Contents
- Childcare arrangements: the golden rules for a successful adaptation
- Start weaning your baby three weeks in advance
- Get to know who will take care of your child
- Visit new places with your child
- Talk to your child a lot
- Don’t show your child that you are sad to leave them
- If your child is crying, don’t sneak away
- Don’t rush on your baby as soon as you arrive
Childcare arrangements: the golden rules for a successful adaptation
Now is the time to babysit your child. In a nursery, day-care center, or with a childminder, a period of adaptation is necessary to learn to separate gently.
Start weaning your baby three weeks in advance
If you are breast-feeding, start weaning three weeks in advance, gradually replacing feedings with bottles. Keep the morning and evening feedings, opportunities for hugs and reunion. As for objects, placed in his bed, his blanket, pacifier or his favorite toys will help him fall asleep. You can also give him a scarf or a T-shirt impregnated with your scent, it will remind him of your presence and reassure him.
Get to know who will take care of your child
Adaptation is essential, for your child as well as for you. Your little one will gradually have to invest in another attachment figure. The adaptation phase is even more important in crèche, where your child will be confronted with a community and therefore with several referent figures, in a larger and more confusing setting than the family apartment. For you, it is also an opportunity to get to know the one (s) who will take care of your baby throughout the day.
Visit new places with your child
On the first visit, stay with your child and visit the new places together. Always together, get to know the nursery staff or the nursery assistant. The following days, leave it alone for the snack time, then two half-days, to gradually arrive at the whole day.
Ask all the questions that preoccupy you
It is up to you to take the first step in building a relationship of trust with the person or team who will take care of your child. Let them know about your little one’s habits, tastes and possible health concerns.
Talk to your child a lot
It is not because he is very small that he does not understand. Explain to your baby everything that will change in his life and why. Tell him you have to go to work, that it’s a grown-up place where he’ll be bored, and that he’s going to spend the day having fun with his friends. And insist on the fact that you will come back for it.
Don’t show your child that you are sad to leave them
On the contrary, reassure him. Your baby will experience separation much worse if he feels mom’s concern. So, try to put on a good face, even if it means shedding a small tear once the door is closed!
If your child is crying, don’t sneak away
Never leave without saying goodbye. Tell him again that you are going to come back, he needs to be reassured on this point. Do not linger too long, however, this could disturb him more and make you enter the vicious circle of “caprice” crying. Tell yourself that as soon as you leave, it will calm down.
Don’t rush on your baby as soon as you arrive
Give it time to recognize your voice, your footsteps, etc. When he finally sees you, don’t be surprised if he doesn’t immediately throw himself into your arms. He’s just having trouble stopping his activity. Likewise, if he bursts into tears, it is his way of pouring out too much emotion. Wait a few minutes and he will snuggle up against you!