time when he's 1 (with a gradual introduction from 9 months to try and avoid separation anxiety building up his hours) as I really didn't want him to have the same anxiety issues I did.

It may be the opposite end of one extreme and all I can do is hope I've made the right choice for him but I think a lot of this really depends on the child and what they've got going on at home anyway outside of education and childcare.

@SisterA that worries me too, I wouldn't want to disadvantage DD either way. At the moment we're still happy with stay and plays and toddler activities but I wouldn't want her starting school as the only one who hasn't been in childcare either.