Starting childcare is an exciting milestone for both you and your baby! To help ensure a smooth transition, here are a few tips to prepare your little one for their new routine at Wayne Early Learning Center.

1. Introduce bottles early
If your baby is breastfed, begin introducing a bottle a few weeks before their first day of care. This helps your infant get comfortable feeding from a bottle and ensures a smoother transition when they begin spending time with their teachers. Try to have other caregivers offer bottles occasionally so your baby learns that feeding time can happen with different people.

2. Keep a consistent bottle-feeding schedule
At home, begin following a predictable feeding routine similar to what your baby will experience at school. This consistency helps your infant feel secure and allows our teachers to easily match their familiar rhythm.

3. Establish nap routines for older infants
If your baby is beginning to follow a nap schedule, practice putting them down at similar times each day. A familiar sleep routine, such as a short song, a soft blanket, or dimmed lights, will help them settle comfortably in our care environment.

4. Introduce solids at home and at school
As your infant begins exploring solids, please send those foods to school as well. Offering the same foods both at home and in the classroom helps your child build comfort and consistency with new tastes and textures.

Transitions take time! The more your baby experiences familiar routines before starting childcare, the more confident and content they’ll feel in their new environment. Our teachers are here to support you every step of the way.