This post is sponsored by Name Bubbles and contains affiliate links.
Being a working mom, I knew the days of daycare were inevitable. I’ll never forget my daughters’ first day of daycare. So many bittersweet emotions swirling, and the frazzle of hoping I brought everything she needs! If you are about to navigate daycare for the first time, here is a Mom’s Guide to Surviving the First Day of Daycare.
While daycare is becoming more and more the “norm”, whether it be for social interaction or due to work schedules, it doesn’t feel as common to share how to prepare for this big life transition.
Get to know your daycare and daycare workers
Getting to know our daycare staff was an essential. I learned the staff’s names, their role, and did my best to have connection touch points early on. This established a wonderful relationship and trust (and peace of mind)! When we were touring daycares, I had a full list of what I asked them. This is an excerpt from my saved notes:
- Potty training
- Nap time mat and times
- Incidents – how are they reported, and notified, what is the incident rate for this age range
- Policy when a child is having emotional distress
- How are updates/emails sent out
- Security
- What meals are provided?
- Cameras and can we login to check in on them
- Teacher to kid ratio
- Screentime policy
- Vaccines and Records needed
- Checking In Steps
- Policy Handbook
Can you tell I’m Type A? Having these answered, and getting a good tour of the facility, helped ease my mind with finding the perfect daycare. Assuming you already found the perfect daycare, typically they will provide you a welcome packet of the items needed to make your little ones’ day complete.
It may include a blanket, cup, pillow, extra clothes, and personal items. Each daycare facility will differ, so make sure you double check so you aren’t having to rush to the store last minute.
Label Everything!
With personal items, I have been leery of putting permanent marker on items such as bottles, and noticed they are hard to find a good spot on certain items. I found myself on the hunt trying to track down her things.
Name Bubbles are an adhesive, name-personalized company that allows you to put your child’s name on anything and everything! When you have the same baby bottles as other moms in the class, having Name Bubbles is a lifesaver to keep track of your child’s items. What’s even more unique, they have custom label sizes for any item: from bottles to any clothing item. They are dishwasher and laundry safe. Trust me when I say this, LABEL EVERYTHING!
(Also, Save 20% sitewide with Code DAYCARE20, exp March 31, 2023)
Have a Good Morning Routine to Start Your Day
Depending on your work schedule/when daycare opens, I highly recommend working on a solid morning routine to set your day up for success. Even before the morning, the night before I’m doing preparation as well.
Setting out clothes for the next day, ensuring we have her bedding (we take it home weekly to wash), have her water bottle, and anything else that I can do to make the morning easier. We aim to have efficient mornings that ensure we get out of the house right on time. I found that if I was scrambling and stressed in the morning, it really put a damper on the day and that valuable time with my little ones before they head into a big day themselves!
I have the belief of how your morning starts sets the tone for the day, so make it a positive one! We play music, make time for positive affirmations, let them choose their breakfast, anything we can do to keep the day starting smoothly.
Ultimately, you and your child are going to survive daycare. These days can feel like so much, but as time goes on it gets much easier. Once you are in a daycare you love, you see your child thriving, and you have your routine nailed down, it all just falls into place. Getting that first piece of art my daughter drew for me at Daycare because she was thinking of me, made my heart sing! It let me know that she loved daycare and everything was going to be okay.
