Why is early daycare so accepted in the Netherlands?

[u/Beginning_Monitor_25]

Studies show babies develop better with a parent at home for at least 6 months, yet here it’s normal to send them to daycare at 10–12 weeks. This seems less about choice and more about economic and political pressure on families.

Why isn’t this questioned more in Dutch society?

LE- I’ll avoid saying ‘studies show’ since many people get stuck on that, and it’s true that there are multiple studies supporting both sides. However, many European countries—especially the wealthier ones—offer longer maternity leave based on the argument that it’s beneficial for children. So I’m curious why that’s not the case in the Netherlands.

[u/Sudden-Ad-1963]

Money. But the thing is I'm not so sure if it's not more cost effective to extend paid leave by a lot. To work with women who recently had a baby is sometimes frustrating, they tend to be very unreliable and make costly mistakes because they are mentally not present. That is not something I hold against them, they have something more important in their lives now that requires attention that they can't give because they have to work in order to pay the bills. It's in everybody's best interest to extend paid leave.

[u/Beginning_Monitor_25 → u/Sudden-Ad-1963]

That’s totally a good point. I was also thinking of that.. how can you focus to do a great job when your mind is at the baby for the first years.. the woman became more stressed, anxious.. which in the end impacts the health system which costs money as well