Starting childcare is a big milestone. For many parents, it’s a mix of emotions—relief, guilt, excitement, worry. For little ones, it’s a whole new environment, routine, and set of people to get used to.
The good news? With a little preparation and a few thoughtful connection rituals, you can make the transition smoother and less stressful for everyone.
Here are my 10 gentle, parent-tested tips for starting childcare that protect your child’s sense of safety while building their independence.
Your childcare choice will shape so much about your child’s early days in care—not just what they learn, but how safe and supported they feel.
Trust your instincts. The right centre should feel warm, calm, and welcoming.
Most centres will allow orientation visits. Aim for a few sessions before your official start date, ideally mid-morning (9.30–11 am) or after 2 pm when activities are calmer.
Stay with your child during these visits so they can explore their new space with you nearby. These short, positive exposures help reduce first-day anxiety. For more sensitive children some extra visits may be necessary.
A small comfort object—a lovey, soft toy, or breathable comforter—can be a lifeline in a new environment. Start using it weeks before their first day so it’s already tied to feelings of safety and calm. Check out this Blog on Introducing comforters and my favourite comforters The CUGGIES here
Tip: Have spare sfor those inevitable daycare wash days.
If your child is used to only falling asleep in your arms, at the breast, or in a carrier, the change to childcare naps can be tough. Its going to be a tough road for your ittle one to learn self settling skills in a new enviornment without their parents support so I strongly recommend that you begin practising alternative settling methods at home so they’re building this skills before starting childcare and can be familiar with drifting off in different ways. For more assistance on this you can check-out one of my online programs spific to your childs age and developmental stage or book a personalised consultation tailored to your child nad family needs. (insert links)
It’s normal for children to catch more bugs in their first months of childcare, especially if starting in winter. Support their immune system with good nutrition, enough rest, and (with your GP’s advice) a probiotic and mulit-vitimin. You will also need to consider if both parents are back at work who will be responsible for staying home with your child while the inevitable exclusion days occur, and if your can share this between both parents or have some family assistance. You may also want to check out this blog on managing sleep when your child is ill.
From bottles to jackets, if it’s not labelled, it might not make it home. Invest in washable name labels—they’ll save you a lot of lost property stress.
Childcare is gloriously messy—think sand, paint, and food. Keep special clothes at home and send them in inexpensive comfy, easy-to-wash outfits you don’t mind getting dirty or completely ruined.
This is one of my favourite ways to ease separation anxiety and strengthen connection.
Before drop-off, tell your child:
“I’m going to fill your cuddle cup with all my mummy cuddles before you go to daycare.”
Then:
This quick, playful ritual helps your child walk into their day feeling loved, secure, and ready. You can also use it at pick-up to reconnect after being apart.
After a long day in a stimulating environment, many children hold in their emotions until they’re back with you. That’s when the floodgates can open.
I cannot stress enough how valuable it is to pause everything for 5–15 minutes after you get home—before diving into dinner, baths, and bedtime.
Sit on the floor together. Play. Cuddle. Follow their lead.
This short reconnection time can calm their nervous system, refill their emotional cup, and make the rest of the evening flow more smoothly.
The first few weeks may bring tears, tiredness, cat naps or non-existent naps and disrupted routines. But with time, your child will adjust. Remember: childcare educators choose this work because they love children. They want your child to feel safe, happy, and cared for and are doing their best but oftent cant stick to the exact routine you have provided them with.
Starting childcare doesn’t have to be a rocky road. With preparation, consistent connection rituals, and a little patience, you can help your child settle in feeling safe and loved—while giving yourself peace of mind.
If you’d like personalised support with this transition—including connection strategies, sleep adjustments, and evening routine tips—you can book a consultation here.
Start orientation visits early, introduce a comforter, and keep a calm, predictable routine.
Use a short, loving ritual like the “Cuddle Cup” and leave confidently.
A playful cuddle game where you “fill” your child’s cup with hugs from knees to head, ending with a giant hug.
Pause for 5–15 minutes of undistracted play or cuddles before starting the evening routine.
1–2 weeks before starting, ideally mid-morning or late afternoon.
Comfortable clothes you don’t mind getting messy.
Yes, it’s common at first. Support their immune system with rest and good nutrition.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
It varies—anywhere from a few days to several weeks.
You deserve a smoother, calmer routine—and now’s the perfect time to grab the tools that help.
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