EEEEEEEK Aviana starts daycare next tuesday. How are we here already? The past few weeks Aviana has really been starting to enjoy playtime, and I have been enjoying playtime with her too. She is really quite mellow and happy being independent playing on her own, but I have been having too much fun playing with her. This has meant that the past few weeks I have had little time to myself, but that is what maternity leave is all about? Spending time nurturing your little one??!
A month ago if you asked me about whether I would miss maternity leave, I’d have said no, I was actually quite looking forward to going back to work. Now if you ask me, I’d probably be a bit hesitant. I’m actually having a lot of fun with Aviana now and I love seeing her develop. Just the other day she sat up on her ownfor the first time…it was fascinating to watch her figure it out! And just by coincidence I managed to video record it! I know there are many other firsts to come that I will miss now, but I am glad I have been lucky enough to have at least a few with her.
Having said all of this I’m looking forward to work. Luckily I am easing myself back into it gently. Here is the daycare transition plan:
- Next week, the first week, Tuesday is her first day. We will head there after her first nap of the day at home. Arrive at daycare at about 9.30AM, I’ll breastfeed her there, play with her a bit, then I will go on the advice of the daycare staff what is the best way to do this transition! But the plan is for her to spend just mornings there for the rest of the week.
- Second week, plan is to arrive 9.30AM and pick her up 3PM-ish. So shorter days.
- Third week, plan is to put her in full time 7.30AM/8AM to 5PM-ish.
- Fourth week I start work and travel to Brussels so Chris is on his own with Aviana!
Aviana has been good at taking the bottle and doesn’t seem to have a problem with it, and she still likes the boob, so no fear of a nursing strike just yet. But it is a genuine fear I have. I am also nervous about her overeating. We still have yet to figure out how we are going to do a routine once I am properly back at work, but hopefully we will get a feel for it in the third week.
Right…now all I have to do now is go and label all her clothes!!!
Do you have any tips for transitioning an infant to daycare? What was your experience? How did you feel?
The Inconceivable Adventures of Parenthood 
Thankfully I don’t have to deal with this situation, but wanted to say good luck!! I know it’s never easy to put your baby in day care, but everyone seems to adjust pretty well fairly quickly it seems. They definitely get more fun as they get older!! C is great with independent play too. I’m always torn between letting her play happily on her own, or going and demanding she play with me lol! Sometimes I’ll try to read to her and she just wants to play on her own, so she ignores me!! Oh well, at least I try. It’s definitely fun to sit and watch her figure things out and explore new toys. Tonight she was playing on the floor and started getting her legs underneath her belly then pushing herself forward! Yikes!!! I suppose I’ll have to start babyproofing soon!!
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Thanks! I need all the luck I can get I think! I just have no idea how it’s going to go down!!
You are right about watching them figure stuff out, today Aviana has figured how to reach for toys on her exersaucer and it was so amazing to see….I’m going to miss that. Although everything she does at home I’ll consider a ‘first’ and anything ‘first’ at daycare won’t count 😋
Wow C is doing so well! I think you will love having her move around In the greater scheme of things, even if it means you will have to keep an eye on her more and baby proof!
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I seriously think crawling will be easier than this rolling around thing! She doesn’t really have a lot of control where she’s going, and will hit her head on things as she rolls over. At least with crawling she’ll usually be going somewhere with a purpose lol!
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Due to Aviana’s age, this transition will more than likely be much easier on her, than you. When I get littles this young, I rarely have a hard time transitioning them into our daycare routine. Ask them to send you texts/pics throughout the first weeks so you can see/hear how she’s doing. That will help ease your mind and don’t hesitate to check in if you need to ease your mind. Be prepared for her to get sick. Most kiddos do when they first start. I hope everything goes smoothly! Good luck!!!
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Everyone told me it would be harder on me than on her. So true! Sounds like your schedule is perfect to ease both of you into the new normal! You’ll cry, worry and if you are like me, second guess everything but in the end you will both get you routine down and will love it. Best of luck today mamma!
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Thank you! It went well and I did cry!! It really was just fine because we had good updates from the daycare- it’s funny, it’s like they have done this before and know how to ease a new parent’s anxiety! 😭
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It seems to be coming so quickly. Wishing you all the best. Have some tissues handy. I’ll be thinking about you. xx
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Thank you! Yes I did cry!!! I think even Chris cried. Silly really!!
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Good luck! It was so hard on me the first day I dropped her off but baby A had no issues at all. I cried when I left. She was 15 weeks. Now she still loves daycare!
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I love hearing positive stories!!! Thank you! Yes she has done well, I just wrote a post about it! I also like to hear that A still loves daycare now! I think it’s a good age to go in because they haven’t got separation anxiety yet. Have you experienced that yet?
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Not quite yet. Sometimes she shows preference but is still pretty distractible. I’m hoping since she already knows daycare she will be ok when it does show up.
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