is it good to send the kid to cc before he can speak?

[nedved]

Hi all,


My daughter turns 11 months now. Appreciate ur input on whether it is good to send her to CC ard 18 months? I was thinking sending too early, especially before she can speak, might not be good?

thanks
nedved

[Imami]

My child was sent to the infant care at 2.5 months old. Definitely cant speak yet at 2.5 months old


Seriously, what is your concern about sending her to cc when she is not being able to speak yet?

If it is about safety/against abuse etc, going to a bigger centre should reduce the chances to the minimum. In my opinion, having more caregivers at the same centre provides a check on each other. Cannot be all turn blind eyes to illtreatment/poor service level right?

[nedved]

Yes, some concerns are,


1) abuse
2) not enough care from the teacher who might hv many kids to look after? plus the kid cannot speak, will the teacher check wet diaper promptly like what we do at home?

Would it be better to send her to cc around 2 years old?

[Imami]

A reasonably reputable cc should be ok, wrt abuse. Reputable cc should have some framework to adhere to wrt to recruitment, training and SOPs. There may also be CCTV etc.


There is a stipulated T:kid ratio. Infants is 1T:5infants, that’s the guideline set by MCYS. Some ifc have lower ratio. The one my child went to was maintained at 1:3.

With regards to changing diaper – my take is there is little concern. If the diapers are not changed prompt enough, there would be leakage/diaper rash. If leakage, you would be bringing home soiled pants/rompers more than necessary. That is a tell-tale sign. Parents are required to supply diapers. On average, each day would need around 4-6 diapers depending on how long your child is at the ifc/how frequent your child poo poo. How frequent you top up the diaper is another key. There would also be a daily log where T would fill up – what time milk feed/diaper change/meals etc. This daily log is something you should look out for. The more frequently heard complaint about diaper changing is that ifc changed TOO often.

If you are thinking 2 yr old is better, than my take is – after toilet trained is better.

I think your concern is “kid cannot talk so I wont know”. Rest be assured that if you try to observe and take note, even if the kid cannot speak, you can still gather the needed information. If there is a abuse, your kid will ‘tell you’. My child was roughly handled by one T when he was 4 months old. Whenever that particular T wanted to take over our child (when we bring him to the centre in the morning), my child would turn towards us – hug me and refused to let go. But if it’s other Ts, he gladly be passed over. This speaks loudly enough right?

Even after a child is able to speak, the child may not be able to answer/narrate the incidence. So being able/unable to articulate should not, to me, be a show stopper when deciding when to send the child to cc/ifc.

[himmel]

I sent my DD2 to infant care when she was 3 months old. Adapt very well and learn to walk at 10 months. 1 year old can say daddy, cat, dog, aunty, uncle, flower. She’s now 1.5 years old and has recently been "upgraded" to playgroup and can say even more words. Good motor skills. Her speech and motor skills development is much better than her older siblings who were sent to CC at 20 months old.


Try to find a childcare with good reputation, ask feedback from people on the childcare centres of your choice. I’m pro sending at early age as they can learn to socialise and have playmates. Learn to share too.

[GLORYmum]

When my DS was 2.5years old, he could hardly speak a proper word.

We sent him for assessment by a speech therapist who recommended the enrichment centre her daughter attended.
After enrolling him in their 1.5 hours program for a month or more, my DS started pronouncing words and soon by the end of 3 months, he was TALKING.
Interacting with other kids opened his speech ability.
He is 4 and half now and he talks fluently and clearly.
So no worries, some kids start late but they will surely pick up very quickly.

[Shoe]

IMHO,it would be around 3+ to 4 before a child can relate an incident. That is late for sending a kid to school. Even at that age, they may not be able to clearly articulate what happens. And if someone asks a child a leading question, the answer may be yes even though it may not be true… For e.g. " did your teacher hit you? Is that why you’re crying?"


I think possibility of abuse should not be a concern. Just have to find a school you trust and go with it.

[Shoe]

IMHO,it would be around 3+ to 4 before a child can relate an incident. That is late for sending a kid to school. Even at that age, they may not be able to clearly articulate what happens. And if someone asks a child a leading question, the answer may be yes even though it may not be true… For e.g. " did your teacher hit you? Is that why you’re crying?"


I think possibility of abuse should not be a concern. Just have to find a school you trust and go with it.

[Imami]

Shoe:

IMHO,it would be around 3+ to 4 before a child can relate an incident. That is late for sending a kid to school. Even at that age, they may not be able to clearly articulate what happens. And if someone asks a child a leading question, the answer may be yes even though it may not be true.. For e.g. \" did your teacher hit you? Is that why you're crying?\"


I think possibility of abuse should not be a concern. Just have to find a school you trust and go with it.

Yes, fully agree. For a typical 3-5 year old, they are also easily imtimidated hence further lowering the chances of speaking up.

[heyhoe]

Just sharing, I sent my ds1 when he was 17 months. He was unable to walk properly and has yet to speak. A month into school, his first word was "more" (meaning: more food) and he starts to interact with other children.


He was happy there and once he starts talking. He can’t stop.