Transitioning from your routine and preparing to return to work after having a baby can be difficult. One of the struggles can be taking your child to nursery. A change of routine and environment for a child can be scary as they are introduced to something that they are not familiar with. However, there are steps that can be taken to make the process a little easier for both parent and child.

Acknowledging Your Own Feelings

Giving yourself a little extra time can be beneficial. This will mean that you have a few extra minutes to peacefully drop your child off and compose yourself. Leaving your child for the day and going to work can be difficult. Taking those extra few minutes to make sure your child has everything they need and for you to take a moment to keep calm. This can be helpful as you’re not simply dropping off your child and rushing off to work before making sure both you and your child are ready.

Dealing With Your Child’s Emotions

Young children often cry out due to being tired from experiencing something new. This does not mean they do not want to go home. Preparing yourself for the reaction you may get when picking up your child from nursery is beneficial as not every parent gets the excited, positive reaction they expect. This is due to all the new things they have seen and done. Remember that there is nothing more comforting than a parent’s hug and if they do seem upset at the time, they will settle once they find comfort in your arms.

How To Mentally Prepare Yourself

If you feel as though you are not ready to leave your child for the whole working day, settling them in gradually can help ease you both into a new routine. Here at Sunny Days Nursery, we offer a phased introduction where you can start by staying with your baby for a few short sessions before progressing to leaving them for a whole day. This will give you time to get used to the idea and help your baby to get used to the new environment. The decision of how to approach the start of this journey is up to you. Some parents like to go with a phased approach and some found simply starting with full day straight away can work. Take some time to think about what you would like. Ask us for information on both methods. It is your choice.

Useful Tips

To help you through this emotional change, it can help to think of an activity you can do with your child when you are together again. Something as simple as looking forward to a snuggle with your child to knowing you can still have your usual night routine of bath time and bedtime stories can ease the feeling of anxiety that comes with this change. Focus on the positives of the day.

Like most other childcare providers, we also update parents regularly. This can help ease you into the journey as you will be updated on how your child is doing and what they are getting up to. At Sunny Days Nursery, we use the Nursery in A Box Software, you can find the Parent Admin App on the Playstore.

Everything becomes easier with time! This new journey can be a whirlwind of emotions for everyone. This is all natural and it won’t last forever. Things will settle down and the process of dropping your child off at nursery and going to work will become easier for both you and your child. Remember to be kind to yourself during this process and take a minute to breathe when you need during this time of change. If you would like to discuss any of your concerns, please do contact us, we are here to help.