Earlier this year, my son started childcare. Though this fact in and of itself is not remarkable, what is of note – and what is a constant point of interest to other parents when I talk to them – is that he was four months old when he started.

That’s right, four months.

Unlike most Australian babies, my son began childcare when he was just four months old.Credit: Getty Images

For many parents, that might sound very early. And for most Australians, it is. According to data from the Australian Institute of Family Studies, only 16 per cent of children in childcare are younger than 12 months. Interestingly, though, longitudinal studies show that there are positive impacts for children who access quality early childhood education from the ages 0-3 years, namely when it comes to their independence, concentration, intellectual ability and school readiness.

So why did we do it? The main reason was that a spot became available sooner than we’d expected. Like many parents in major........

© WA Today