Part time daycare format

I'm a psychologist and I specialize in child development. Personally, I'm starting my child in half day

Hey there! So precious ECE myself, and at every day care I’ve worked at it’s always been a gradual entry. Depending on when your planning on going to work. Will you be working full time? And therefore be needing bubs to stay at daycare full time? If that is the case then generally also depending on age for full time here in BC, it takes a week. So the first day is like two hours with you in the class the next day is four hours you there, third day is four hours with you on the property, fourth day four hours with you near by and then the last day four hours with you gone kinda thing. Then the following week it can go full day or you can make it increase by an hour or so. Generally drop offs can be rough but it’s the routine that gets it going for them. Also make sure you have a stuffy for them if they like it also a family picture in their bag too where they can look at you guys whenever they want also helps.

Also I’m assuming you already have a spot at the daycare, you can then look at their schedule and try and make your home routine match theirs so waking up at the time you need to for breaky and drop off, first naps, snack/ lunch times, afternoon naps etc . So then they are also already on the schedule. I’ve found that it’s the change in schedule that really gets them especially a different nap time.

Thank you, the daycare we got into has a two week transition period. But I was thinking longer.. like over the next four months half day (become home before nap) and then go full time in jan, he naps there and stays about 7 hours total.

Oh yeah two weeks will get them into a nice routine! Their is no harm in starting earlier but it might shock bubs more if they have been doing half days then going to full time but I mean if they are there already for 7 hours they are basically there the full day and a full time transition shouldn’t be too much of a shock. It then comes down to your personal preference. Personally I’m a procrastinator sooo I would drag this out tell the last minute of sending bubs but you do you boo! Your the mama you know what choice you should make ❤️

Previous ECE, previous daycare owner/operator, support worker of people with disabilities, and a parent just transitioning my almost 5yo into full-time preschool- consistency to get used to the schedule is best. A couple times a week is not very helpful tbh. Half days transitioning to longer days will be easiest. And if you have difficult drop offs, as hard as it is, try to get LO engaged and leave quickly. Lingering is such a major stressor.

I’m doing the same thing as you. We’re doing half day, every day because her nap time is earlier than the allotted nap time. I don’t want her napping so late otherwise her bedtime will get pushed. If she does drop her nap at some time, I’ll change her to three full days. I don’t want her to nap there because that’s the second half of the day and I’ll just be paying for her to sleep there 😅