Daytime babysitter

It is better for a 2 year old to go to a babysitter sometimes than always to spend all day at home with the father. Children need to learn to interact with other children their age, and there are probably other kids at the babysitter.

Yes, if they were home all day, but moms get together in groups with all their kids sometimes.

Two year old me disagrees.

I’ve seen toddlers play together.

Let’s say someone put two toddlers together from different families and these two toddlers are parallel playing.

Is this still not socialization? They are still interacting and connecting with each other by their very awareness of not being alone, and not being the only person of their size. They may not be able to necessarily think this into words or thoughts, but they will be affected by being with a peer nevertheless.

Have you not sat in the same room with someone doing your own thing – engaging on the computer, reading a book, snacking on food, talking on the phone, or even simply folding laundry – while the other person happens to be independently doing his/her own thing too? And have you never experienced this and nonetheless felt that you too somehow bonded by being in your own worlds together?

I love being in the same room with one of my friends. We can both be working on our computers, with her doing graphic design and with me typing, and it’s like we’re in this own magical creative world. I don’t know how to explain it, but her presence really brings out my best B”H. Why can’t toddlers also connect on a level of being together? They may need it more than adults, or just as much.

The question was not whether the young toddler (we’re talking about a 1 yr old here also) needs stimulation, but whether he needs to be with a bunch of other toddlers in a play-group type of situation, whether it gives something that a parent cannot provide at home. I would say no. Most parents, when they need to send their very young children out will search for a babysitter situation that most resembles the home/mother setting- a loving babysitter with as few other children as possible, so she can address the child’s needs, or maybe even one who comes to the child’s home. I remember checking out a babysitting situation for my 1.5 yr old- there were 2 women with about 8 toddlers. Lots of stimulation there! They changed diapers assembly line fashion- every kid got changed once each morning, with their little knapsacks lined up on the bed, each kid got changed one after the other whether they needed it or not (didn’t notice any hand-washing in between). I imagine dirty diapers got attention even when not on schedule, but not wet ones.
Interaction is important, stimulation, playing, but you don’t have to be another 1 yr old to provide this for the child, the parent can provide these things and so much more. At some point, as the toddler gets older, he will benefit from “playing” with other kids. Don’t forget there are 2 kids involved here- so they have the built-in playmate and presence in the room that you are talking about, LB.
But in this case, I am not sure that the parent can provide this for the kids. The father is going to get a night’s sleep (6-7h) while the 2 kids nap? The kids must be very well trained to always go down for their naps at the same time for the same amount of time. Nap needs/times for 1 and 2 year olds are usually very different. This would make for a very sleep deprived parent. Would that very tired father hear the kids’ crying while he sleeps? If he is only sleeping while they nap, would he not doze off while he was watching them? I would suggest that they send the kids out in the morning so that he gets full sleep, and then he can watch them in the afternoon.

True that WTP! These early formative years could be better spent bonding with one’s parent than being shlepped to a stranger and developing attachment to a nonparent.

Well said!! ☺👪