https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 15 Jul 2026 05:55:33 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-toddler-for-childcare#post-2834667 Wed, 18 Jul 2018 10:20:17 +0000 castilrm 2834667@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cake2017: we did a nanny share from the time she was 4 mos to 15 mos and then switched to a home day care and then to our current preschool when she was 2. Both the home day care and preschool did play dates for the transition, and it was really helpful! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-toddler-for-childcare#post-2834635 Wed, 18 Jul 2018 08:15:49 +0000 cake2017 2834635@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@castilrm: Yes, I am looking forward to the transition days. It’s before the Christmas break but I think anything will help. Can I ask how old your LO was when they started? </p> <p>My husband will be drop off and I will be pick up(another post coming 🙃)! We are big in routine so I trust that will help too!</p> <p>Thank you!!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-toddler-for-childcare#post-2834534 Tue, 17 Jul 2018 12:45:39 +0000 castilrm 2834534@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree that doing any sort of transitional days with the daycare prior to the official first day is a good idea. Practicing with the church nursery is a good idea but the best would be just doing as many transitional days as possible with your actual daycare. Our preschool/daycare had us bring our daughter for at least 5 transitional “play dates.” The first couple times, we stayed in the room and while we stayed out of the way, we were visible to our daughter. I think this helped her realize we were taking her some place we thought was safe for her. Once she started seeming comfortable, we started ducking out of the room and leaving her there with the kids and teachers. We were close by in another part of the building if needed. She cried quite a bit at first but after a few days of that, she only cried for a few minutes when we first left and then was fine. The play dates were about an hour each. By the time we started doing longer days, she was in pretty good shape. She still cried for a few minutes when we first left, but she bounced back quickly and after a couple weeks, she was totally fine. The big thing for her is having a routine that we stuck to. Any variation, like having me drop her off instead of her dad, would throw her off (at first, now she’s been there long enough that those changes don’t bother her) or getting there later than usual and making her miss circle time or other activities that she likes, would upset her. The teachers should be good at getting you out the door with little traditions that help make it fun and not a big deal. You shouldn’t say big goodbyes or make it a big deal - just a quick hug and kiss, and then move it along. Our teachers make it into a game at first to make them comfortable with you leaving, like having the kids “push” you out the door after a hug. That all seemed to work well for us. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-toddler-for-childcare#post-2834406 Mon, 16 Jul 2018 22:03:06 +0000 lamariniere 2834406@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with the others about being prepared for the crying. My LOs started daycare at 24 months and 14 months and they both cried every day, for 3 and 4 weeks. It is hard. But, they eventually got used to it and then loved going. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-toddler-for-childcare#post-2834369 Mon, 16 Jul 2018 19:23:48 +0000 Mrsbells 2834369@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cake2017: Daniel tiger has a good episode on this. I agree that not making it a big deal can be helpful. I think you should be prepared for crying the first few days maybe even weeks at drop off but children adapt very fast and will blend right in with the others in no time </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-toddler-for-childcare#post-2834363 Mon, 16 Jul 2018 19:08:40 +0000 cake2017 2834363@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: We are dropping in the week before Christmas. He starts the beginning of the New Year. I just realized he will be there that first week for 2 days tho so I think that would be good. I like your examples and will definitely look into that too! Thank you!@MrsBucky: Appreciate the download!!! </p> <p>@muffinsmuffins: I’m trying to prepare myself because I hate seeing him cry! I think attending the nursery at Church will help! @pachamama: Thank you </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-toddler-for-childcare#post-2834360 Mon, 16 Jul 2018 18:57:20 +0000 erinbaderin 2834360@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With my second baby, here’s what I did: two or three weeks before he started, I’d drop by (This was easy because my older son went there, so I just went to pickup a half hour early) and we visited the room together. Then the daycare has a transition week before the official start where on Monday you stay with the baby for an hour, on Tuesday you drop them off for an hour, Wednesday two hours, Thursday a half day, and Friday a full, shorter, day. It worked really well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-toddler-for-childcare#post-2834357 Mon, 16 Jul 2018 18:36:55 +0000 pachamama 2834357@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think the best thing to do is maybe not make it a huge deal and try to sound upbeat and relaxed about it. Kids are uncannily good at picking up on our moods (for better or worse). The truth is, child care can be a rough transition but almost always ends up being a good experience for all. Good luck :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-toddler-for-childcare#post-2834356 Mon, 16 Jul 2018 18:33:47 +0000 MrsBucky 2834356@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe download and listen to this music together song? We sing it all the time wth DS. <a href="https://www.musictogether.com/they-come-back" rel="nofollow">https://www.musictogether.com/they-come-back</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-toddler-for-childcare#post-2834326 Mon, 16 Jul 2018 16:19:01 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2834326@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS started centre based daycare at 18 months but was in a home daycare for 6 months prior. I would talk it up like you said and do the transition period, but I think just prepare for some tears and hard times for the first couple weeks regardless. Your child might be different but at that age DS didn’t understand really anything about ‘it will be so fun and mama will come back etc etc’ as he does now at 3yo...he also had trouble with transitions to new situations at that age. Get an idea of how you will do drop offs as well with a quick goodbye routine. The teacher would often take him and give him a snuggle at first when I left, then we progressed to me bringing him to a favourite toy or station as distraction. I would say it took 2-3 weeks for no tears but he has absolutely thrived at the centre so stick with it! It’s harder on the parents for sure as they say! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/preparing-toddler-for-childcare#post-2834324 Mon, 16 Jul 2018 16:05:02 +0000 cake2017 2834324@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi all,<br /> LO will be attending a school next year. He will be approximately 15/16 mo. What are ways I can help ease the transition since this will be his first time away from us? My husband will be dropping off in the mornings and I will pick up in the afternoons.</p> <p>We are going to do one hour drop off each day for the week prior to full enrollment. Any other suggestions. I plan to talk about his school and drive by there also as he gets older. I was thinking about “practicing” on sundays at the church nursery too. During services drop him there so he understands we always come back?! </p> <p>He cries when not with us so trying to see how to minimize the “shock”. </p> <p>Thank you! </p>