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In developed countries, several forms of day care have emerged over the last 20 years. Collective day care is often preferred by parents. This paper neither defends nor criticizes day care. Instead, it discusses the common confusion between socialization and life in a community outside of the home. Early day care may not always have a positive effect in terms of socialization. This paper identifies the steps required to ensure the infant’s successful integration into day care, thereby promoting an authentic socialization process.