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First day of daycare: how can you prepare?
The first day of daycare is a big milestone in your baby’s life… and in yours, too! A new place, new people, new little routines: a whole new daily rhythm will gradually take shape.
To help make the transition a smooth one, here are our tips for preparing for your baby’s first day of daycare without trying to plan for everything.
Ease into this new stage before daycare starts
Talk about daycare in simple words
Even when they’re tiny, you can start talking to your baby about daycare in the days before they begin. Tell them simply what will happen: they’ll discover a new place, meet other children and spend time with the caregivers who’ll look after them… and then their parents will come pick them up. There’s no need for a long explanation. A few familiar words, repeated regularly, can help make this new stage feel a little less unfamiliar.
Keep up your little routines at home
When lots of things are changing, familiar routines matter even more.
The morning cuddle, the song before sleep, their favorite lovey or the bedtime story can all stay the same. These little rituals provide familiar touchstones as your baby gradually gets to know their new surroundings.
Get your baby’s things ready for daycare
Once you know the practical details, it’s time to pack the all-important daycare bag. The exact list varies from one daycare to another, so start by checking what yours asks you to bring. Then all that’s left is to organize the things your baby will need each day.
Pack several changes of clothes
At daycare, a clean outfit can quickly need changing: a leaky diaper, a messy meal or a particularly creative activity.
So pack several changes of clothes that are right for the season, comfortable and easy to put on. And since belongings can sometimes get mixed up, remember to label them with your baby’s name.
Choose a practical, easy-to-recognize bag
The bag will be part of your baby’s everyday routine. So it needs to hold their things without turning into Mary Poppins’ bag. The Petit Picotin personalized baby backpack makes it easy to carry their little essentials and recognize them at a glance. With their name embroidered on it, it becomes something that’s truly theirs—and can come along on vacations or even their first little outings.
Pack the lovey in the bag
For some children, their lovey is an essential companion at nap time and during goodbyes.
If the daycare allows it, be sure to make room for it in the bag. And if possible, keeping a spare at home can be a good idea: it helps avoid the national emergency of a lovey left behind at daycare.
The big day: a gentle goodbye
Pack the bag and lay out the outfit the night before
Outfit, bag, changes of clothes, lovey… getting everything ready the night before makes for a calmer morning. It’s a small habit, but it can save precious minutes when your baby suddenly decides getting dressed is entirely optional. Above all, it leaves the morning for cuddles, breakfast and heading out the door: when the day starts early, those extra peaceful minutes are always welcome.
Choose a comfortable outfit
For a day at daycare, comfort comes first. Choose clothes that let your baby easily move, sit, play and have their diaper changed. An outfit that’s easy to put on will also make changes easier.
No need to break out the fancy outfit for the first day: what matters is that your baby feels comfortable and can enjoy the day.
Create a little goodbye ritual
A kiss, a cuddle, a little phrase you say every morning… A goodbye ritual can help your baby gradually understand what’s going to happen. The main thing is to keep the moment simple and predictable. The first goodbye can be emotional for both baby and parents, and that’s perfectly normal. If there are a few tears, don’t panic: they don’t necessarily mean your baby will have a bad day. And seeing each other again will be all the sweeter.
And what about the parents?
Ask all your questions before leaving your baby
The first few days can bring up a lot of emotions… A few conversations with the daycare team can help you feel more at ease when it’s time to leave.
How do naps work? When are meals served? What happens when my baby cries? How will you update me about their day?
Use the first few days to ask every question you need to: no question is too small!
Tell the daycare team about your baby’s little routines
You know the little details that make your child’s day easier: how they fall asleep, what they especially like, the signs that they’re tired… That information is invaluable to the daycare team, especially in the first few days.
Over time, the caregivers will get to know your baby and their routines, too. That’s exactly what this settling-in period is for.
Back to the comfort of home after daycare
Keep evenings simple
In the first few weeks, your baby may be more tired in the evening. Their days are full of new experiences, and they may need some time to get used to the new routine. At home, there’s no need to add more to the schedule: a quiet evening can be just what they need. An easy meal, a bath and a wrap in their personalized towel, a few cuddles, a story and then bed: sometimes, that’s all your baby needs after a busy day.
Create a little reunion ritual
Once you’ve established a goodbye ritual, why not create a reunion ritual too? A big cuddle when you get home, a little walk, a snack together or a few minutes of quiet play… These moments quickly become comforting touchstones in your new routine and mark the transition from daycare to home.
First day at daycare: parents’ questions
A baby can start daycare at 10 weeks old. But there’s no one right age to start daycare. It depends in part on your family’s needs, when you return to work and whether a spot is available. What matters most is preparing for this new stage with the team who’ll care for your baby.
How long it takes to settle in varies from child to child. Some quickly find their feet, while others need several days. The schedule is usually worked out with the daycare team and can be adjusted based on how your baby responds.
Yes, your baby may still cry after a few days. Every baby adjusts at their own pace. To find out how their day is really going, talk with the daycare team: once you’ve left, can your baby settle down, play, eat or sleep?
During the first few weeks, your baby may be more tired in the evening or need more quiet time and cuddles. A day at daycare brings lots of new experiences. Keeping evenings simple and following a sleep schedule that suits your baby can help them recharge.
Everything doesn’t have to be perfect
The first day at daycare marks the start of a new daily routine. Your baby will meet new people, discover new routines and gradually find their bearings.
For your part, you’ll learn to trust a new team and adjust to a different rhythm. Above all, give yourselves time to settle in. There’s no such thing as a perfect first day. There’s just your family’s first day, with your own routines, little adjustments and, before long, new rituals!
The things your little ones say
“Hurry up slowly, Mom!”
– Gaspard, age 3
“I have a plug in my nose.”
– Romy, age 2
“I want apple juice with quiet bubbles.”
– Oscar, age 4
AUTHOR
Hello, moi c’est Capucine ! J’espère que cet article vous a plu. Passionnée par la rédaction et spécialisée dans les contenus autour de la petite enfance, je fais partie de l’équipe éditoriale de Petit Picotin. Au fil du blog, j’explore les questions du quotidien des familles pour vous partager conseils, idées et inspirations, en m’appuyant sur des recherches, des sources spécialisées et l’expertise de notre équipe.
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