You’ve labeled bottles, packed extra outfits, and moved your work clothes back to the front of the closet. Wrapping up maternity leave means tackling a long checklist. Between searching for your work badge and hoping your baby’s teacher learns their favorite bounce, it all starts to feel real.
If this is your first child’s first week at daycare, you’re learning a whole new routine, too. You might feel sad, relieved, nervous, or excited to get back to work—sometimes all before breakfast.
These tips for starting daycare can help you handle the practical parts and make room for your feelings, too.
Get familiar before the first morning.
You might have saved your baby’s spot months ago, but try visiting again to meet the caregivers. If you can, arrange a short practice day before you go back to work. If that’s not possible, talking with the teachers ahead of time can still help you prepare.
Start by writing down your baby’s feeding times, sleep signs, and favorite ways to calm down. Ask the teachers how they handle naps, bottles, and comforting, and how they’ll share updates with you. Knowing who to contact can make the first morning feel less overwhelming.
For toddlers, keep it simple: “We’ll go to school, you’ll play and have lunch, and I’ll come back after nap.” Use words that match your real pickup time.
Build your morning around a realistic departure time.
Plan backward from when you need to be at work, including time for drop-off, parking, and your commute. And remember to allow extra time for that last-minute diaper change.
Practice your morning routine a couple of times before your first workday. See what you can do the night before, like picking out clothes, packing lunch, checking supplies, and putting your keys by the door.
If you have a partner, you can divvy up the tasks. “You handle bottles; I’ll get baby dressed” saves a conversation when neither of you has finished your coffee. Decide who can manage pickup if work runs late, too. If it fluctuates, try to nail down a tentative weekly schedule before each week starts.
Coordinate feedings and naps without forcing a schedule.
Ask how the infant room pays attention to each baby’s hunger and sleep cues. Share your baby’s current routine instead of trying to change it all at once. Most infant rooms are flexible and follow each baby’s needs, since babies have different sleep and wake cycles. Some centers even have separate areas for sleeping and playing.
If your baby will use bottles at daycare, practice with the bottle and caregiver beforehand. Ask the center about labeling, milk storage, and how to prepare bottles. If feeding is tough, talk to your pediatrician or lactation consultant before the first day.
For toddlers who already have a routine, compare your home schedule with the classroom’s. Talk with the teacher about making small changes over time. There’s no need to change everything right away.
Give daycare its own bag.
Having a separate daycare bag helps you avoid finding out at drop-off that the spare clothes are still in your weekend diaper bag.
Follow the center’s packing list, including labeled clothes, diapers, wipes, and any approved items. Ask what can stay in your child’s cubby, and keep a small checklist for things you need to bring each day, especially bottles.
After pickup, take out used items and restock anything that’s missing. Keep perishable things in the fridge until you leave. A simple tote bag works well—there’s no need to buy anything fancy.
Make a plan for yourself at drop-off.
Talk with the teacher about a short, predictable goodbye and when you’ll get an update. A kiss, a familiar phrase, and a quick handoff can help when it’s hard to leave.
Plan some post-drop-off support for yourself. Call your partner, text a friend, or give yourself a few minutes before your first work task. It’s normal to miss your baby, even if you feel good about their care.
Settle into a typical evening routine.
You might feel like you need to make pickup and the evening extra special after being apart, but often, pickup just leads right into feeding, pajamas, and bedtime, with your own dinner squeezed in. Still, you’ll both find comfort in the routine. Just being together and winding down at the end of the day will feel extra sweet.
At pickup, ask when your baby last ate and slept so you know what they need. Keep the first evenings simple, with few errands or plans. Easy dinners, leftovers, and help with dishes are especially helpful now.
If two adults are home, take turns with baby time and chores so everyone gets a chance to reconnect. If you’re on your own in the evenings, make things as simple as possible. Laundry can wait while you enjoy a cuddle.
Let everyday care be your time together.
After spending all day at home with your baby for weeks, short evenings can feel too brief. But you don’t need to fill them with activities. A simple routine will help you both adjust.
Put your phone away during feedings. Enjoy giving your baby a bath. Talk and make silly faces during diaper changes. Sit on the floor together or sing the same bedtime song. Read your favorite bedtime stories in a cozy chair. These routines give you chances to connect, even on busy days.
If you want a photo to remember this milestone, take one when it feels right—maybe a sleepy morning snuggle or your toddler carrying their bag. It doesn’t have to be at drop-off. I also have a recent post about creative back-to-school or daycare photos that don’t need chalkboard signs or posed smiles.
Give yourselves more than a week to settle in. You’re learning a new daily routine together, and it’s okay to adjust as you go. If things feel a bit off at first, remember that everyone goes through this. Soon, you and your baby will feel like daycare pros!
