Transitioning to daycare is a big step for children and parents alike. The process means helping children adjust to new environments, build relationships with new caregivers, and learn to trust that their parents will return to pick them up and still love them just as much when they do. The process can be delicate, but handled properly, parents and children can successfully transition to daycare.

How to Choose the Right Daycare

The first step in transitioning to child care is choosing the right daycare facility or program. This involves considering your child’s safety, your parenting style, and priorities.

When choosing a daycare, begin by researching facilities in your area and asking your friends, family, colleagues, pediatrician, and local parenting groups for recommendations. Be sure to check online reviews, as well. Next, you should always visit daycare facilities in person to see the staff in action. For the best impression, plan to visit during a typically busy time (like drop-off or lunch) to observe how the staff manages stress.

Use the Look, Listen, and Ask tip sheets from ChildCare.gov to help you make a good choice. Some key factors to consider when selecting a daycare include:

Safety and Licensing – Be sure the daycare is licensed, research their safety record with your state, and ask about their procedures.
Staff Qualifications and Ratios – The lower the child-to-staff ratio, the more quality, personalized attention your child will receive.
Turnover Rate – Ask about how long staff tend to stay with the daycare. Frequent turnover can disrupt the stability of a child’s environment.
Teacher or Caregiver Interactions – Look for caregivers who do more than supervise. The best caregivers are engaged, responsive, and nurturing.
Health and Hygiene – Consider the cleanliness of the environment and ask about illness policies.

When choosing a daycare for your child, always trust your gut. If something doesn’t feel right to you about a daycare, don’t ignore your instincts.

Preparing Your Child Emotionally

Transitioning to daycare means introducing your child to new environments, people, and routines. This major change in your child’s life can lead to a variety of challenges, such as separation anxiety, behavioral regression, sleep disturbances, dietary changes, emotional stress, and physical exhaustion.

Almost every child will experience some degree of these issues while transitioning to daycare, but parents can take steps to minimize challenges. For a successful and smooth transition into child care, it is best to begin preparing your child ahead of time to create a more gradual transition that minimizes anxiety for you and your child.

Before starting daycare, visit the facility together, introduce your child to the teachers, and spend some time playing with the toys and exploring the new environment.
Read books together about going to daycare.
Introduce the new morning and naptime routine at home before starting.
Introduce daycare gradually with shorter visits and part-time days, slowly increasing the time to the necessary duration.

What to Bring to Daycare: Packing the Essentials

The essential items to pack for your child differ depending on their age. Essential items to pack in a backpack or diaper bag often include:

Two or three full sets of clothes, plus a wet bag for soiled outfits
Comfort items (blanket, stuffed animal, pacifier)
Comfortable shoes and slippers
Bulk supply of diapers, wipes, and diaper cream
Pre-measured formula, breast milk, or baby food
Extra bottles
Swaddles, crib sheets, or sleep sacks
Nap mat or sheet
Packed lunch or snacks
Reusable, leak-proof water bottle
Sun protection
Bug spray
Weather-appropriate outerwear

Be sure to label all items with your child’s name using labels or a permanent marker.

Managing Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety is normal. Children often cry at drop-off for the first few weeks or months. They might become increasingly clingy when they are home with you, and they might experience some disruptions to their appetite or sleep routines.

To help manage separation anxiety and build emotional security, be sure to talk with your child. Ask them about their day, new friends, and activities. In the morning, talk about what you plan to do when you pick them up, so they can look forward to the end of the day and have security in knowing there is a plan for you to return.

Validate your child’s feelings of sadness or fear, but reinforce that you will return and that they will be safe at daycare. Consistent, quick goodbyes create confidence at the moment of separation, while lingering too long can reinforce your child’s anxiety and fear.

Be friendly with your child’s teacher and daycare staff. Seeing that you like and trust their new caregivers will help your child feel more comfortable.