Mdthbs

I am a new parent to a 8 month old boy and in a dilemma about whether to put the child in daycare (Both parents are working) or take care of him at home (Wife would have to leave job)

I have come across few people who have suggested that kids with daycare background often are antisocial and emotionally more unstable.

Are there any studies or proofs to support this or this may be a perception ?

PS: The first week of daycare has been a "meh" so far!

Are kids with daycare background antisocial?

I'll assume you mean

Are kids with daycare background measurably more antisocial than their non-daycare peers?

There are several studies which point in that direction, though it also seems that the negative effects are not very pronounced, they are not evident in all child care centers (in fact, results are very diverse) and mitigated by a large set of factors such as available room at the day care center, staff friendliness, day structure etc and that there are also other, positive effects. So, the answer to your question would be: It's complicated.

See for example a large-scale UK government funded study published in 2007 - Mathers & Sylva, National Evaluation of the Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative: The Relationship between Quality and Children's Behavioural Development, which is probably where the "antisocial" thing comes from (this finding from the study was picked up by UK media at the time):

The findings confirm previous research (e.g. Melhuish et al, 2001)

in suggesting that attending centre-based childcare provision has

both beneficial and detrimental effects on children’s social and 

behavioural development. The more time (hours and days) children

spent each week at a childcare centre, the more confident they 

were, and the more sociable they were with their peers

and a bit later:

Attending centre-based provision also had a number of less 

positive relationships with children’s behaviour. Children who 

attended for at least 30 hours and/or 3 days every week were rated 

as more anti-social, for example more likely to tease other 

children and call them names (ASBI item 21), prevent other 

children from carrying out routines (item 23) or be bossy and need 

their own way (item 29). In addition, children who attended for

at least 35 hours and/or 5 days each week displayed more worried

and upset behaviours.

There are other studies (behind paywall) that may be relevant:

• https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2010.01431.x




• https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/9780470147658.chpsy0423

My personal opinion is that I wouldn't want to put my child into daycare for five days a week; that's giving away too much of my influence as a parent (remember that the time when your children are little and need you most is over quickly and never comes back - so if it's an either - or - situation -- either put your child into daycare for 5 days a week, or reduce work and take care of him yourself, I'd opt for taking care of him myself if financially that's an option. You won't regret not having worked so much at the end of your life - but you might regret not having spent the time with your child. Having said that, I wouldn't worry about putting my children into daycare for maybe 2-3 days.

FWIW, the study I cited above talks about a tipping point of around 30 hours a week and/or 3 days per week for the negative effects (less than that and they don't manifest themselves). Similarly, significant benefits didn't reliably manifest themselves in children that spend less than 35 hours a week in daycare (that's almost full-time).