7 Tips to Prepare for the First Day of Daycare for Your Infant
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How to Transition Your Baby to Daycare (& How Name Bubbles Labels Can Help)
Are you dreading the upcoming “first day of daycare” for your infant? Then these tips should help to put your mind at ease.
Trust me, I know just how nerve-wracking it can be to leave your baby at daycare for the first time!
From packing the diaper bag (and hoping you don’t forget anything) to fears about transitioning to a new routine, the entire process can be stressful, to say the least!
Which is why I’m here today. Let’s go over a few things you can do to prepare for your baby’s first day at daycare, including a couple different ways Name Bubbles personalized labels can help.
This post was sponsored by Name Bubbles.
What’s the Best Age to Put Your Baby in Daycare?
Whether you’re sending your baby to daycare at 3 months or one year, you might be wondering what’s the “best” age to do so.
Most daycares won’t take infants under six weeks of age, and all the articles I found online say it’s best to wait until after their first birthday. But honestly — there is no perfect age.
That said, I do believe that the longer you can wait, the better.
BUT…
I realize that’s not always possible. Depending on your parental leave and financial situation, you might have to go back to work after a month or two. Or, if you’re lucky, you might get a year off.
And some people prefer to go back to work sooner rather than later. If that’s you, and if you’re comfortable sending your baby to daycare, then there’s nothing wrong with that!
The First Day of Daycare for Your Infant
The following tips will help you feel a little more prepared for your baby’s first day at daycare.
1. Pack the Diaper Bag
You don’t just have to pack the diaper ahead of time, but you need to make sure it includes everything your baby could possibly need while you’re away.
For example:
- Extra set of clothes
- Appropriate outdoor gear (coat, hat, mittens, etc.)
- Bottles and milk (breast milk or formula)
- Food (if baby is on solids)
- Diapers and wipes
- Stuffed animal or blanket (if allowed)
Of course, some of these items might be provided by the daycare facility, so you’ll want to get a list of what is required ahead of time.
2. Label Clothing With Personalized Name Labels
It can be hard for the caregivers to keep track of which item belongs to whom at times, so everything needs to be labeled.
Yes, every piece of clothing, along with any other items you’re sending to daycare, should be labeled with your child’s name (assuming you want to avoid mix ups!).
Name Bubbles Daycare Label Packs include a variety of washable, waterproof labels that you can stick right onto clothing tags and other items.
AND… They will hold up through the washing machine and dryer, and even the dishwasher, only coming off when you decide to take them off.
3. Label Bottles With Write-On Labels
If the thought of a baby bottle mix-up horrifies you, then you’ll definitely want to label yours.
With Name Bubbles write-on bottle labels, you can write not only your child’s name on them, but you can also add the date, amount, and any other notes.
4. Ask Lots of Questions
This is probably one of my biggest tips that will help ease your worries about sending your infant to daycare:
Ask ANY and ALL questions you might have about their daily routine!
A few things you might want to know:
- How many children are in a classroom? What is the child to teacher ratio?
- What is the daily routine on a typical day?
- What is their sick child policy?
- Do they take children on “field trips”? Do they transport children in a vehicle?
- What are their daily or weekly fees? Do they get paid holidays?
- How do they handle medications and emergency treatments?
These are just a few of the questions to ask your daycare provider. If there is anything else you want to know, anything you can ask to help put your fears at ease, then make sure to ask. (Even if it seems like a silly question!)
You should absolutely feel comfortable with whomever you entrust your baby to. Which brings us to the next point…
5. Trust Your Instincts
Do you feel uneasy about leaving your little one at the daycare you’ve chosen? Or do you feel confident that this is the best place for them?
Trust your gut!
If you are unsure about the daycare you’ve chosen, then perhaps it would be best to continue the search. Of course, this isn’t always easy, especially since daycares can fill up FAST, and there is often a long wait list.
In this case, you could always sign up for the wait list at a daycare that feels like a better fit.
And if there is any question about your child’s safety at any point, then you should absolutely pull them out of their current daycare facility. Because you should never have to worry about your baby’s well being when you’re away.
6. Give Yourself Lots of Time
On the first day of daycare, make sure to leave a little early to ensure that you have plenty of time to help your baby get settled in.
Planning to leave a little earlier will also give you a bit of a buffer, in case anything comes up (like a diaper blowout as you’re heading out the door!).
7. Create a “Goodbye Routine”
You might be tempted to sneak out while your baby is distracted, but doing so could break your child’s trust, and could even make it harder to leave later on.
Give hugs and kisses and a cheerful goodbye, reassuring your child that you will be back. It might seem a little silly, especially with younger babies, but doing so can help to set a solid foundation for future drop offs.
And, if you have chosen an experienced childcare provider, they should be able to help soothe your baby and create a smooth transition into the rest of the day.
How Name Bubbles Labels Can Help You Get Organized for Daycare
When it comes to preparing for the first day of daycare for your infant, you’ll definitely want to make sure that absolutely everything is labeled with their name.
To be honest, I’ve always found this to be a huuuge pain. Not to mention, I’m not exactly thrilled about writing on clothing tags with a permanent marker — especially if there’s a chance the clothes will be passed down to another child someday.
And that, my friend, is where Name Bubbles labels come in… They’re strong enough to hold up through the washing machine or the dishwasher, and they’ll continue to stick until YOU decide to remove them.
Ready to order your Name Bubbles personalized name labels? Great! Use coupon code WRITERMOM for a 10% discount.
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