The optimal age to begin daycare is just after a child's first birthday. "A kid at this age is making leaps in her language, social, and motor skills.

Children who attend child care have the same outcomes as children who are cared for at home. Whether a child attends daycare or not, it is the family that has a major impact on their child's development, with the parents' interactions with the child being a critically important factor.

Starting daycare can be a stressful time, for both babies and parents alike. Some babies will adapt quickly, while others will cry every morning for many weeks.

Ages 3 to 5 are considered preschool age. But that doesn't mean that every 3-year-old is ready to go to school. Many kids are better off waiting until they are 4 to attend school, and even then they may do better in a half-day program.

The social and emotional benefits of daycare are lasting: a French study found that high-quality daycare is linked to fewer emotional symptoms, conduct problems, attention dysfunction and relationship issues later in life (BMJ).

Highlights: Attending a childcare facility often results in illness. ... There's less individual attention. Waiting lists are common. Childcare programs can be costly. Childcare facilities often face high staff turnover, which can make it difficult for children to form healthy attachments.

Research has shown that the best age for a child to start daycare at is at least 12-months-old.