How to Prepare Your Child For Daycare

• posted by TheBlueElephant
• on November 16, 2020
• Category: Education

We know how scary it can be to leave your newborn to strangers. Here at Blue Elephant, our team of professionals are here to give you the best support for you and your baby. Our center is equipped to handle any circumstance, and we always make sure to keep an inclusive and safe environment for every child that walks in. As a new parent, you may be wondering what are ways to prepare before bringing your child to daycare, and what to look for in a provider/caregiver.

Looking For a Daycare Provider

The most important thing when looking for a provider is to make sure they are licensed. If not, make sure they at least CPR and first-aid certified. If you are bringing an infant in for daycare, make sure that the CPR license is infant certified, which is different from being certified for adults. It’s also important to make sure that you and your child are comfortable with the daycare and its employees. You want a provider who is trustworthy, and that your child can trust whoever is working there to make sure that the environment is comfortable and inclusive for them and their needs.

Before the First Day

When talking to your daycare provider, make sure to include what your child’s sleep routine is, what allergies/medications they have, and what their typical feeding times are. The more the provider and caregiver know, the better. Never be shy to also tell them the little details about what your child needs and what they like/don’t like. For toddlers, make sure to let the provider know how they should discipline the child when conflict arises.

Caregivers

One important thing to remember is that the change in baby’s schedule from being with mom or dad during the day to being with their daycare provider is going to be different. Even down to the small things, like the way you console the baby, may be different. This can be stressful for the baby, so it’s important to be prepared for the baby to be fussy for the next couple of days or weeks before they get comfortable. If your infant is struggling attaching themselves with the caregiver, you might want to consider spending longer periods of time away from the baby. This is so that the baby can get used to you being gone more often. In the weeks and days leading up to the first daycare day, stretch the absence to as long as you can to help the transition into a full day.

What to Bring

There are many things to consider before bringing in your child on their first day of daycare.

1. ) Have one bag that carries all the essentials to and from daycare. This includes personal items such as blankets, pacifiers, toys, and “teethers”. Anything that is personal to your child so you can have them at home as well at daycare.
2. ) The second bag, such as a large tote, should hold day-to-day items that can stay with the provider. Diapers, formulas, bottles, baby wipes, medicines, bibs, extra clothes, and burp rags are things that can be packed so you don’t have to carry it back and forth. Make sure you mark it with you and your baby’s name on these items. It is smart to pack all these essentials that last at least two weeks in advance.
3. ) Make sure to bring all the necessary paperwork with you. Physical and vaccine records, emergency phone numbers, and names/pictures of any potential caregivers that are allowed to pick up the child from daycare, such as grandma or a godparent.

We know how stressful it can be as a parent, so at Blue Elephant, we are prepared to help you in any way! You may also want to look at our What To Expect page to get more insight into what we offer and what your first day will be like. You may also contact us if you have any questions or concerns about our center. We are here to serve the Frisco community, and we can’t wait to take care of your child!