How to socialize them before they start daycare?

[Liam and Shane's Mommy]

I didn't know which section was the best place to ask this question but I'm looking for ideas.  My ds, now 10 mos. will be starting full time daycare in 6 weeks when I return to work.  I'm concerned about how he'll adjust given he'll be going from a relatively quiet environment at home to a busy, noisy group daycare setting.  I haven't taken him to any of the baby and me classes in my area as they always seem to fall during his morning nap and sine he's not a good napper to begin with I always make sure I'm home. I guess I never saw the point of taking an overtired baby to a social group.

But now I don't think its fair to just plunk him into that environment without getting him use to it.  I will be starting him off gradually for two weeks before starting full time but I'd like to be doing something now.

How do other Moms handle it when baby groups fall during nap hours?  I have a next door neighbour whose on mat. leave and we'll be getting our lol's together but everyone else I know is back to work.

Apart from bringing him out grocery shopping, which really isn't the same thing I don't know how to get him more socialized.

[galaxie81]

Here are some ideas that I thought of:
-Find out the routine at the daycare centre so you can start now and try to have it fully developed by the starting date.
-In Lo's activity time play some soft music in the background
-Do sharing activities like placing things in bowls, threading
-Don't panic when you go remember this is the first time your baby is going to be at the centre.  It's a different environemnt from home.  Your baby will come to know the carers and the environment.
-Sit in the yard for a little while each day, listen to the sounds and point them out.  If your in the grass or dirt this will get baby used to different textures as well something they will get used to at daycare.

Sorry pregnancy brain has kicked in and I can't think of anymore 

[maggieruth]

if you want to start doing some socialisation before daycare (we did loads) then naptime gets a bit pushed aside, or it did for us.  we made naptimes fit around groups because i got a bit stir crazy if it was just me and Ethan at home! 
the nice thing was that as we got to play groups either in the car or stroller, i could simply lug Ethan in in the carseat or push the pram into a lobby and chat with moms and leave him to wake gradually and participate.  Maybe he was a bit more tired than he would have liked to be but the excitement of all the new faces and activities meant that he was very cheery while we were out  and he slept on the way home (when we got there i would either transfer the pram into the back yard or carry the carseat upstairs into the nursery)

unfortunately, Ethan's cheerfulness was a sign of things to come.  he STILL forgoes sleep at nursery in favour of all the cool things going on and we bare the brunt a bit at home.  it seems nursery is just like this 

good luck getting ready for nursery!  i hope you enjoy the babygroups! let us know how you are doing!