How will daycare change your baby's schedule?

You have your little one on a schedule and things are running smooth. Eating, playing, and sleeping are all regulated. Your baby's needs are more predictable and this helps you to help your baby feel secure, trusting, and happy. Then you realize it is time to return to work soon. The inevitable question becomes, how will your daycare change your baby's schedule?

First of all remember to bring your baby for a few trial days before going off to work. The main reasons for this are 1) If the daycare does not meet your needs for whatever reason you will need time to find another option and 2) It is ideal to have some type of adjustment period to have your baby get accustom to, familiar with, and connected with your new Child Care Provider (CCP).

Give your schedule to your CCP and let them know it is OK to adjust it as needed but you will need to know the schedule for weekends. After a few weeks the CCP will most likely try to get your baby on a similar schedule to the other children in their care. Amazing but true you can get many children even if they vary in age, on the same schedule. In the first 5 months at daycare our baby's schedule changed twice. Your baby will adjust to slight changes in the schedule nicely and there should not be any reason for concern or upset. I found my CPP knew the benefits of schedules. I benefited from her years of working with small children and putting them on a schedule. She also gave us great advice on breaking unwanted patterns or behaviors.

There were a few pleasant surprises that came along with daycare that I did not anticipate. Once in daycare a nap schedule was created. Now there were 2 predictable breaks on Sat. and Sun. to rest and get chores done. After 9 months old she was sleeping for 1 to 2 hours at each nap plus would sleep from about 6:30pm to 6:30am. In addition, once in daycare our little one started having a bowel movement everyday which is truly the ideal for good health. The reason she became so regular is in daycare she was given sips of water or juice throughout the day. Also, instead of dinner at 5pm they fed her at 4pm her dinner. This gave us more time to play before bedtime rituals and sleepy time.

Your schedule will change often so be flexible. At daycare the schedule should work so all children's needs are met. Open communication with your CCP about these changes can make a very happy baby and in return a happy family. Over the weekend, try your best to stick to the same schedule as your CCP. If you do need to adjust the schedule try not to change it more than 1 hour when adjusting either feedings, naps, or play time. Predicting your baby's sleeping, eating and playing behaviors will help you to help your baby to feel grounded, trusting and secure. A baby likes to know what's coming next. Some parents can find sticking to a schedule won't work for them or their personalities. That is fine but it makes it at best, more difficult, and at worst a time to get through-fast

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