Sending a baby to a daycare can be a distressing ordeal for parents. For Priya Saha (32), a resident of Bangalore, daycare was a necessity as she wanted to get back to work after a two-year hiatus. She enrolled her daughter in July 2019, when she was 2 years and 3 months old. “For this, I prepped her for about three months,” says Priya. It took around two weeks for her child to get used to the daycare.
“Choose a daycare center that resembles home,” advises Pruthvi Banwasi, secretary for the Karnataka Council of Preschools and a seasoned educational consultant. For a smooth transition, an infant should feel at home in a daycare, as they have only been around their parents and grandparents up until that time.
Agreeing with this, Himani Gupte, parenting educator and family counselor from Nagpur, Maharashtra, points out, “Parents must ensure that the environment, resources and the teaching and non-teaching staff are qualified to handle the child.” She adds, “Daycare complements the school. So, parents must prioritize the social environment over academics while choosing a daycare for their child.”
When should you put your baby in daycare?
The age of toddlers in a daycare can range from one year and six months to 12 or 14 years (in rare cases). For kids below two years of age, the time spent in daycare will generally be less compared to the older ones, points out Gupte. “The child should learn basic communication before being enrolled in a daycare,” she adds.
Laura Avis (43), a homemaker from Norwich, UK, enrolled her baby boy at a daycare in 2021 when he was 2 years old. She recalls, “The progress was gradual for my son. From being at the daycare for an hour or two, he progressed to staying there for a full day.”
Dr Rajalaxmi, gynecologist, child psychologist and founder of Health and Emotion, Canacona, Goa, suggests that taking a child to the daycare for a visit before their first day can significantly enhance their experience. “Preparing a child can prevent the shock of a new environment. It’s important to introduce the feeling of separation in the child in a gradual manner,” she says.
Baby in daycare: Transition is never easy
Transitioning into a daycare can be challenging for a child, as they get used to the new environment gradually. “The preparedness and comfort level of the child are key,” opines Gupte. Avis tells Happiest Health, “During the initial days, my son insisted that I stay with him. However, the baby care center reassured me that he would get used to the new setting over time.”
A 2021 study conducted by researchers from Oslo, Norway, indicated that a child secretes high levels of cortisol (stress hormone) while transitioning from home to childcare. The stress is at peak when they separate from their parents and reduces significantly towards the evening when they reunite with them.
Priya recalls that her daughter would cry for a few minutes as soon as she left the place for nearly a week. “However, in a fortnight, she happily waved a bye. That, for me, was reassuring,” she adds.
In addition, sending children to daycare can tug at the emotional heartstrings of parents as well. Laura says she wanted her son to be independent and prepare for the school environment by making friends and learning some social skills (like sharing and caring) at the daycare. “However, it was difficult to not be upset when he cried for me at the door,” she says. The staff sent reassuring messages and photos throughout the day, which helped, she adds.
How to prepare your child for daycare?
Gupte explains, “Parents can prepare a child by teaching them to speak basic sentences, eat by themselves and toilet train.” Priya says one of her concerns was whether her daughter would pick up new languages at the baby care center, since she only understood her mother tongue. “To my surprise, she came back learning new English and Kannada words,” she adds.
Another concern most parents have is hygiene and resources. “I also taught her hand hygiene, eating food from the tiffin box and the like a month before she started daycare. However, being the fussy eater that she is, I wanted the daycare staff to closely monitor her eating patterns,” says Priya.
Teach your child to take care of their belongings like their bag, water bottle and tiffin box, advises Gupte. This inculcates a sense of autonomy and responsibility in them, she adds.
The child should feel at home and be safe
Banwasi says that a child must feel welcome in the new set-up. “A daycare must look informal, as if the child is going to visit a family friend’s home to play with other children,” he explains. In addition, it is crucial that the daycare staff understand the specific nuances of each child.
He also advises parents to be cautious about their toddler’s clothing and food. “As children’s curiosity is at peak during those ages, comfortable clothing (like trousers, shorts or T-shirts) and minimum jewelry can ensure the child’s safety,” he says. “In addition, parents must pack healthy, freshly cooked food for their children to enhance their immunity and prevent gastroenteric infections.”
Gupte says certain factors need to be considered before enrolling your child in a daycare. These include teaching the child about safe and unsafe touch as well as choosing a daycare that has a limited number of children and is equipped with cameras that can prevent the likelihood of bullying.
Takeaways
- Parents should choose a daycare for their children that resembles home. In addition, they must ensure that the environment, resources as well as the teaching and non-teaching staff are qualified to handle the child.
- It’s important for parents to prepare their children for daycare by teaching them to speak basic sentences, eat by themselves and toilet train.
- Parents need to be cautious about their toddler’s clothing and food. They must ensure that their children wear comfortable clothes and pack healthy, freshly cooked food for them.
