We made it through our first week of daycare!

Oof! It has been a transition, but I have to say, I am already feeling more like myself being back at work. I love having a schedule and feeling needed and like I have a purpose. I am still in the midst of training and floating around all of the classrooms (except B’s for obvious reasons) but I am liking it a lot so far. I am already getting the itch to have my own classroom back. But, I love still having a few hours with B to myself in the mornings so we will probably keep things this way for a while 💜 .

So, you probably came here for tips because you have never taken your little one to daycare or preschool before! I have some up my sleeve from our first week’s experience.

1. Vibe Check

   Obviously, go with your gut when you are checking out daycares or preschools. DEFINITELY GO ON A TOUR AND COME PREPARED WITH QUESTIONS.

   Because these centers typically are not like “real” schools, if you aren’t getting a good vibe from them, your gut is probably telling you something. We visited a home daycare that I didn’t get great vibes from. It was okay, but okay wasn’t good enough. In my opinion, you need to be 100% sure your baby is in safe hands.

   I was so impressed by the cleanliness of the facility we chose which was also super important for me. Now working there, I can confirm they are just as clean as they appear!

   One last thing I looked for was visibility into classrooms. My son’s safety is the most important thing to me and my husband. There are large windows looking into the classrooms and windows on the doors where people are frequently walking by. I am also able to peek in on him (which I don’t do too often yet because I don’t want to disrupt or upset him) but I know that he is in good hands and right down the hallway.

2. School to Parent Communication

   Find a school that has great school to home communication!

   I know many schools these days use apps or even have camera for you to check in on your little one! It makes me feel so much better when I know what B is doing during the day and receive frequent, open communication about how he is doing or working on. The school we are at uses lessons from newborn to pre-k which I absolutely love! Throughout the day I get pictures, videos and an extremely detailed daily report of his diaper changes, naps and meals through a parent app on my phone. And I am talking DETAILED - down to the minute he was last changed or how much of his veggies he ate at lunch. It really is amazing and makes me feel so comfortable.

3. DON’T linger at drop off, even on the first days

   I have found that it is easiest (still heart wrenching) to give my little guy a quick hug and kiss and say goodbye instead of trying to calm him down when I go to drop him off. Is it the worst feeling ever? Yes. But, I know in time it will pass. Not to mention, every time I leave he only cried for a minute or two and he gets to playing. It is SO hard in the moment to not be overcome with emotions, but it will be best to keep it short and sweet for the both of you, and the teacher! We watch Daniel Tiger, and they have a great episode about how “grown ups come back”. I like to tell Baylor this when I leave to so he doesn’t feel abandoned or like I am trying to sneak away from him. When you try to sneak out of your house or wherever you are dropping them off, it’s not beneficial to anyone. Giving a quick hug and kiss and “I love you” is a greta routine to have and know you will be returning at some point. When you sneak out, little ones tend to lose it every time you leave the room from then on because they don’t know when you will leave next. Babies and toddlers thrive on schedules and predictability! It will take a couple of weeks for your little one to adjust, but don’t worry, they will!

   If you liked these tips and want to see more, let me know on my latest Instagram! Or, even better, if you have some tips up your sleeve too, share the wealth! ❤️

   Until next time!

   XOXO Malorie